The MelenaMaci family
Concert Against Cancer Homemade Christmas Candy Christmas Morning Breakfast Shaking it Up: Holiday Cocktails Best Books of 2023
Buon Natale: An Italian Christmas by Tracy L. Barnett
The Greatest Hanukkah Gift Ornament Traditions Houston, TX
Holiday Happenings
Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD
Cindy Gabriel: First Best Friends
PUBLISHER’S NOTE It is our mission to inspire and connect neighbors in our communities by telling their stories. We hope that when The Buzz arrives in your mailbox, you find something uplifting in each issue, a much-needed contrast to the distressing headlines in the news. At the risk of sounding cliché, I want to thank our loyal readers, our residents for allowing us into your lives and sharing your stories, our advertisers, and our dedicated team, for making 2023 another successful year. Together, we have created something truly special. Nothing makes us prouder than the positive feedback we receive from our readers and advertisers. It makes all the hard work worthwhile. If you have not already, we hope you sign up for our Morning Buzz newsletter and connect with us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.) Here’s to the memories we’ve made in 2023, the lessons we’ve learned, and the anticipation of what lies ahead in 2024. michael@thebuzzmagazines.com
THE BUZZ MAGAZINES BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940 Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter thebuzzmagazines.com Editor-in-Chief Publisher Editor Associate Editor Design Manager Staff Writers
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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld Caroline Siegfried John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Cindy Burnett Andria Frankfort Dilling Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cindy Gabriel Cathy Gordon Michelle Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Cheryl Ursin Pooja Salhotra Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Jo Rogers
On our cover: The Melena-Maci family lives in West U and has strong ties to Chiete, Italy. Pictured: Mauro, Annalisa, Claudia; Federico and Rosalía “Rori” Domenghini, an exchange student from Northern Italy. 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 © 2023 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.
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MAILBAG
Your letters, thoughts, opinions In the spotlight When I agreed to share my recipe for “what to take to a Thanksgiving dinner” [featured in Thanksgiving Specials: Traditions on the table by Andria Frankfort Dilling, Nov. 2023] I never dreamed you had so many readers. I had so many friends and friends of friends that saw it and commented on the spinach pie. Many said I should have listed other things they like that I make! It seems everyone wants me to make gumbo, but I can do other things! It’s a Louisiana thing, honey! Tina Pyne
Spreading the love We’re thrilled that The Buzz’s November issue highlighted COR Houston and our mission to deliver basic needs items to HISD’s poorest students [Community of Resources: Filling the gaps in HISD schools by Andria Frankfort Dilling, Nov. 2023]. We have received many supportive comments on the article, as well as contributions. One woman read the article and immediately thought of the items that are unclaimed each year from the lost-and-found at her child’s school. She reached out to ask if we would be interested in jackets and uniform pants and shirts, and of course we are! It will be easy for us to get those items to children who desperately need them. Another person has offered to collect hygiene supplies for us at an upcoming event. We also connected with a volunteer at Benavidez Elementary, one of the schools we support. If you volunteer at an HISD school, please reach out. We would love to hear from you. Chances are we are already working with that school, and would like to be engaged if we are not. If you are interested in connecting with an HISD school that has little to no community support, we can match you with a school that needs some TLC. Schools in poor neighborhoods are always seeking faith groups, clubs, or businesses to support their students with Christmas gifts, shoe drives, games, school supplies, and more. A huge thank you to those of you who’ve given financial donations to COR (corhouston.org). Thank you to The Buzz for spreading the buzz! Kay Wasden
Fond memories I love how you wrote up our treasured family recipe and story of Kevin’s and my first Thanksgiving dinner [Don’t Mess with My Turkey: Keeping it real by Andria Frankfort Dilling, Nov. 2023]. I sent a photo copy to everyone in my family just now and will give my mother-in-law an actual copy of this issue of The Buzz for Christmas! Barbara Trautner
needs children, but it’s so important for others to know about all the ways special needs adults can and are contributing to our community. I hope more companies and organizations are inspired to start a program as well. Thank you for bringing these opportunities to light! Jennifer Bruce
Thankful for Cindy and her writing Regarding The Highs and Lows of Life: A Thanksgiving perspective by Cindy Gabriel [Nov. 2023] in which Cindy Gabriel related the story of her successful brain surgery in 2009: I am so grateful that the surgery Cindy endured did not hinder her spirit of wit or character. It would be a grave loss otherwise. It’s always an enchanting adventure to step momentarily into Cindy’s world of words, putting me in mind of Harper Lee or Horton Foote. Cindy can word her thoughts in such picturesque ways as to actually hear the screen door slam, see the fall leaves swirl, or remember the strange unspoken etiquette of the ’50s children to be “seen but not heard.” She delightfully reminds me of similar experiences, stories or memories from my own life. Vergie McKinley Send letters to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address for verification purposes. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and space. Views expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Buzz Magazines, and The Buzz takes no responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in them.
What’s your story? We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have a special love story. • Know a Buzzworthy neighbor to feature. • Have a milestone life event to share. • Have a sweet multi-generational story. • Have a compelling travel tale.
Special story Love your Buzz article Ready to Launch: Supporting adults with special needs [by Michelle Groogan, Nov. 2023]. It’s been shared in our Tuttle School parent group! Not only is this information important to parents of special WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ DECEMBER 2023 6
If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 102.
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NEIGHBORS by Cindy Gabriel, staff writer
The It Factor Some people just have it – Not a Memoir, Part 9
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am currently reading a book called Everyday Holiness by a Jewish author named Alan Morinis. Morinis makes the claim that life gives each of us a curriculum, our circumstances. The more I write my own life stories, the more I see it. The more I see it, the more I wish I’d seen it sooner. It was the last day of seventh grade, the last day of life in Rosenberg. My mother picked me up in a car packed to the ceiling, including the dog and two younger siblings. Houston was just an hour down the road, but a world away. We were among the first families to move to a new suburban development of homes built along a golf course in Northwest Houston. Who moves a girl at the age of 13 at the beginning of summer, with no friends? The first two weeks I did nothing but stare out the window and sob, especially when my parents were in ear shot. I wanted them to pay for ruining my life. Apparently, my mom found out that another girl my age just moved in around the corner and was making her parents miserable too. I think our mothers conspired. Mom told me to walk down the street and around the corner to see if anyone my age lived nearby. Just as I rounded a corner to the next street I heard a mom-like voice calling. “Are you Cindy?” It was Juanita Trojan, mother of Sharon Trojan. The next thing I knew, I was standing at their front door, looking at the cutest, most stylish girl I had ever seen. I was totally out of her league. Her perfect tanned legs emerged from cut-off blue jeans. An oversized t-shirt hung off one shoulder, on purpose. Her big blue eyes looked me over with a hint of disapproval. One of us had clearly made the transition into a full-fledged teen. One of us was still a child. If Sharon’s mother had not invited me in, I wonder if Sharon would have. Once in Sharon’s room, the brutally honest words came: “No one wears pointy-toed tennis shoes anymore. Camp shirts are out too.” My white box-cut shirt barely covered elastic-waistband shorts, which I suddenly, intuitively realized was wrong too. Hard as it was to hear, the words didn’t feel like complete rejection, but more like I had just become a project. Next thing I knew, we were both looking at
FIRST BEST FRIENDS Sharon Trojan Hollinger and Cindy Gabriel still cherish their shared adolescence. As Dolly Parton sings, “You can’t make old friends.”
me in her bathroom mirror. I never liked what I saw in the mirror. There was something wrong around my eyes. My blonde eyelashes and brows were invisible. All you saw were two blue dots lost in a blank white face. “Mascara,” Sharon said. “That’s what you need.” Out came a magic wand in a tube. I blinked a few times in the direction of the wand. Voila! Eyelashes. I suddenly looked normal-ish. Sharon looked pleased. “Here, let me part your hair down the middle.” Then she added a little blush and lipstick. One turn of the corner, a wave of a magic mascara wand, and that pouty little girl was gone. I would never leave the house again without mascara. More importantly, I had a new best friend. I was surprised she stuck by me given the fact that I had the world’s strictest father. I was forbidden to date boys with long hair, go to movies that weren’t G-rated, or listen to rock ‘n’ roll music. At least he didn’t lock me in my room. I could bypass the rules in one sentence. “I’m going to Sharon’s.” My parents liked Sharon. Everybody did. She had this thing called the It Factor. Boys melted in her presence. She made A’s without studying. She could read a book in a day. She loved ani-
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mals, and fearlessly tested parent-set boundaries. Was I jealous? Heck yeah I was. She had more than her share of things falling her way. I wasn’t always happy about it. In college, we went our separate ways. Sharon went to The University of Texas, which my father thought was “too liberal.” I went to Stephen F. Austin in the Bible Belt. We both majored in Radio and TV. My focus was in front of the camera, but Sharon’s was more behind the camera. In college she was part of the production team for Austin City Limits. Then, she took off for Los Angeles, finding a break as the assistant director of The Arsenio Hall Show, which ran from 19891993. For the last 10 years, she has directed Chef Gordon Ramsay’s hit show Hell’s Kitchen. Some 30 years ago she melted the heart of Gard Hollinger, a Johnny Depp lookalike, who designs world-class motorcycles for a living. Let’s just say, It Factors attract. Since 2011, Gard has co-owned a business called Arch Motorcycles. Who is the other owner? Keanu Reeves, naturally. I give up. You win, Sharon. Your It Factor condition is chronic. I’ll get back to my book now. The next chapter up is called Humility. It’s part of my life curriculum.
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NEIGHBORS lawellphoto.com
by Pooja Salhotra, contributing writer
Concert for a Cause Remembering Tom Bres through music
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om Bres was a lot of things to his daughter Meg – basketball coach, cheerleader, comedian, and, quite simply, “the best dad ever.” One thing he was not: a musician. “I must say, he was all but tone deaf,” says Meg, who is 27 and now lives in New York City. Tom couldn’t sing or play the guitar, but when he heard the first few notes of any song, he could almost instantly name it. He had an ear for music. And like Meg, a soft spot for beautiful instruments and strong vocals. Tom passed his passion for music down to Meg, who coupled that passion with talent and dedication. Meg has been singing since she was five years old and started playing the piano and guitar soon after. As a student, she sang in choirs at St. John’s School, where she graduated from in 2014. Now she plays in a band in New York City, where she also works on global partnerships at Madison Square Garden. When Tom passed away in the summer of 2015 after a 15-month battle with brain cancer, it made sense for Meg to honor her father through music. Meg and Tom had shared similar tastes in music, and they would often share playlists with each other, adding songs they thought the other would like. They both loved John Mayer and Norah Jones, and Meg enjoyed listening to her dad’s “pump-up” playlists on the way to sports games. Those playlists featured artists like U2, AC/DC, and The Rolling Stones. When Tom passed away, Meg had just finished her freshman year of college at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and she didn’t have many opportunities to play there. She missed performing and singing, so she organized some of her musically talented classmates from St. John’s to put together a set list for a December concert in honor of her dad. The concert would also be a fundraiser for The Broach Foundation, an organization that supports clinical trials for treatment of glioblastoma, the form of brain cancer Tom was diagnosed with in 2014. Now, eight years later, that concert has spawned its own nonprofit organization called Concert Against Cancer, and it has raised more
JAN AND MEG Since Tom Bres passed away in 2015, his wife Jan and daughter Meg have been active supporters of The Broach Foundation for Brain Cancer Research.
than $180,000 for cancer research. “When Meg started [the concert], I thought it would be for a year or two,” said Jan, Meg’s mom, who is also a board member for The Broach Foundation. “But it has become this great show, and a huge crowd comes out to support. I’m just so proud of Meg.”
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I
n the span of a week, Tom Bres went from being 100 percent normal to having a cancerous brain tumor. The 53-year-old was a prominent wealth manager at UBS who Meg says was physically fit and health conscious. So she was shocked when she learned her dad had a seizure (continued on page 12) while driving.
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It was May 2014, close to graduation week for Meg, and things quickly escalated. Doctors diagnosed Tom with glioblastoma, a fast-growing and aggressive form of brain cancer. Within a few weeks, Tom had surgery, followed by chemotherapy, and was given 9 to 18 months to live. “He was so physically invincible that at the time I didn’t think he would pass away,” Meg said. “I thought it was a difficult thing that we would get through.” Glioblastoma is the most common form of brain cancer and is typically treated with surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy. It is difficult to fully remove the tumor, but surgery can prolong the lives of some patients. There’s no cure for glioblastoma, and researchers at MD Anderson’s Brain Tumor Center – with support from The Broach Foundation – are actively working to find one. Tom participated in a clinical trial funded by The Broach Foundation. In the end, the trial didn’t work for Tom, but it offered a glimmer of hope for a while. Before he passed away, Tom helped raise over a million dollars for The Broach Foundation. That’s more than 16 percent of the total amount the Foundation has raised for brain cancer research since the organization’s inception in 2011. “It just speaks to his friendships and the presence he had in the community that it wasn’t that tough for him to go out and raise a ton of money,” Meg said. The concert has been a way to continue the work that Tom started. The event is both a light-hearted reunion for old friends and a way to educate people about brain cancer while remembering Tom. For the past few concerts, Meg has performed No Such Thing by John Mayer as part of her set. The song was one of Tom’s favorites. Meg recalls sitting in the living room of her family’s River Oaks home, playing it for Tom when he was sick. The Bres household was always one filled with music and laughter, said Christie Dawson, Meg’s best friend and a performer at the annual concert. Christie said she considered Tom and his wife Jan a second set of parents while growing up. She recalls laughing at Tom’s jokes and admiring his dedication to his two daughters, who called him Superman. “Meg’s house was one of those houses that was so fun to go to,” Christie said. “You’d go over and hang out in the kitchen and living room with her parents because they are so fun to talk to.” Tom made it a point to immerse himself in whatever Meg and her older sister Kate were interested in, according to mom Jan. “I’d be riding in the car, and he’d put on a radio station I didn’t like,” Jan said. “And I’d say, ‘do we have to listen to this?’ And he’d say yes, we need to know what the girls are listening to.” That interest extended beyond music. Tom coached many of Kate (continued on page 14)
Reece Foy
(continued from page 10)
FAMILY MEMORIES Top: A close-knit family, Tom, Meg, Jan, and Kate Bres enjoyed laughter and music together. Bottom: Tom was always a huge supporter of his daughters. Here he’s pictured with Meg at college t-shirt day at St. John's School in 2014.
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MAKING MUSIC Top: Attendees of the 2022 Concert Against Cancer. Bottom left: Concert Against Cancer participants included (from left) Meg Bres, Elizabeth Cregan, Christie Dawson, Jake Schick, Cameron Hull, Dylan Villarreal, and Ross Smolen. Bottom right: The annual Concert Against Cancer takes place at Axelrad Beer Garden in Midtown. This year, the concert will take place Thurs., Dec. 28, 7 p.m. at Axelrad. (continued from page 12) and Meg’s sports teams,
including basketball, softball, and soccer, a sport he knew nothing about. He even helped Meg with her cheer audition at SMU. “She had to learn this routine and she didn’t know what she was doing,” Jan said. “The two of them spent two days in a hotel room in Dallas and he just coached her. She made it on the squad and won two national championships.”
S
ince Meg started the annual Concert Against Cancer in 2015, it has grown in size and impact. The venue has changed from a small bar in the back of a downtown grocery store to the more sprawling Axelrad Beer Garden in Midtown. It draws about 100 audience members, and last year’s event included corporate sponsorships for the first time. It was also live streamed, helping it reach new audiences outside of Houston. “It just seems like every year there’s this
momentum that builds,” said Deanna Kotrla, the executive director of The Broach Foundation. “What I love about it is that it’s unique. They are taking what they have, which is incredible talent, to raise funds and raise awareness.” The three-hour event usually happens the day after Christmas, and performers said they’ve started planning their winter holiday around the event. Planning usually starts in October, with Meg rounding up singers, including several of her St. John’s classmates, and a band to accompany them. Each singer performs about five to eight songs. This year’s concert will take place Thurs., Dec. 28, 7 p.m. at Axelrad. Confirmed performers include Meg Bres, Elizabeth Cregan, Christie Dawson, Cameron Hull, Dylan Villarreal, Nate McMullen, Murphey Harmon, Ben Levy, Will Duson, and Christina Moss. Since Meg started the concert, her uncle Rick Holzinger, who is Jan’s younger brother, was also diagnosed with and passed away from glioblas-
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toma. The concert is now dedicated to both Rick and Tom. Meg has tossed around the idea of expanding the concert to New York City. She says she talked to her band about organizing a summer concert to raise money for the foundation. She’s also thought about bringing in new Houston musicians, aside from her own friends, to play in the concert. The possibilities seem endless, and Meg says she’s taking it one year at a time. For now, she smiles as she reflects on memories with her dad, knowing he would’ve loved the concert in his honor. “He was so loud and funny and a wonderful character – the life of every party,” Meg said. “I think this whole thing fits him so well. It would be his ideal night.” Editor’s note: Visit concertagainstcancer.com to learn more about the 2023 Concert Against Cancer.
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FOOD by Andria Frankfort Dilling, staff writer
Making candy for the holidays
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or the Andrews family, candy-making is the tradition that heralds the holidays. When Liz and Rob Andrews married 13 years ago, both had been divorced. “I loved being married, but I didn’t have any kids,” Liz says. “I really wanted to find someone who had kids. I wanted a family.” Rob had two teenaged daughters. “They were the perfect ages, into makeup and clothes,” Liz says of the girls, Staci Andrews and Demi Andrews Dugger. (Their mom, Heidi Ruggles, lives in Katy and is remarried.) In addition to fashion, Liz got the girls excited about making her own family’s Christmas candy recipes, and that’s what they’ve been doing every weekend after Thanksgiving for the past seven or eight years. “It was 1964, I was in first grade, when my mom got her recipe for bonbons,” Liz says. Liz’s 91-year-old mother Myrt Huerter remembers: “My husband and I were transferred from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Muskogee, Oklahoma. I joined a ceramics group, and the recipe came from the ladies who ran it.” Myrt says she had fond memories of helping her own mother in the kitchen by pulling taffy with her sister. “When our kids got old enough, we started making candy. We’ve been doing it ever since.” “Back in the day,” Liz says, “my mother would make the candy and line those red, 3-pound Folgers cans with wax paper and fill them with bonbons. Then she’d put the plastic lid on and put them in the freezer, or she’d just put them in the garage, because it was cold enough. I’d sneak out and eat them.” The candies, Liz says, “makes me think of home and history and family and traditions. My dad was a manager for Sears, and we moved around a little. Wherever we went, we made these candies at Christmas.” Today, Liz, Myrt, Staci, and Demi gather at Liz’s house for a whole day of candy-making. “It’s usually the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but then Demi got married and Staci and her boyfriend bought a house, and they have multiple families to visit. So we get together on the closest weekend we can after Thanksgiving.” Everyone has their job. Demi explains: “I know I’m stirring the chocolate and dipping the
lawellphoto.com
A Sweet Day
SWEETEST DAY Three generations – Staci Andrews, Myrt Huerter, Liz Andrews, and Demi Andrews Duggar (from left) – gather once a year to make Christmas candy.
bonbons, Staci’s making the peanut brittle, Liz is…well Liz is doing everything. We have a good rhythm, and we enjoy it.” Myrt rolls the balls for the bonbons, and Rob’s only job is eating. “It’s a girls’ day,” Liz says. “A lot of rolling and dipping in chocolate!”
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In addition to the bonbons, the family also makes fudge. “We’ve been making that for a long time, too. I can’t make it as good as my mother, but I’m attempting,” Liz says. A few new recipes have found their way into the candy-making day. “My (continued on page 18)
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lawellphoto.com
(continued from page 16) husband’s mother would
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make these little butter mints,” Liz says. “He just loves them, so the girls and I make them in different colors for the holidays, red and green and yellow and blue.” Then there’s the peanut brittle. “Mom and Dad started making peanut brittle in their 60s,” Liz says. “Now, Staci is the peanut brittle queen. She’s into it. Mom came and showed her how to make it and how to stir.” The peanut brittle has become Rob’s favorite result of the day. Liz jokes, “He tries to limit the amount he eats, but he has trouble.” “We make [the day] a priority,” Demi says. “We get to chitchat while we’re making the candy, catching up on each other’s lives, telling Myrt what’s going on in our lives, as much as we can without burning all the candies. Which has happened before. We’ve made mistakes, but we’re in a good spot now.” Liz, who works part-time for her husband’s management consulting company, likes to finish their candy-making before the company Christmas parties get started. “We host these big parties at our house, and it gets really busy,” she says. That’s when the candies are nice to have in the freezer. “I’ll put them out for holiday parties, or if people come over on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,” Liz says. “You can just pick them up and pop them in your mouth. It’s nice to have a little chocolate after a meal.” When their sweet day is done, the girls will take some home to their significant others, and Liz will freeze the rest. “A lot of times I’m out by the time Christmas comes, because we’re all eating them,” she laughs. The candies are a labor of love. “I mean it’s the whole day,” Liz says, “from the minute they walk in in the morning until 6 or 7 that night.” And there’s no question what comes after the full day in the kitchen: “We go to bed!” Liz says.
Huerter-Andrews Family Bonbons 1 can Eagle brand condensed milk 2 small cans coconut (14 ounces) 1 cube margarine 2 pounds powdered sugar 1 pound pecan pieces 12-ounce package chocolate chips 4 squares unsweetened chocolate 1 ⁄3 bar paraffin Mix the condensed milk, coconut, margarine, powdered sugar, and pecan pieces together and roll into balls about walnut size. Put the balls in the refrigerator to chill. Melt the chocolate chips, chocolate, and paraffin in a double boiler. Dip the balls into the chocolate with a toothpick. Place them on wax paper and refrigerate.
SUGAR AND SPICE Fudge, bonbons, and peanut brittle are all happy additions to the freezer at Christmas time.
1 12-ounce package semisweet chocolate pieces 1 7-ounce jar marshmallow cream 1 cup chopped nuts (Myrt uses pecans) 1 teaspoon vanilla
Myrt Huerter’s Fantasy Fudge 3 cups sugar ¾ cup margarine 2 ⁄3 cup (5 ¼ ounce can) evaporated milk
Combine the sugar, margarine, and milk. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil 5 minutes (I usually boil about 7) over medium heat or
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until a candy thermometer reaches 238 degrees (or until a small amount of the mixture forms a soft ball in water), stirring constantly. Remove from the heat, stir in chocolate pieces until melted. Add the marshmallow cream, nuts, and vanilla, and beat until well blended. Pour into a greased 9-inch by 13-inch pan. Cool, and cut into squares. Makes 3 pounds. (continued on page 20)
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Myrt Huerter’s Peanut Brittle 1 cup sugar ½ cup white corn syrup 1 cup raw peanuts, shelled 1 teaspoon butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon baking soda
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(continued from page 18)
Spray a cookie sheet pan with non-stick cooking spray. Combine the sugar and corn syrup in a large, microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high power for 4 minutes. Stir in the peanuts with a sprayed spoon. Microwave the peanut mixture on high power for 3 more minutes. Add the butter and vanilla and stir. Microwave on high power for 1 ½ more minutes. Add the baking soda, and gently stir until the mixture is light and foamy. Pour the peanut brittle mixture onto the prepared cookie sheet and allow the brittle to cool 1 ½ hours. Break the brittle into small pieces and store in an airtight container.
Buttermints
Combine the butter and 4 cups confectioners’ sugar in a mixer bowl. Beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the peppermint oil and milk, and beat on medium speed until combined. Lightly dust a cutting board with confectioners’ sugar and turn the dough out onto the board. If you’re using food coloring, add 1 to 2 drops (or more for deeper color) and knead it into the dough with your hands until incorporated. If you’re making multiple colors, divide the dough into several pieces first (one for each color) and add the food coloring to each piece, starting with 1 drop and kneading, adding 1 drop at a time, until the desired colors are reached. Gather each piece of dough into a ball. Sift more confectioners’ sugar over the cutting board. Divide the dough into 4 pieces (if you haven’t divided it already), and set 3 of the pieces aside, loosely covered in plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out. Using your hands, and dusting them with confectioners’ sugar, gently roll one piece of dough into a log about ½ inch in diameter. Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut the log into ½-inch pieces. Lay the pieces in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet to dry. Repeat with the remaining 3 pieces of dough, and allow the candies to dry at room temperature, uncovered, overnight. Store the buttermints, layered between parchment or wax paper, in an airtight container at room temperature, away from light, for up to 2 weeks.
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8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1-inch chunks 4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted, plus extra for rolling ¼ teaspoon pure peppermint oil 2 tablespoons whole milk Food coloring (optional)
TASTES LIKE THE HOLIDAYS Top photo: Myrt Huerter, Demi Andrews Duggar, Staci Andrews, and Liz Andrews (from left) get together after Thanksgiving to make homemade candy for Christmas. Here, they are enjoying the fruits of their labor. Bottom photo: Buttermints (pictured, with the recipe card for bonbons) are a newer addition to the candy-making day. Liz's husband's mother used to make them, and Rob loves them.
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FOOD by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Christmas Breakfast Traditions hartphoto.com
A heartwarming start to the holiday
A FAMILY TRADITION The Bassett family including (pictured, from left) Casey, Mel, and Tuck, and (not pictured) Carson have enjoyed an expansive Christmasmorning breakfast ever since the boys were young.
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very Christmas morning, the Bassett family’s kitchen fills with the comforting aroma of their family’s familiar breakfast foods. Mel Bassett’s Christmas china, adorned with red holly accents, is set at the dining room table for their time-honored family ritual: a formal sit-down Christmas morning breakfast with three generations of family members present. Everyone is surrounded by the delicious spread of prepared dishes, ready to fill up with the meal
they share each year. This cherished tradition is about more than just the flavors; it is about the time together on Christmas morning. Tuck and Mel Bassett have embraced this breakfast tradition for over two decades. Their two sons, Carson and Casey, grew up eating this same breakfast, and now the next generation is, too, including their two grandsons, Luke, 3, and Jack, 1. The spread on their Christmas breakfast table
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is expansive. “We serve cheese grits with sausage, scrambled eggs with cheese, mini sausage kolaches, venison sausage, fruit salad, and cinnamon rolls,” shares Mel. Tuck always prepares his family’s favorite, his famous brisket hash – a closely guarded recipe for 25 years, until now (see below for the recipe). “When I asked my son Casey if I should share the recipe, he said, ‘No way, Dad, do not do it,’” said Tuck. However, in the end, (continued on page 24)
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BREAKFAST TIME Tuck Bassett, the “chef” of the family, makes his famous brisket hash recipe for Christmas morning for his family and neighbors including wife, Mel, son Casey and his wife Annie, son Carson and his wife Courtney, and neighbors Susan and Ginny Hightower. (continued from page 22) after careful consideration,
Tuck and Casey decided they should not hold out on sharing the recipe with the community. The time spent together, and favorite family dishes contribute to creating special memories. “I love this breakfast because it is something different, and my husband made the recipe up [for his famous brisket hash],” said Mel. She calls him the chef of the family. He is always making new dishes and trying out new things, said Mel. The family enjoys the benefits of his cooking hobby. For the Bassetts, Christmas morning represents culinary creations that bring joy and togetherness. Tuck’s quest was to create a break-
fast that combines their love for hearty meals with the warm memories of togetherness. After the dishes are cleared, and the aromas subside, the table conversations quiet down, Casey and Carson handle the cleanup of the kitchen. As the dishes are loaded away, and the Christmas plates are cleared, they hold the new memories close and look forward to the next time they get to pull the Christmas china out. The Dudley family, including parents AnnMargaret and James, have roots in the northeast, New Orleans, and Lebanon. Ann-Margaret still remembers receiving a recipe for a delicious breakfast strata casserole when she arrived in
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Texas. "It had some Texas flair to it," she recalls. Ann-Margaret says her family loves to mix things up for Christmas morning breakfast. She recalls taking that breakfast recipe as a starting point for her new life as a Texan, and changing it up to suit her family’s taste. They have substituted some commonly used ingredients, such as white bread, opting instead for sourdough bread and adding in rosemary, too. For the Dudleys, Christmas morning signifies family-rooted traditions. They have two teenage sons who are passionate about hunting, so the family customizes their Christmas breakfast by using venison meat from (continued on page 26)
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hartphoto.com
(continued from page 24) their hunting expeditions
to prepare the dish. On Christmas morning, the family’s enthusiasm is palpable as they gather around the table. The Dudleys opt for a more casual setting for breakfast. In addition to the venison strata, they enjoy other dishes that pay homage to their roots, including a favorite, baklava. These breakfast traditions serve as a reminder that Christmas is about more than just gifts and decorations; it is a time for connecting, sharing, and creating lasting memories with the people who matter the most. Whether a time-honored recipe or a unique twist on an old tradition, the most essential ingredient is the love and joy of being together on Christmas morning for a good meal.
Christmas Breakfast Recipes Looking to start a new Christmas breakfast tradition? Tuck Bassett shares his famous brisket hash recipe below.
Tuck Bassett’s Christmas Brisket Hash Recipe 1/4 cup vegetable oil 3 cloves minced garlic 1 medium sweet onion, diced 1 (32-ounce) bag of frozen tater tots, thawed and broken up 1/2 to 3/4 pound of smoked brisket, cut into 1-inch cubes 1/2 tablespoon red pepper flakes (optional) Salt and pepper to taste 2 tablespoons butter Eggs (to serve) 1 bunch of green onions, diced (to serve) In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and diced sweet onion to the skillet to sauté. Stir in the tater tots. Cook until they start to crisp up. Add the cubes of smoked brisket to the skillet. Continue to cook and stir until the brisket is heated through and slightly crispy at the edges. If desired, sprinkle red pepper flakes over the mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste. In a separate skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and fry the eggs to your desired doneness. Serve a portion of hash with an egg or green onion, if desired.
RECIPE REVEAL Casey (pictured, left) jokingly said he was hesitant to share his dad's secret brisket hash family recipe. (Thankfully, they agreed to share it with Buzz readers.) Here he's pictured enjoying the famous hash with his parents, Mel and Tuck.
2 cups milk 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Cooking spray 6 slices of bread, cubed (stale or toasted) 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Traditional Breakfast Casserole A breakfast casserole is the perfect way to enjoy Christmas morning. Below is a sample recipe, but just as Ann-Margaret Dudley did, substitute and play with ingredients to suit to taste. Breakfast casseroles can be prepared the night before and baked in the morning – one less thing to do on Christmas Day. 1 pound ground breakfast sausage 1 medium onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 12 large eggs
Christmas Eve Preparation Cook the breakfast sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. Once cooked, remove the sausage from the skillet and drain it on paper towels. In the same skillet, sauté the chopped onions and bell peppers. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and black pepper.
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Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place the bread at the bottom of the dish. Layer the cooked sausage and sautéed vegetables over the bread. Finally, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese. Pour the egg mixture over the layers. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight (or for a minimum of 4 hours). Christmas Morning Preparation Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake the casserole for 45-50 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Serve, whether on Christmas china or paper plates, dressed up or still in pajamas, and enjoy with family.
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ENTERTAINMENT by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer
Holiday Happenings
H
oliday cheer is in the air. If you’re sticking around Houston this month – and looking for ways to spend time with family members – there are tons of festive events going on around town.
LaTroya Brooks
Time to deck the halls
City of Bellaire’s Holiday in the Park Thurs., Nov. 30, 6-8:30 p.m. Bellaire Town Square, 7008 S. Rice Ave. Admission: Free The City of Bellaire hosts its annual Holiday in the Park, including school choir performances, snow slides, food, a petting zoo, pony rides, and more. Memorial Park Conservancy’s 2023 Deck the Park & Memorial Park’s Holiday Lights Fri., Dec. 1, 2023, 5 p.m.; Memorial Park’s Holiday Lights will remain lit for the public through early Jan. 2024. Memorial Park’s Clay Family Eastern Glades, 7575 N. Picnic Ln. Admission: Free Memorial Park Conservancy’s 2023 Deck the Park, presented by Crossbell Ventures, will mark the official kickoff to Memorial Park’s Holiday Lights, featuring a 26-foot holiday tree on Bowden Terrace lit against Hines Lake. Holiday activities include arts and crafts for kids, cookie-decorating, and letters to Santa. There will be music, food trucks on site for purchase, festive photo opps, and a Holiday Village. The Dec. 1 event starts at 5 p.m. with the tree lighting at 6 p.m. and an outdoor movie (Home Alone 2) at 6:45 p.m.
CAROLS ON THE GREEN Houston Grand Opera hosts the seventh annual Carols on the Green showcase and sing-along, in partnership with Discovery Green, on Sat., Dec. 9. The family-friendly evening will feature music celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah. Ugly sweaters encouraged.
Mayor Sylvester Turner will kick off the holiday season at the annual event, which includes live music, dance performances, and the lighting of the holiday tree. American Idol star and Grammy nominee, Jordin Sparks, will headline the event. The event finale will feature the lighting of the tree and the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah orchestrated and timed with the fireworks. Santa will be onsite for free photos.
Southside Place Winter Wonderland Carnival Sat., Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Southside Clubhouse and surrounding fields Admission: $25/each for individuals over 2 years old; meal tickets: $8; drink tickets: $2 The annual Southside Place Winter Wonderland Carnival will include carnival games, inflatables, a holiday market, face painting, food and drinks, Santa, and a huge pile of snow.
Levy Park Holiday Festival Dec. 2-3, 12-5 p.m. Levy Park, 3801 Eastside St. Admission: Free The sixth annual Levy Park Holiday Festival is a two-day festival featuring a holiday market, craft station, live music performances throughout the park, a special performance by River Oaks Dance, a free photo booth with Santa, and food and drink concessions.
Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular Sat., Dec. 2, 6-8 p.m. City Hall, 901 Bagby St. Admission: Free
West U Christmas Tree Lighting Mon., Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m. West U Community Building and Senior Center, 6104 Auden St.
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Admission: Free The City of West University Place welcomes the holiday season with the lighting of the Christmas tree. Also, in celebration of West University Place Centennial, the City’s Centennial logo will be unveiled. Take home a special commemorative ornament to add a piece of local history to your Christmas tree. Christmas Village at Bayou Bend Dec. 8-30; closed Dec. 11, 18, 24-25. Open 5:30-9 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. (except Dec. 26); Open 5:30-10 p.m. Fri., Sat., and Tues., Dec. 26. Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, 6003 Memorial Dr. Admission: General Admission: $18 adult and youth (ages 13+); $12 child (ages 5-12); free for children ages 4 and younger. Premium Nights (Dec. 89, 15-16, 22, 23, 26, 29, 30) are $21/adult and youth (ages 13+); $14 child (ages 5-12) Discover an immersive holiday experience at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens during Christmas Village at Bayou Bend, presented by Texas Children’s. A dazzling bridge transports visitors into a winter wonderland featuring thousands of lights (continued on page 30)
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estate. Sled down a faux-snow slide; toss around cotton snowballs; watch a handcrafted model train circle the beautiful Christmas tree; enjoy games for all ages; enjoy a 3D video animation; listen to music from carolers and play holiday tunes at music-bell stations. Tour the first floor of Ima Hogg’s historic house to see live actors, theatrical effects, and beautiful Christmas decorations ($5). Photos with Santa ($10) are available through Dec. 23. A variety of food and drinks will be available for purchase. AIA Gingerbread Build-Off Sat., Dec. 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Levy Park, 3801 Eastside St. Admission: Free to spectate Architecture Center Houston hosts the 14th Annual Gingerbread Build-Off in which competing teams will create their masterpieces using 100 percent edible materials. Cheer on the teams, play in the kids’ construction zone, participate in the kids’ scavenger hunt, and take a photo with Santa. Carols on the Green Sat., Dec. 9, 7-8:30 p.m. Discovery Green, Anheuser-Busch Stage, 1500 McKinney St. Admission: Free Houston Grand Opera hosts the seventh annual Carols on the Green showcase and singalong, in partnership with Discovery Green. The family-friendly evening will feature music celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah performed by singers from HGO community partners, plus interactive activities for attendees of all ages. Guests are invited to wear festive holiday attire (ugly sweaters encouraged). PJ Library’s Chanukah Celebrations at Children’s Museum Houston Sun., Dec. 10, 1-5:30 p.m.; Thurs., Dec. 14, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Children’s Museum Houston, 1500 Binz St. Admission: General admission, Dec. 10; Free, Dec. 14 (Free Admission Day) PJ Library is bringing Chanukah to the Children’s Museum. On Sun., Dec. 10, PJ Library will be set up at the Museum from 15:30 p.m., with Chanukah-themed craft tables, story times each hour, Chanukah singalongs, book tables, giveaways, and special guests. On Thursday, Dec. 14, PJ Library is hosting Carla Friend, a Jewish children’s musician from New York, who will give Chanukah-themed performances at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. There will be a hall full of tables with Chanukah books, arts and crafts, and giveaways. Bellaire Chanukah Festival Sun., Dec. 10, 4 p.m. Bellaire Town Square, 7008 S. Rice Ave. Admission: Adult: $10; Child: $8; Family (dinner included): $36. RSVP: jewishbellaire.com/chanukah
The Shul of Bellaire hosts the 2023 Bellaire Chanukah Festival featuring a giant menorah lighting, a fire show, Chanukah crafts, face painting, inflatables, a dinner buffet including latkes and donuts, and a Chanukah gelt and parachute drop.
Houston Zoo
(continued from page 28) throughout the 14-acre
Champagne and Candy Canes Market Thurs., Dec. 14, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Evelyn’s Park Event Center, 4400 Bellaire Blvd. Admission: Free; $3 mimosas Shop crafts and gifts from local vendors at a holiday-themed market held at Evelyn’s Park Event Center. Santa will make an appearance, 5-7 p.m. The Memorial Villages’ Twinkle Light Parade ZOO LIGHTS The Houston Zoo is transformed into an illuminated winter wonderThurs., Dec. 14, 6 p.m. land during the annual Zoo Lights event. Starts at Frostwood Felipe and Westheimer Elementary School, 12214 Memorial Dr. Admission: Free Admission: Free This year, the 300 dazzling 20 ft. holiday trees The parade departs from Frostwood along Post Oak Boulevard will be illuminated Elementary at 6 and will end in the parking lot through New Years. (The Uptown Holiday of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church Lighting event will no longer take place.) In (MDPC). Festivities at MDPC will include hot addition to the two-mile light show, Uptown is chocolate, a holiday-cookie decorating station, decorated with more than 1,000 twinkling stars snow, holiday music, and photo opps with Santa. and festive pageantry. Visitors can enjoy the holiday tree light show synced to festive music by Family Movie Night: The Polar Express downloading the Uptown Radio app, available Fri., Dec. 15, 7 p.m. on the Apple App Store and Google App Store. Levy Park, 3801 Eastside St. Admission: Free Cistern Illuminated Wear pajamas and enjoy a free screening of Through Jan. 7; Weds.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. classic holiday movie The Polar Express (G) pre(30-minute tours) sented by Texas Children’s. Outdoor furniture Buffalo Bayou Cistern, 105b Sabine St. is not permitted; blankets or the park’s chairs Admission: $12 can be used. Buffalo Bayou Cistern will light up for the holidays with Cistern Illuminated, a winter light Winter Wonderlawn at POST installation. It’s the second year the cistern has Through Dec. 31, starting at 6 p.m. every night hosted Houston artist/engineer Kelly O’Brien; POST, 401 Franklin St. this year will include new audio and visual eleAdmission: $15; kids 5 and under are free ments to create a more immersive experience. POST's five-acre rooftop garden, Skylawn, is In addition to tours, the cistern will host Schola decked out with thousands of beautifully illumiCantorum of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred nated holiday lights and festive decor, including Heart, who will perform on select dates alonga 25-foot Christmas tree and multiple holidayside the backdrop of the light installation. themed activations, with the downtown Children ages 9+ only. Houston skyline as the backdrop.
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Uptown Houston Holiday Lights Through New Years 2024 Uptown Houston, Post Oak Blvd., between San
Magical Winter Lights Through Jan. 7, 2024; Sun.-Thurs: 5-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat: 5-11 p.m.; Extended (continued on page 32)
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(continued from page 30) Hours: Dec. 24-Jan. 1.
Katy Mills Mall, 5000 Katy Mills Mall Circle Admission: Adult: $25; Family 4-pack: $88; senior (65+)/child (3-12): $18 This dazzling festival features thousands of intricately designed lanterns in various themes, shapes, and sizes. Walk through illuminated tunnels, view towering sculptures, take part in interactive exhibits, and enjoy music and entertainment.
Radiant Nature at Houston Botanic Garden Through Feb. 25; open Fridays-Sundays; open certain weeknights around the holidays. See the website for specific dates. Timed entry is offered at 30minute intervals from 6-8:30 p.m. each night the show is open. Last entry is 9 p.m. Radiant Nature closes at 10 p.m. Houston Botanic Garden, 1 Botanic Ln. Admission: $28/person. Children ages 3 and under are free. More than 50 large Chinese lantern installations come to life in stunning displays that showcase the beauty of nature and celebrate the Lunar New Year. View a majestic 200-footlong dragon, a soaring 12-foot-tall peacock with a fan that gracefully unfurls, and more. Explore an interactive zone buzzing with illuminated swings, whimsical seesaws, a digital kaleidoscope you can step inside, and other immersive features. Vendors will be on site selling festive food and drinks. Houston Zoo Lights Through Jan. 7, 5:30-10:30 p.m. Last entry at 9:30 p.m. Houston Zoo, 6200 Hermann Park Dr. Admission: Adult/child (ages 3+): Starts at $22.95 The Houston Zoo will be transformed into an illuminated winter wonderland at the annual Zoo Lights presented by TXU Energy. Enjoy a “snowy” scene featuring ski lifts; life-sized animal lanterns along the Zoo Lights path; an illuminated, interactive dance floor; a new, colorful holiday light tunnel.
Worth the Drive Dickens on the Strand Dec. 1-3 The Strand, Galveston Admission: Adults: $20 in advance; youth: $15 in advance. Separate tickets for special events. Travel back in time during the 50th Annual Dickens on The Strand, a holiday street festival
Photo courtesy of Space Center Houston
The ICE at Discovery Green Through Jan. 28; times vary each day. Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St. Admission to The Ice: $17, plus tax, including skate rentals Skate around the ice rink at Discovery Green, Houston’s only outdoor skating rink. Throughout the Ice season, there will be special events and happenings at The Ice, including Skate with Santa, Skating Stars, DJs, and more. GALAXY LIGHTS Visit Space Center Houston for an out-of-this-world holiday experience.
that turns The Strand into the Victorian London of Charles Dickens. The festival includes costumed characters, street performers and vendors, parades, holiday food and drink, Victorian-inspired crafts and more. Attendees are encouraged to dress in period costumes. Polar Express Train Ride Through Dec. 23, weekends and select dates Galveston Railroad Museum, 123 25th St. Admission: Adult tickets start at $39; child tickets (3-12) start at $34. Set to the soundtrack of the motion picture, The Polar Express is theatrically recreated to immerse passengers in the sights and sounds of the classic children’s tale while they travel for a magical one-hour trip to meet Santa. Meet many of the characters from the film. Come dressed in PJs and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate served by singing chefs. The train ride consists of six separate cars pulled by vintage locomotives from the Galveston Railroad Museum’s collection. Santa’s Wonderland Through Dec. 30, every evening, including major holidays. Hours vary. Santa’s Wonderland grounds, 188898 Hwy 6, College Station Admission: Tickets range depending on date. Onsite adult admission is $54.95; children $49.95. Discounted tickets in advance online. Some activities are excluded from general admission. Santa’s Wonderland, located in College Station, Texas, features a multitude of festive, family-friendly holiday attractions spread across acres of wonderland. Activities include Santa's Hayride Tour, Meet Texas Santa (who will be clad in cowboy boots and hat), Snow Tubing, Snow Playground, Walkable Trail of Lights, Christmas Shopping, Santa Barnyard (including a petting zoo and pony rides), campfires, live music, Christmas
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movies, and more. Sugar Land Holiday Lights Through Jan. 1; Sun.-Thurs., 6-9 p.m.; FridaySaturday and holidays, 6-10 p.m. Constellation Field, 1 Stadium Dr., Sugar Land Admission: Varies by event date. No ticket needed for kids 3 and younger. The 10th annual Sugar Land Holiday Lights presented by Houston Methodist features 3.5 million lights, Santa Claus (until Dec. 23), a dazzling 40 ft. lit-up tree, light shows, numerous themed displays, plus holiday vendors offering gifts to browse and great food. Holiday in the Gardens Through Jan. 6 Moody Gardens, Galveston, 1 Hope Blvd. Admission: Ice Land: Starts at $29 for adults; $24 for kids/seniors; Festival of Lights: Starts at $25 for adults, $21 for kids/senior. Holiday Pass and other packages available. Moody Gardens transforms into Holiday in the Gardens, offering festive, family-friendly attractions include Ice Land, Festival of Lights – a mile-long walking trail decked out with two million lights and filled with sound-enhanced, lighted, and animated displays themed to holiday music – an outdoor ice rink, an Arctic Slide, train rides, holiday 3D and 4D films, and more. Space Center Houston’s Galaxy Lights Through Jan. 7, 6-10 p.m.; closed Dec. 7, Dec. 24-25 Space Center Houston, 1601 E NASA Pkwy. Admission: $19.95-27.95; kids 3 and younger are free Galaxy Lights, presented by Reliant, is a spacethemed holiday light show. Light displays give a nod to Houston and our city’s role in the history of space exploration. Enjoy festive treats and cozy bonfires, including make-your-own s’mores, and hot cocoa.
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Anton Banta/ Food styling by Caroline Siegfried
FOOD by Caroline Siegfried, staff writer
Gin-gle All the Way Have yourself a merry little cocktail
A
s the youngest in a family of five, with 14 years separating me from my oldest sister, it can be difficult to find a good “sibling activity.” Movies were the holiday go-to for a while – I think I saw Anchorman when I was seven. The past few years, we replaced movies with puzzles, and then a wine and board game night. Last year, we came up with a new twist – bring your own signature cocktail. I would say it’s a TikTok trend, but I was told that “Gen Z can’t just claim cocktails.” Regardless, it’s a fun way for everyone to get involved – each person is more invested when they own a part of it. Cocktails of the night included an old fashioned, a spicy paloma, and “Pliny’s Tonic” from Anvil Bar & Refuge. For me, the idea is to tap into that kind of creative spirit that you had when you were a kid: Have a little fun and bring a little bit of yourself into it. Don’t just go through the motions; make a bit of time to do something different. Be embarrassingly and genuinely engaged. This holiday season, maybe you’ll want to try out a BYO-cocktail night or introduce your family to a cocktail they can make every year. I’ve gathered a few crowd-pleaser cocktail recipes and garnishes here, and I hope they inspire you to find your very own sparkly reserve of holiday magic.
Classic Cocktail with a Twist One lesson I’ve learned: You’ve got to tailor your drinks to the crowd. One Christmas, I tried to make a blue cocktail for my siblings – this was met with pure derision, comparisons to toxic waste, etc. Now I save my neon-colored drinks for my friends. Last year, I went with a classic drink that’s hard to dislike: a French 75. I made it special by learning how to do a special lemon twist garnish. This is my recipe! A Festive French 75 1 ½ ounces (3 Tablespoons) gin 3 ⁄4 ounces lemon juice 3 ⁄4 ounces simple syrup 3 ounces (about half a glass) Champagne or sparkling wine
Pour gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker filled with ice. Shake for 10-15 seconds, strain out the ice, and pour into a glass. Pour sparkling wine to the top of the glass. Gently stir. Lemon Twist Garnish 1 lemon Straw for shaping I’ve found that the WINE-TER SEASON Kelley Green, a resident of Braes Heights, dresses up a easiest way to do this is glass of red wine with a “frosted” rosemary sprig. with a vegetable peeler. ice. Close, seal, and shake until very cold (at You can also use a paring knife. Take a whole least 20 seconds). Place a strainer on top of the lemon and peel in a spiral motion around the shaker and pour into two glasses. outside, trying to make the peel as thin as you can. You can then twist it around a straw and For a Crowd hold it for a few seconds – the warmth of your Sometimes making individual cocktails is not hand will help the peel keep its shape. Place the the move. My friend Nick has spent many a lemon peel on the rim of the glass and garnish night regretting his decision to make espresso with berries. martinis. Once he’s made about six, there is an Note: I always serve this in a champagne flute or unmistakable look of pure dread in his eyes – wine glass. I love a coupe glass, but the wide mouth after that, he just pretends not to hear us. It’s a of a coupe will quickly release the carbonation. No good strategy. more bubbles! The narrow opening of a champagne Does the thought of making individual cockflute will keep your drink bubbly longer. tails sound kind of like that Greek myth where Sisyphus rolls the boulder up the hill to you? After-Dinner Drink (You’re correct, it is pretty much exactly that.) For My all-time favorite drink is an espresso mara larger party, you can try making a batch drink. tini. They are the ideal dancing fuel, although Brittany McDowell, mom of four and health they do require a bit of effort. My brother Will coach, loves this recipe for a winter sangria from got married last November, and one of the sigHoustonian Marcia Smart of Smart in the nature cocktails at their reception was an espresKitchen. This winter sangria is “so easy to make, so martini. This is his espresso martini recipe tastes delicious, and looks very beautiful and col(from Defined Dish cookbook The Comfortable orful on the counter. What I love about this Kitchen by Alex Snodgrass). drink is that it calls for fresh ingredients and you can really use whatever seasonal fruits you preEspresso Martini fer. We used figs, clementines, and pears.” 3 ounces vodka 1 ounce Kahlúa Winter Sangria 1 ounce simple syrup 3 tangerines sliced thin, or 1 small navel 1 ½ ounces hot espresso orange or blood orange 1 bottle Prosecco, Cava, or Champagne In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, 3 cups pomegranate juice (continued on page 36) Kahlúa, simple syrup, and hot espresso. Fill with
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Anton Banta/ Food styling by Caroline Siegfried
Anton Banta/ Food styling by Caroline Siegfried
Anton Banta/ Food styling by Caroline Siegfried
Anton Banta/ Food styling by Caroline Siegfried
MISTLE-TOAST Top left: A batch of winter sangria can be filled with your favorite fresh seasonal fruits, like oranges and pomegranates. Top right: An espresso martini gets a cold-weather makeover with a “snowy” coconut rim. Bottom left: The spiral-shaped lemon twist on this classic French 75 is surprisingly simple to create. Bottom right: The frosty green of this sugared garnish, plus a pop of red from the raspberry, adds winter magic to any drink. 1 ⁄4 cup brandy or cognac 1 cup pomegranate seeds 1 pear halved, seeded and sliced into thin slices ½ cup seedless Thompson grapes or red grapes cut in half 2 cinnamon sticks 2 star anise
(continued from page 34)
Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and stir to combine. Serve in ice-filled glasses.
Garnishes for a Frosty Finish Not everyone is a cocktail drinker, including Braes Heights resident Kelley Green. When I asked her for a favorite cocktail, she said, “I drink wine!” But even if you stick to wine, you can try a simple wintery garnish like the two I
came up with below, to add a little sparkle to your holiday beverages. Evergreen Sprig Garnish 1 sprig of rosemary 4 Tablespoons sugar 2 raspberries Dip a sprig of rosemary in water, pat it almost dry with a paper towel, and then roll it in sugar. Ta da, snowy evergreen sprig! Stick two raspberries on the less leafy end for a mistletoe-like look. Set it across the top of any glass (wine or cocktail) for a little festivity. Snowy Glass Rim Garnish This will work for most creamier cocktails, like an espresso martini or eggnog, especially if
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you use unsweetened coconut – it’s not an overwhelming taste. It gives your drink a frosty sort of look. ½ cup shredded coconut If needed, 1 tsp honey If you don’t know how to rim a glass, it’s simple: Fill a shallow bowl with water and dip the rim of the cup. Spread shredded coconut on a plate and roll the rim around until it is coated. A warning: on a normal glass, water will be enough to make the coconut stick. With a martini glass (as shown here) you’ll need something a bit stickier, since the rim is wider than the base. If needed, you can substitute honey for water. You can also put your glasses in the freezer to add to the frosted-over look. Cheers to the holiday season!
Cindy Burnett
ARTS by Cindy Burnett, staff writer
Best Books of the Year Reflecting on 2023 reads
A
s the year draws to a close, I enjoy reflecting on everything I read in 2023. So many stellar books were published, and it took me a while, but I narrowed down my favorites across three categories. These novels resonated the most with me.
Historical Fiction Go As a River by Shelley Read – Go As a River tells the story of one woman’s hardscrabble existence in 1940s Iola, Colorado and how she learns to make her way in a man’s world. Read’s incredibly strong sense of place and her ability to bring the natural world to life are the backbones of the story, and the characters and their tales stole my heart. Homecoming by Kate Morton – In the South Australian town of Tambilla, a delivery driver discovers a dead body on Christmas Eve, 1959, on the grounds of a magnificent mansion. Six decades later, a young woman is stunned to discover that her family may have a connection to the crime. Morton’s prose is stunning, and she brings Australia and her characters to life on the page. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters – A Mi’kmaq family’s 4-year-old child goes missing one summer while the family is in Maine working the blueberry fields. Interspersed with their story is Norma’s tale of growing up in a wealthy Maine household, with dreams of an earlier life that feel more like memories. The story is not what happened to Ruthie, because we know that she is Norma; instead, The Berry Pickers is a beautiful and powerful tale about grief and tragedy and the lifelong repercussions of dealing with both. The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook – This beautifully crafted story set in 1868 Reconstruction-Era Texas is narrated by 19-yearold Benjamin Shreve to a young child, Tot, who he meets on the Texas frontier, as he recounts the dangerous journey the pair embark on with the child’s mom across the state to a distant port. Benjamin’s smart, heartfelt, and witty narration makes the story as well as the manner in which Crook brings 1860s Texas vividly to life.
Contemporary Fiction Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano – With Little Women as a jumping off point, Napolitano
crafts an engrossing family drama centered around the four Padavano sisters and William BEST OF THE YEAR Book reviewer Cindy Burnett lists her top reads of 2023, includWaters who ing historical-fiction novel Homecoming by Kate Morton. becomes interbody was never found. This page turner kept me twined with them and inadvertently threatens on the edge of my seat. to rupture their bond. Hello Beautiful portrays Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for life, loss, and love in all of its different forms and Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto – When 60the extraordinary power of human connection. year-old Vera Wong finds a dead body in her tea The Mostly True Story of Tanner and shop, she calls the police. Frustrated with the Louise by Colleen Oakley – 21-year-old Tanner police’s investigative work (it looks nothing like is hired to keep 84-year-old Louise company how the cops solve cases on TV), she decides to after Louise has a fall. One evening, Louise do a little detective work herself. Filled with wakes Tanner up and insists that they leave humor and hijinks, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited immediately (in a car Tanner didn’t even know Advice for Murderers is so much fun. existed) and head across the country. Over the Drowning by T.J. Newman – Drowning is a course of their hilarious adventure, the two heart-pounding thriller that grabbed me from women develop a strong bond. This book is a page one and did not let up until it was over. Six delight from page one. minutes after Flight 1421 takes off from The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Honolulu, the plane plummets into the ocean. Lange – The three Connelly siblings lost their parAs the passengers and crew work to evacuate the ents when they were young, and life has not been aircraft, an engine explodes, and the plane easy for them since. When Tara is released from begins to flood. Those still inside the plane prison and returns home to live with Geraldine attempt to seal themselves inside the plane and and Eddie, she upsets the uneasy equilibrium that hope it will float until they can be rescued. the pair had reached while she was gone. I thorThe Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos – After oughly enjoyed the sibling dynamics and am a retiring from the Army, Porter Beck returns huge fan of Lange’s writing and characters. home to take on the role as sheriff of Lincoln The Great Transition by Nick Fuller County, located in the high desert of Nevada. Googins – Set in the future when climate change When a retired FBI agent is killed, a mystery has altered our planet, Emi and her parents, Larch from 60 years ago involving a Russian KGB and Kristina, reside in Nuuk, Greenland. When agent who came to pilfer the United States’ Emi’s mom goes missing and a dozen climate nuclear technology appears to be linked to the criminals are brazenly murdered, Emi and Larch recent death. The nuclear testing site storyline, head out in search of Kristina. Told through sevthe FBI aspects of the story, and the ending eral points of view as well as Emi’s school essays, make this an all-around fabulous read. this stellar and hopeful debut is a standout. Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter – TV director Guy Howard hopes to solve the 20Mystery/Thriller year-old murder of his stepdad by revisiting the Time’s Undoing by Cheryl A. Head – In crime in a Netflix docu-drama series. Relayed in 1929, Robert Lee Harrington relocates his famscript format, the investigation and evidence are ily to Birmingham for a job, and the city is a presented in the form of emails, text messages, great place to live – except for the fact that the and newspaper articles. I am a huge fan of stories Klan is very active there. In 2019, Robert’s told in unique formats, and Murder in the Family great-granddaughter, Meghan McKenzie, is a clear standout. becomes interested in his murder and why his
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KIDS
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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Buzz Baby
Christmas ornament traditions
Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones. Writer Annie McQueen is a mother of four children under the age of 9.
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he Solar family has a cherished Christmas ornament tradition that has been carried throughout generations. Rachel Solar, a realtor, and her husband, Sebastien, a bank president, are parents to Sebby, 10, Beau, 8, and Pia Jane, 4. This tradition was started by Rachel’s grandmother, Myriam Martin, a Santa Claus collectible enthusiast. Each year, when Rachel and her siblings and cousins were young, her grandmother gifted her grandchildren a Santa Christmas ornament. She would usually tie the ornament to a gift, adding to the excitement of opening their gifts. Every child received a different one. The tree was covered in Santa ornaments, making a big, colorful display full of Christmas cheer. The tradition started when they were babies so as she grew into her teens, then 20s, a beautiful collection of keepsakes from childhood filled her tree. As the ornaments faded, they still looked as pretty as ever hanging on the branches of the family tree. The collecting of Santa Claus ornaments evolved into a family tradition that has marked the passage of years. “I have a crochet angel from my [other] grandmother Mary Etheridge, who passed away in 2017. It was always on her tree, and now it is forever on mine,” said Rachel. Today, Rachel has embraced the tradition for her children. “I am a highly sentimental person,” she said. It is not about having a designer tree, or ornaments too valuable or fragile to touch; for the Solar family, it is about displaying little trinkets that hold a lot of meaning. She changed it up a bit from her childhood; instead of a Santa ornament for each child, Sebby gets a star ornament, Beau gets a bear ornament, and Pia Jane gets a bell ornament. Rachel describes their tree as far from a curated masterpiece; it is a collection of ornaments that tell stories of years gone by, family history, special times, and generations. “The tree reflects the different phases of our lives," Rachel says.
MEMORIES ON THE TREE These Buzz families have Christmas-ornament traditions that have been passed on through the years. On left: Siblings Sebby, Beau, and Pia Jane Solar each receive a special ornament for Christmas; Sebby gets a star ornament, Beau gets a bear ornament, and Pia Jane gets a bell ornament. On right: Poppy and Wills Cumbie’s handmade ornaments hang on their tree.
“It's our very own memory book." Strolling through their home during the holiday season, the warmth of the Christmas spirit can be felt from the living room where their tree sits. Every ornament has a tale to tell. Among them, special ornaments mark the arrival of each child’s first Christmas. The children wear Christmas outfits and pose in front of their tree in front of their memory books of ornaments. The Solar family’s Christmas tradition is an annual opportunity to celebrate the joy of family and togetherness and carry on a tradition that meant so much to Rachel as a child and does to this day. It serves as a reminder that sometimes the most valuable gifts are often the simplest ones. This ornament magic is also felt by the Rucker family. They have created a special tradition for their kids, Genevieve, 11, Weston, 9, and Hayden, 6. “It started when they were born,” said their mom, Jacqui Rucker. “I bought them each something special, and then as the years passed, I got them something that related
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to a first, like a seashell for the first time to the beach, a tooth for losing their first tooth, a football for the first time playing.” Her children eagerly anticipate their yearly ornament. “They love guessing what it will be,” said Jacqui. These ornaments are more than mere decorations; they represent milestones and achievements for the kids to proudly hang on the tree. The Cumbie family collects handmade ornaments with their children’s photos made from school photos. Lindsey Cumbie and her husband Sean have two children, Poppy, 5, and Wills, 4. Their tree becomes like a scrapbook of memories from the passing years, holding memories and adding more each year. An ornament might be small, but its meaning can be so big. These families come together during the holiday season to celebrate the Christmas season, and in ways that give even more meaning to a meaningful time of the year. Now, that is a tradition worth passing on.
Your smile can last forever
Anna Maria Salas, D.D.S., M.S. Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics
3642 University Blvd., Suite 102 Houston, TX 77005 www.westuortho.com 713-481-4885
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ DECEMBER 2023 41
Cindy Burnett
ARTS
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by Cindy Burnett, staff writer
Buzz Reads
Five picks for December
Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles. Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (speculative fiction) – Have you ever wanted to travel back in time to try and revisit some person or event in your life? In a quiet back alley in Tokyo, Café Funiculi Funicula allows customers to do just that – take a trip into the past. But strict rules exist: the present will not change, the customer cannot leave the chair that allows the travel, each traveler must return in the time it takes for their coffee to get cold, and more. In Before We Say Goodbye, four new visitors arrive at the café to travel back in time. These moving and thoughtprovoking stories will have you re-evaluating some of your own encounters and relationships as well as pondering what would you change if you could travel back in time. While this is the fourth installment in this series, each one can be easily read as a standalone since the primary focus is the new customers and their journeys. The General and Julia by Jon Clinch (historical fiction) – Near the end of his life and battling throat cancer, Ulysses S. Grant struggles to complete his memoirs before he passes away, in order to leave his family financially sound. He chronicles his love for his family, his role in the Civil War as well as Lee’s surrender, serving as a twice-elected president, losing his entire fortune to a swindler, and his friendship with Samuel Clemens, who ultimately publishes his memoirs. While the focus is clearly on Grant in this tale, the book also serves as a fascinating glimpse into the Civil War and ReconstructionEra years from a perspective I have not encountered previously. This thought-provoking and stunningly crafted story of Grant’s life and legacy from his own perspective will stay with me for a long time. This is a must-read book for historical-fiction fans and history lovers alike; it will be one of my top reads of the year. If You Would Have Told Me by John Stamos (memoir) – Who doesn’t recognize John Stamos? The star of Full House, ER, General Hospital, and two Broadway shows is a very rec-
ognizable individual, and in his new memoir, he regales us with fabulous insider stories about his time touring with the Beach Boys (they are personal friends of his), working on Full House and ER, and starring in two Broadway shows. He also chronicles his close relationship with his parents and the role they played in his success as well as WHAT TO READ This month’s selections include a celebrity memoir, a feelhis struggles with addic- good nonfiction title, a time-travel book, a reimagining of Pride and Prejudice, tion. He seems much and a historical-fiction pick about Ulysses S Grant. more down-to-earth The Purest Bond: Understanding the than I would have imagined, and I thoroughly Human-Canine Connection by Jen Golbeck and enjoyed his stories about pursuing fame, Stacey Colino (nonfiction) – The Purest Bond Hollywood, his friendship with Bob Saget, and combines the science behind why the connection fatherhood. The audiobook is a delight: Stamos between humans and dogs exists with real-life stonarrates it, and Jamie Lee Curtis reads her ries of the pets that have changed various humans’ touching Foreword to the book. This will make lives. The authors explore the physical, social, coga great gift for the holidays. nitive, and emotional effects of having a dog as a Meet the Benedettos by Katie Cotugno companion and why these connections are more (fiction) – Billed as Pride and Prejudice meets important than ever in our increasingly isolating the Kardashians, Meet the Benedettos is an ultraworld. During the pandemic, dog adoptions more modern retelling of Jane Austen’s most endurthan doubled as people realized that bonding with ing novel. The Benedettos, a once “famous” a dog can provide so many fabulous mental-health family who entertained viewers with their benefits as well as helping combat loneliness. Most escapades and over-the-top lifestyle on a reality importantly, dogs remind us of all that is good in show, are now encountering financial difficulthe world – companionship, affection, spending ties following the show’s cancellation several time outside, love, and sunshine – even during years prior. When popular actor Charlie these trying times. As a dog lover, reading this one Bingley rents a home in their neighborhood made me smile, and I loved learning more about with his best friend Will Darcy, certain memthe science behind our affection for canines. This bers of the Benedetto family believe that their is the perfect book for the dog lover in your life. futures are looking brighter. The story is relayed through multiple points of view, which Editor’s note: Southside Place resident Cindy worked splendidly by keeping the story moving Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners colat a fast pace while allowing the reader to learn umn at thebuzzmagazines.com. She hosts the more about each character’s perspective. award-winning Thoughts from a Page Podcast, is Moreover, Cotugno’s social commentary co-creator of the Houston literary event series strikes a cord, much like Austen’s did two cenConversations from the Page, runs the Instagram turies ago. Side note to those who have never account @thoughtsfromapage, and regularly speaks watched The Kardashians: I have not either, but to groups about books. this book worked very well for me.
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TRAVEL
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by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
Travel Buzz T
At Home in Two Worlds: The Melena-Maci Family
he Melena-Maci family has woven a life with threads from many places, but the two that stand out are West U, Houston, Texas, and Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy. Two places as different as they can be, but complementary in a way that makes their lives uniquely ItalianHoustonian. Their story begins in the ancient and picturesque city of Chieti, perched on a hill overlooking the Pescara Valley and the Gran Sasso mountains, just a two-hour drive from Rome but a whole other world away. Annalisa Maci and Mauro Melena were both born and raised in Chieti. There they went to high school together, then went their separate ways in college in L’Aquila and Pescara, both cities not far from Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Mauro became a mechanical engineer and Annalisa, an architect. After college, they began dating and eventually married. One thing the couple clearly had in common is that they both always knew that as much as they loved their homeland, they would leave to follow their dreams. “It's unusual, you know, in my hometown to have people living so far away,” said Annalisa. Indeed, she and Mauro are both the only ones in their family to do so. Their first home outside Italy was London, where Mauro began working in the petroleum industry, and Annalisa finished her architectural studies. From there, they moved to Houston, where Claudia, now 20, was born; Paris and Italy again, where Federico was born. After four happy years in Italy, the family lived in Houston again before moving to Stavanger, Norway, in 2012. In Stavanger, they surprisingly met many Houstonians whom they are still best friends with now that they are all back in Houston. But the link between the two worlds has always been strongest for them in the breathtakingly beautiful region of their birth. Abruzzo encompasses human settlements dating back to Neolithic times. Abruzzo’s territory was part of the Roman Empire practically since its inception and is rich in archeological sites such as temples and amphitheaters. Medieval castles and towers dot the hillsides and the coastline. Stretching from the Gran Sasso Range in the west, the high-
est of the Apennines range, the region extends to the Adriatic Sea’s Trabocchi Coast in the east, named for the traditional wooden fishing piers found along its sandy beaches. Nearly half of Abruzzo is protected natural parks, home to rare and endangered species such as the Abruzzo chamois, the Apennine wolf, and the Marsican brown bear. In Abruzzo, the family spends their days catching up and enjoying hikes together in the mountains, walks on the beach, biking along the trail that runs the length of the coast, cooking, ALL TOGETHER NOW The Melena-Maci family, clockwise from upper left: Mauro Melena, Annalisa Maci, Claudia Melena, exchange student Rori and dining at some of Domenghini, and Federico Melena. their favorite restaurants. taglio typically available in the bakeries, or to Not surprisingly, the Melenas go and spend make it an occasion at one of the many fine dintime with their family in Chieti every chance ing establishments in the nearby villages or on they get. Christmases in Chieti are a given – the beach. Seaside, many of the traditional traother than a couple of years during the Covidbocchi (fishing piers) have been converted into 19 pandemic, they haven’t missed a year. There restaurants overlooking the water. is always room in the family home with They fly into Rome with a layover in Paris or Annalisa’s parents and sister, with a whole floor Amsterdam, for a trip that takes nearly a full 24 just for their family. hours. In Rome they either rent a car or take a Christmases are spent preparing and sharing bus that takes them through a tunnel under the favorite dishes like baccalà (salted cod), arrosticimountains, where they arrive in Chieti in a little ni (grilled skewered meats, usually locally raised over two hours. sheep, in the Abruzzo tradition), thin-crust pizza Christmas is especially beautiful, with the and homemade pasta, and fresh fish and seafood towns and cities and main roads decked out in coldishes from the nearby coast. ored lights. Local choirs perform in the churches For dessert, their favorites include chiacchiere and the piazzas, and Midnight Mass on Christmas (crumbly fried pastries), castagnole (deep-fried Eve is a beloved family tradition. Visiting dough balls, crispy on the outside and soft on the Christmas markets throughout the city of Chieti inside), bocconotti (a small cake the size of a cookand nearby Pescara is another favorite activity, ie filled with the jam of Montepulciano grapes with the occasional visit to the most famous called scrucchiata, sprinkled with powdered sugar), Christmas Market in Rome’s Piazza Navona. and of course, tiramisú and panna cotta. “Christmas is a continuous celebration for Going out to eat is always a treat, whether it’s three days, because even the day after just to grab a gelato or a quick slice of pizza al
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WEAVING WORLDS Top left: Claudia, Rori, and Federico share traditional Italian Christmas cakes, the panettone and the pandoro. Top right: The Melena family at Calascio, a small town in the heart of Abruzzo surrounded by the mountains of the Gran Sasso. Bottom left: Chieti historic center, facing the main street of Corso Marrucino, which follows the shape of the main hill of the town, along which tourists can visit historical buildings like palazzi (palaces) with porches, churches, and the theater. Bottom right: Panettone and pandoro are always better with a little Italian espresso.
Christmas, it's a holiday for us: it's St. Stephen’s Day, and so we gather again with family and friends for dinner and table games.” St. Stephen is considered to be the first Christian martyr, and his day is celebrated with a third day of feasting, carnivals, and festivals. Most of their time in Italy is spent with family in Abruzzo, but Annalisa and Mauro wanted their children to know the rest of the country, so they planned some travels, such as the time they flew down in February from Norway to Milan and took a train to Venice for Carnevale, Italy’s version of the pre-lenten bacchanalia that occurs in most of the Latin world. Sometimes they’ll take a drive to visit friends in the Marche region, also along the coast to the north of Abruzzo. Or they’ll head south to the heel of Italy’s boot, Lecce, nicknamed the Florence of the South. There they like to spend days at the beaches, a part of the region tucked between the Adriatic and Ionian seas, famous for its soft sandy beaches and rocks with crys-
talline waters, all with Turkish and Greek cultural and culinary influences. They often visit Rome, and have taken the kids to tour the many archaeological sites, such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Rome is an easy place to meet American friends who come for a visit, so they frequently have a reason to go. Recently Federico, 18, has been going to Rome to volunteer with a local organization that does outreach and tutoring with migrant children. Claudia, for her part, spent a semester abroad in Milan, studying at Bocconi University. “I hadn't lived in Italy since I was little, so going back was something that I'd always wanted to do; spending all those summers and Christmases really nourished that passion,” says Claudia. “And I loved being back there and learning more about my culture, and speaking Italian on a regular basis.” She was there at the start of the war in Ukraine and says the experience affected her deeply – not only because several of her classmates were
Ukrainian, but also because of the way in which the university and the community engaged immediately and responded to reach out and help Ukrainian students and families and to march in the streets protesting the Russian invasion. “I feel like it opened my eyes in a way that I would have never been able to experience here in America, just reading an article or something. Because there, you're actually living it. Here, it feels like you're very separated from it, so it doesn't really affect you. But when I was there, it was something that I thought about constantly.” Claudia has maintained her friendships with Ukrainian as well as Italian classmates. And besides their family and friends and their regular trips to Italy, they now have another connection that ties them to home. Last summer, Federico participated in a group campout and hike in the Alps in Northern Italy. There he met Rosalía “Rori” Domenghini, a high school student who had just received a scholarship to study in the United (continued on page 46)
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A TASTE OF ITALY Tiramisú on the left and panna cotta with berries on top on the right. (continued from page 45) States, but was having
trouble finding a host family. It was already July, and classes would be starting in a month. “We understood that this was going to be very difficult for her,” said Annalisa. “So we said, okay, let's try… to find an American family for this girl.” But Annalisa was in Italy at the time, and she couldn’t find anyone willing to host the girl. “So at the end, we said, ‘If it's okay with you, we are all very fluent in English, plus our kids, they just finished school. We know the system, which is very different from the Italian one. So we said, well, if you want, we can offer a place for her here.’ And so she accepted. And so she arrived here in August and it's just a blessing. I feel like I have one of my kids at home.” Rori is from the north of Italy, close to Milan, so the family is learning other traditions from
the north of Italy. And Annalisa, for her part, was happy to have a reprieve from the Empty Nest Syndrome that loomed with Federico leaving for college. “She's already part of the family,” said Annalisa. Rori is now studying at Lamar High School, near their home, and is doing very well. “She's part of the family… we are very happy she is with us.”
Annalisa’s Favorite Tiramisú Recipe 6 eggs 120 grams (1/2 cup) sugar 500 grams (2 cups) mascarpone cream 750 ml coffee (25.36 fluid ounces); Annalisa uses a moka pot to brew her coffee 400 grams savoiardi biscuits (ladyfingers) (about 14 ounces); these can be found at international food markets like Phoenicia
Cocoa powder (enough to cover the top of the last layer, approx. 1/4 cup) Mix the egg whites only until aerated. In a different bowl, mix the sugar and egg yolks till it’s very creamy. Add mascarpone cream. Combine the mix with the egg whites, beating and aerating it using a spatula. Brew about 750 ml of coffee. Prepare the ladyfingers by soaking them in coffee. In a flat container (glass or ceramic 12x8 inch), arrange a layer of ladyfingers previously soaked with coffee. Spread on top a layer of the cream (the sugar and egg yolk mix). Put another layer of ladyfingers soaked with coffee. On top, put a layer of the cream. Spread the top with dark cocoa powder. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours. Serve.
Tips from our Travelers Annalisa shares some tips on travel in Italy. Worth the splurge: Drive to the top of Maiella Mountain during a sunny, clear day to hike and watch the panorama of the coast from the top of the mountain. Visit vineyards to taste local wine like Montepulciano D’Abruzzo and Trebbiano D’Abruzzo. Don’t miss: Trabocchi (fishing platforms today converted into restaurants), Parco Nazionale D’Abruzzo (chamois, wolves, bears and deer), Lago di Scanno (heart-shaped lake known for its fine handcrafts and jewelry), and the Castle of Rocca Calascio, set of the American film Ladyhawke. Favorite restaurants: Province of Chieti – Restaurant in Hotel Mamma Rosa in the village of Pretoro near the city of Chieti; Restaurant Casamoro and Pizzeria Fermenta Chieti; Gli Ostinati al Trabocco Mucchiola; SottoSale Osteria di Mare and Gastropescheria Blu Mare in San Vito Chietino. Pescara – Lido Il Corallo. Restaurant Lido il Gabbiano in Francavilla Al Mare. Pack: Trekking shoes, backpack, and hat in summer. Gloves and snow jacket in winter. Don’t pack: Too many clothes; you will shop at the local open-air markets and stores. Don’t forget: To try: gelato, arrosticini, and wine. To visit: castles, lakes, and churches; fashion stores in Pescara city. Safety tip: Watch the weather forecast if you decide to hike in the mountains and let others know which trail you are going to. Don’t leave bags or personal valuable items visible in your car. Unexpected hit: Walking along the coast at San Vito Chietino finding the local fish ready to be served. Driving through one of the small villages in the Parco Nazionale D’Abruzzo and close to L'Aquila city; spending time at the local market for food and wood artisanal souvenirs. Swimming next to a Trabocco and laying in the sun. Museo Archeologico Nazionale “La Civitella” in Chieti. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ DECEMBER 2023 46
• Full service interior design • Remodeling/new construction 713.419.4200 • wkinteriordesigns.com
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ DECEMBER 2023 47
SPORTS
by Todd Freed, staff writer
David Shutts Photography
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SportzBuzz F
or the eighth time in school history, the Episcopal Knights are Southwest Preparatory Conference football champions. The Knights secured this year’s title with a thrilling 35-25 victory over rival Kinkaid in the SPC 4A final. “It was really special for our senior class,” said Episcopal head football coach Steve Leisz. “Those guys lost a tough one to Kinkaid in last year’s title game and they worked so hard to put themselves in position to win this championship.” The hard-working seniors included quarterback Karson Gordon, who rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Kinkaid. In addition, standout junior running back Brandon Thomas rushed for 125 yards and two scores. Defensively, linebacker Ty Blevins came up with a series of big plays including an interception and forced fumble. The win capped off a triumphant finish to the coaching career for Leisz, who announced his retirement from coaching after 18 years of leading the Episcopal football and wrestling programs. “The story couldn’t have been written any better than to close out my coaching career with a championship,” said Leisz. “Also, I think my wife said it best when we made the decision in August. It’s not about the wins and losses but more about building relationships with these kids. More than coaching, it’s been about developing men of character and following them academically and through life itself.” In his tenure at Episcopal, Leisz’s football teams won five SPC titles, with Leisz being one of only two Texas coaches to have ever been selected as a head coach for the US Army High School All-American Game. In wrestling, Leisz was inducted into the Texas High School Wrestling Hall of Honor and joined an elite number of coaches who own over 500 career tournament victories. “I’ve just been so blessed to be surrounded by so many great players and coaches,” added Leisz.
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ed by a strong finishing kick by several of its runners, the St. Thomas Eagles captured the TAPPS 6A State Country Championship. The Eagles won the meet by an eight-point mar-
KNIGHT OF CHAMPIONS Episcopal Knights’ football coach Steve Leisz raises the championship plaque as the Knights celebrated the SPC 4A football championship with a 35-25 victory over the Kinkaid Falcons.
gin over second-place Antonian at the Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco. Leading the way for St. Thomas was junior Wyatt Johnson, who finished fourth overall in a time 16.44 on a wet and muddy course. “It rained for about five days leading into the race, so conditions were tough,” said Eagles cross country coach Nathan Labus. “Wyatt did what he had to in outkicking a pair of Antonian runners near the finish.” Finishing in seventh place overall was St. Thomas runner David Carbajal while teammate Jaden Stephenson was eleventh. “Much like Wyatt, David and Jaden had to outkick several runners down the final stretch. They dug deep to pass those guys and finish strong,” added Labus. In addition, Eagles seniors Alex Lauzon and his older brother Ben finished 13th and 15th to give the Eagles five of the top 15 finishers while junior Michael Kiefer and freshman Bryce Farrell came in 18th and 19th overall. In all, the Eagles boasted seven of the top 20 finishers out of a field of 85 runners. The title was especially gratifying for Labus, who had previously coached St. Thomas to six state championships in track and field, but this was his first in cross country after multiple runner-up finishes.
A
fter winning their 15th consecutive regional championship, the Memorial Mustangs finished as the UIL 6A state runner-up in team tennis. The Mustangs defeated Plano West 113 in the state semifinals, before ultimately losing
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to Austin Westwood in the state final. “Our final record was 16-1 with our only defeat coming in the state finals, so I’m extremely proud of this group,” said Mustangs tennis coach Budd Booth. “They competed extremely hard from top to bottom and gave 100 percent every time they stepped on the court.” On the girls’ side, sophomore Michelle Li and junior Kat Lowy were the Mustangs number one and two players with the tandem going undefeated in the playoffs in both singles and as doubles partners. For the boys, seniors Egor Morozov and Nate Raney were the Mustangs top two seeds throughout the season. “Those two guys won virtually every one of their singles matches and were undefeated in doubles,” said Booth. “They had great performances and were big leaders on this team.” Booth also had high praise for Memorial assistant coaches Brian Mandell and Carol Andrews. “Our coaches did a great job of getting our players prepared and ready since we started back in August. Only four teams in Texas make it to state and for us to have done so for 15 straight years is amazing.” Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the host and executive producer of H-Town High School Sports, which airs Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on CW39 and Monday-Thursday on AT&T SportsNet SW. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School PK4 – 8th Grade NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, ADVANCED ACADEMICS, S.T.E.M. CERTIFIED, FINE ARTS, AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT & ATHLETICS
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Get Your Morning Buzz Every weekday morning, enjoy your coffee + the buzz in your inbox. Our e-newsletter, Morning Buzz, features buzzworthy stories about neighbors every day, Monday-Friday. Sign up to find out what we’re buzzing about at thebuzzmagazines.com/morning-buzz.
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ DECEMBER 2023 49
SPORTS
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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
SportzBuzz Jr. W
elcome to SportzBuzz Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.
Pin Oak football The Pin Oak Middle School eighth-grade football team had a fantastic fall season, finishing with a commendable 3-2-1 record. The team was coached by Daryl Grantham and Astaire Carter, who helped guide the boys and pushed the team to always keep improving. Some of the players who contributed to the team's success included Rush Armstrong, Vance Bourg, Javen Simon, Bradley Bleyer, Jonathan Lorch, Antonio Perez, Sydney Battle, Conner Welch, Luke Onufer, Dylan Cune, Milkias Asefa, Beau Stafford, Jacorian Nelson, Jeremiah Cole, Gabriel Weinstein, Axel Berumen, Andrew Sederis, Case Lindsay, Hunter Hazen, Ben Namer, Ben Slater, David Fernandez, and Dekker Baumgartner. Their hard work and dedication paid off, and the Pin Oak Middle School football team can be proud of their successful season.
Pershing pride Pershing Middle School's club lacrosse team is off to an exciting start, having just kicked off for the students midway through the fall. Although they have not had the chance to compete in tournaments or games yet, their Halloween practice in costume was a spooktacular way to bond and prepare. The team is open to current fifth graders to eighth graders. So far, players include Nicole O’Driscoll, Kinsley Sirmans, Maddy Melville, Karis Lim, and Neve Burton. Under the guidance of Coach Nina Ignatiev, and assistant coaches Clare Gibennus and Cory Perrin, the girls are gearing up for an exciting lacrosse season ahead.
Wave wins The 10U West University Softball Association Wave recently played in the 2023 Deer Park Fastpitch Association Tournament. The girls had a successful tournament, going undefeated and winning the championship game against the Hit Squad 10U 7-4. The Wave started the game with a two-run first inning and never let up, scoring seven runs on seven hits. In addition to having success on the field, the Wave also took home the crown for the costume contest with their theme of “Softball Barbie.” Pictured are coaches (from left) Chris O'Neill, Brandon Baudin, Philip Bunting; and players (standing, from left) Lincoln Bonnette, Cate O'Neill, Olivia Taschery, Lizzie Baudin, Gemma Baird, Pippa Beasley, Cami Bunting; (kneeling, from left) Isla Shaftel, Shiloh Landrum, and Talia Wright. Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ DECEMBER 2023 50
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Probate boilerplate The shortest will yet was written on a bedroom wall: “Vše žen.” The wife testified it was Czech for “all to wife.” Is more than that necessary? Not always, but often enough that a robust will can be 30 pages, 90% of which is boilerplate, i.e., standardized text that is slow and painful to read. Consider that same will. Another translation of “vše žen” is “everything to the woman.” History does not record the wife’s competitors for the appellation “the woman.” In Texas, when the will disposes of everything, but the distributees cannot be ascertained, a declaratory judgment is required. “All to my wife Jane” is better than “the woman.” Preface gifts to “my children,” with “I have three children, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Every reference in this Will to a ‘child’ or ‘children’ of mine is to them.” Growing families might add “and all other children who may be born to or adopted by me in the future.” Or not, if fidelity is a concern. Either way, boilerplate makes a difference in outcomes and expense. A mundane example: done right, a typed will is typically a page longer than necessary. Texas requires that two witnesses sign a typed will. Those two are excused from testifying at the probate hearing if they also signed a self-proving affidavit, a full page of boilerplate. Giving the house to your wife and the remainder to the kids? If the house burns before it is distributed, who gets the insurance proceeds, the wife or the kids? More boilerplate. If you divide the remainder of your estate among your children, what if a child predeceases you? Are that child’s children disinherited, or do they take their parent’s share? Boilerplate.
If a minor child inherits, will a court supervised guardianship be required, or can family manage the minor’s inheritance? Boilerplate! Leaving all to your spouse after giving the family farm to the kids? Who pays the farm taxes and expenses, the surviving spouse or the kids? You guessed it: boilerplate. The law answers some of these questions already. Do you know which ones? Will the judge? Far and away the greatest part of most boilerplate is just a summary of the law in effect the day the will’s signed. In a 30-page will, maybe the last 25 pages are little more than highlights from the Texas Estates, Trust, and Tax Codes, Texas common law, and the Internal Revenue Code. Consider boilerplate the owner’s manual. You can omit it now, but some lawyer will happily charge by the hour to reconstruct it later. Be grateful it’s there. We write wills and go to probate court. Foreign nationals and international families welcome. Russell W. Hall, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Board Certified – Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, bellaireprobate.com/blog
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KIDS by Waits Angel Rodriguez, age 9
Buzz Kidz
Tim Warner/Getty Images
TO A TEE Waits Angel Rodriguez, a fourth grader at West University Elementary, won first place at the Regional Drive, Chip and Putt golf competition. He will advance to the National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on April 7, 2024.
Chipping away at success
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t was about an hour-long drive to the Champions Golf Club for the Drive, Chip and Putt Regional competition. It was a nice sunny day, and I was really excited because a trip to Augusta National was on the line. The Drive, Chip and Putt is a golf competition where kids are scored on how well they can perform three golf skills: drives, chips, and putts. When I got to Champions, I started warming up and discovered that I would be chipping from the rough – that’s where the grass is a bit longer, which makes it a more difficult area to chip from. After practicing, I went back to the clubhouse and spent time with my friends and family until my tee time was up. I got my balls, tees, and my driver ready. I scored 28 points on my three drives. Now it was
time for chipping. My first chip was short. The same thing happened on the next chip. On the final chip, I knew I had to hit it harder. I took a deep breath – and I hit the ball perfectly. It started going towards the hole and I thought, “That looks really good, that will definitely end up close.” Then it started to take the edge. Everyone screamed when the ball went in the hole. I was so excited! Finally, it was time for putting. On the sixfooter, I stroked it in the hole. On the 15-footer and the 30-footer, I got it close and scored a decent amount of points. At the award ceremony I received first place! I scored 128 points in total, beating everyone by 28 points. Then I was interviewed by the Golf Channel, and I told them a few things about me.
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I was introduced to golf by my dad, who first took me golfing when I was just two years old. I started to admire the game, and he’s been my coach ever since. Before I knew it, I was playing in golf tournaments. I thank my dad, mom, Buelo (my grandpa), and family for what I have achieved. 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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Nasal congestion Nasal congestion can really decrease your quality of life (QOL in medical jargon). Not being able to breathe through your nose can greatly diminish your sense of smell and taste. That fine wine becomes bland grape juice. The aroma of your family favorite dish simmering on the stove becomes just steam in the kitchen. Literally, you can’t stop and smell the roses (but maybe you miss out on stinky diapers). Congestion can be a simple side effect of a cold or virus (and gets better in a few days). It can be due to allergies such as your beloved pet or evil ragweed. Some get congested around strong smells, which is due to non-allergic rhinitis (but I digress). Congestion can be due to more complex issues such as nasal polyps or sinus disease. Treatment can be as simple as saline nasal/sinus rinses or mentholated rub. There are also various OTC nasal sprays with medications. Some act quickly (often oxymetazoline is the active ingredient) but by the very nature of how they work, addictive (fine print says not to use more than a few days back-to-back). There are also several different steroid nasal sprays OTC. These could be very effective but are most effective if started before problems begin as they are preventative medications. There are also OTC pills or liquid medications that can help with nasal congestion. Off the shelf products containing phenylephrine OTC products have been in the news of late. The FDA announced what allergists have known for years, they don’t work (beyond the placebo effect.) Other, behind the counter, OTC agents such as pseudoephedrine
(requires a current photo ID and signature for a limited supply) can be effective (but might raise your blood pressure, keep you up at night and or make it hard to void your urine). If nasal congestion is related to nasal/sinus polyps, surgery is no longer the only option. There are several FDA approved agents that can address polyps. Short term nasal congestion is something most of us can put up with (but we may get grumpy). Long term nasal congestion really hurts the QOL for the sufferer and maybe their partner if snoring is a byproduct of the blocked nasal passages. So nasal congestion can also affect loved ones (in a non-contagious way). So, if you or a loved one is dealing with nasal congestion, why not come to The Allergy Clinic where we can begin to sort through causes and options for dealing with it. That way your roses will smell rosy, your Bordeaux will share its hints of bouquet and barrel, and your dinner will smell as luscious as it looks. 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. Anthony J. Weido, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 1400, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ DECEMBER 2023 53
PETS
Neighborhood Tails Pika, 7 months, Ragdoll, Bellefontaine St. Hey there! My name’s Pika and I am a giantess. Actually, I’m a Ragdoll, and I’m quickly growing into my big paws. If you haven’t guessed, I am the center of attention around here! To make sure all eyes are on me, I meow, meow, and meow some more. Some would call me a drama queen. They’re clearly jealous. I like sleeping on my mom’s face, but she shoves me right off. Rude! Am I right?! I enjoy exploring the garage but for some reason it’s forbidden – I will unlock that mystery one day. I also have a sister, a Maltipoo named Curly. Like most big sisters, she ignores me. Hmmph. More jealousy, I suspect. You just might spot me cruising down Bellefontaine Street in my new stroller. I am a curious cat, and mom says this contraption is the only way I can explore the outdoors. Hey, do you see the time? Gotta pounce! 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.
Vote for the 2023 Buzz Pet of the Year!
Harley Ham
Enzo
Simon
Chica
Bailey
Roxy Russo
Squeaky
Maks
Remy
Rex Dagobert
Cast your vote for The Buzz Magazines’ 2023 Buzz Pet of the Year. Here is a sampling of our contestants. The winner will be announced on our website, Mon., Dec. 11. The Buzz will make a donation in honor of our winner to the Houston Humane Society. Vote at thebuzzmagazines.com/petcontest or scan the QR code. Want your pet to be considered for a 2024 Neighborhood Tails column? Email a high-resolution photo and 150 words from your pet’s perspective to info@thebuzzmagazines.com.
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Estate planning for a headache-free holiday It never fails: leading up to the holidays, we get calls from clients who want to get a will in place because their flight leaves… tomorrow. If you are among the 66% of Americans without an estate plan, or simply have an estate plan that is out of date, it is essential to create or update your estate planning documents. Here are a few considerations and quick steps to take before traveling for the holidays: 1) Focus on the fundamentals. Comprehensive estate planning takes time. Not to mention, facing the decision of how your estate is handled can be uncomfortable. However, when planning quickly in advance of travel, prioritize the essentials. If you have minor children, ensure that you have appointed a guardian for their care. Choose an executor you trust to carry out your wishes. If you own a business, identify a succession plan for your interests. For non-probate assets that have beneficiary designations, make sure they are up to date in light of important family events such as marriage, divorce, birth, and death. 2) Create a simple will using a template. This year, the Texas Supreme Court created forms that allow people representing themselves to make their own will. While these Texas Supreme Court-promulgated forms are no substitute for legal counsel in estate planning, they do offer a standardized, legally valid way for Texans to create a will in situations where counsel is not immediately available. The forms can be found at www.txcourts.gov/forms. 3) Worst case, put pen to paper. For those last-minute estate planners needing something in place before
walking out the door to the airport, Texas recognizes holographic wills. The will must be entirely handwritten and signed by the testator (the person writing and executing the will). A holographic will is invalid if another person writes the will and the testator merely signs it. When drafting a holographic will, be sure to be as specific as possible in identifying your property and those receiving it, and make sure to include a recipient for any property that is not specifically identified in the holographic will. Notably, witnesses are not required for holographic wills in Texas. 4) Keep your estate plan secure, but not hidden. One of the more overlooked elements in estate planning is ensuring your will is secure, but accessible by your family. A will is useless if it can’t be found. It is vital to communicate how to locate your will in the event it’s needed. Overall, the holidays are a busy and sometimes stressful time. We can help you check estate planning off your list. Contact Porter Law Firm, PLLC for a full consultation regarding wills, trusts, directives, and other estate planning services to keep you and your family’s future secure year-round. Porter Law Firm, 2221 S. Voss, Houston, TX, 77057, 713.533.1933, weston@porterfirm.com
Cathedral High School is rebuilding Catholic culture through a classical education in Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. The vision of Cathedral High School is to form students to be conformed to Christ, pursue truth, and create beauty in a virtuous life www.cathedralhouston.org • (832) 603-4080 • info@cathedral-hs.org 7726 Westview Dr., Houston, TX 77055 Applications for 2024-2025 are open and can be found on our website. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ DECEMBER 2023 55
Daniel Ortiz
NEIGHBORS
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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer
Buzz About Town
The Corinthian Houston was transformed into the legendary Studio 54 for the Children’s Museum Houston’s annual gala. Event chairs Scott and Katie Arnoldy and Holly and Steve Radom (pictured, from left), along with underwriting chairs Whitney and Ryan Burns and Allison and Ivan Chavez, welcomed 600 guests to the disco-inspired evening that raised more than $1 million for the museum’s educational and outreach programs. Auction chairs Mona Sarofim and Brittany Zeplain coordinated successful live and silent auctions, and supporters
mingled with special guests “Liza Minnelli” and “Andy Warhol” before dancing under the disco balls to the music of the Drywater Band.
Navigating breast cancer together Longtime friends Nancy Bynon and Kathryn Tortorici received breast cancer diagnoses within weeks of each other and decided to share what they have learned in a new memoir. Both women relied on their faith and journaling to cope with their illness and treatment, and they turned their journal entries into a book that is written as though it is for a best friend. Each chapter of Two by Two: Conversations Between Friends Navigating Breast Cancer includes a personal experience, devotional, healthy recipe, practical advice, and prayer aimed at helping readers navigate their own cancer journeys. Nancy Talkington, Nancy Bynon, Kathryn Tortorici, and Melinda Berkman (pictured, from left) gathered with friends for a book-signing event for Two by Two.
Homemade hope Alex Heins and Scarlett Hankey (pictured, from left) supported nonprofit Homemade Hope
at the Home is Where the Heart Is gala. The event, held at River Oaks Country Club, was chaired by Margot Delaronde Marcell, Heather Mountain, and Amal Khalaf, and raised more than $285,000 to fund programs that teach underserved children to cook nutritious meals. Houston community honorees Sara and David Cordua were recognized for their longtime support of the organization that was founded by sisters Blair Bentley and Brooke Bentley Gunst. Blair addressed the crowd and talked about the ongoing programming that provides after-school culinary classes, mentoring, and emotional and academic support for children in the community.
Circles of hope Jenny Antill
Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design
A night at Studio 54
More than 400 supporters of re:MIND gathered at River Oaks Country Club for the Circles of Hope luncheon. Polly Whittle and John and Stacy Kinder (pictured, from left) enjoyed the afternoon that celebrated the 20th anniversary of re:MIND’s depression and bipolar support groups that are free to the community. Event chairs Christine and Blake Williams welcomed keynote speaker Zak Williams, son of late actor Robin Williams, who spoke (continued on page 58) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ DECEMBER 2023 56
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Daniel Ortiz
(continued from page 56) to the crowd that raised
nearly $420,000 to continue the support groups in the community. Board chairman Mary Catherine Sharman introduced honoree David Kinder who received the 2023 Gary Levering Mental Health Impact Award. Kinder has been a member of the re:MIND board of directors since 2015 and previously served as board chair. He and his wife Marie Louise Kinder were luncheon co-chairs in 2017.
Jacob Power
A night of scholarships
Honorary gala co-chairs Tissy and Rusty Hardin (pictured) joined more than 380 other supporters at the Royal Sonesta Hotel for the Paying it Forward gala benefiting the Linda Lorelle Scholarship Fund. The highlight of the evening was a surprise for the 10 high-school students who stood on stage as scholarship finalists holding the pennant of the institution they hope to attend. Linda Lorelle announced that because of the successful event, they will each receive a $10,000 scholarship. Linda and her husband Lou Gregory founded the scholarship fund in 1991. Since then, many recipients have attended college and are now successful adult professionals. Former scholarship recipient Shawna Thomas, executive producer of CBS Mornings, addressed the crowd about how the scholarship helped her achieve her own success.
Chris Bailey Photography
Congratulations and best wishes
ciated by the Honorable Tracy Christopher, Chief Justice of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals of the State of Texas. Rebecca, who attended St. John’s School, is the daughter of Phyllis Cohen and Lewis Linn. Scott, an Austin native, is the son of Joan and Greg Hughes of Georgetown, TX. The groom’s brother, Paul Hughes, served his brother as Best Man and the bride’s brother, Sam Linn, served his sister as Man of Honor. Rebecca and Scott met online in 2021 and had their first date at El Tiempo. After more than a year of dating, Scott proposed on October 15, 2022, which was Rebecca’s parents’ wedding anniversary. Wedding guests enjoyed dinner and dancing, and surprise late-night snacks of French fries and milkshakes, before the bride and groom headed for a honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta.
Starry night in the Galápagos Rebecca Linn and Scott Hughes (pictured) were married at The Revaire in a ceremony offi-
2023 Zoo Ball chairs Dylan and Jordan Seff and Vanessa and Chuck Ames (pictured, from left) welcomed more than 740 guests to the annual
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black-tie gala at the Houston Zoo’s new Galápagos Islands exhibit. Supporters found their way to the Galápagos through a tunnel surrounded by water on both sides, and mingled with tortoises, sea lions, and penguin keepers before being transported through twinkling lights via golf carts to enjoy dinner. Houston Zoo president and chief executive officer Lee Ehmke introduced event honoree Stacy Methvin and announced that a wild Asian elephant will be named for her. Zoo enthusiasts also enjoyed a silent auction chaired by Margaret Farnsworth and Stephanie von Stein Schusterman, and an after party with late-night bites, drinks, and dancing, chaired by Kristina H. Somerville.
Making Houston safer Crime Stoppers of Houston’s annual gala raised more than $1 million for crime-prevention programs. John and Cathy Crapitto (pictured) attended the event at the Hilton Americas Houston Hotel that focused (continued on page 60)
Call to reserve your senior portrait session now. Nikky LaWell Photography A Portrait Remembers 713.542.8040 • nikky@lawellphoto.com • www.lawellphoto.com WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ DECEMBER 2023 59
trafficking. Leading the Way to a Safer Houston was chaired by Jennifer and Chris “Kip” Hohman, and included a cocktail reception, program booths, and photo stations along with the evening’s program. Crime Stoppers’ board chair Lindsay Aronstein spoke to the crowd, followed by a viewing of the organization’s mission video, and remarks from Crime Stoppers’ chief executive officer Rania Mankarious. After dinner, KHOU-11 News anchor Mia Gradney welcomed special guest Mira Sorvino, UNODC Goodwill Ambassador for Global Fight Against Human Trafficking and actress from Sound of Freedom, for a moderated conversation about the local and global fight against human trafficking.
Friends since middle school
La dolce vita Warner Roberts, Cliff and Angie Roberts (pictured, from left) joined fellow supporters of The Mission of Yahweh at the inaugural Leaders & Legends gala that recognized the Johnny Carrabba Family and Donna Vallone for their commitment to the community. The event, chaired by Samantha Kennedy and Saula Valente with honorary chair Warner Roberts, was held at River Oaks Country Club and raised more than $600,000 to support and expand The Mission’s efforts to provide emergency housing for women and children. KHOU Great Day Houston’s Deborah Duncan served as emcee and welcomed guests to the ballroom for the Italian dolce vitathemed event under a veranda of olive trees and fresh flowers. Guests enjoyed entertain-
ment from the Strake Jesuit and St. Agnes Academy orchestra, as well as a surprise operatic performance by The Three Waiters, a professional vocal group disguised as waiters for the evening. 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. Morgan Brooks
Alli Willis and Stuart Peterson (pictured, center) were married at River Oaks Country
Daniel Ortiz
Quy Tran Photography
(continued from page 58) on efforts to end human
Club on the terrace overlooking the golf course. The bride, daughter of Dawn and Mark Willis, and the groom, son of Bill and Carol Peterson, met during middle school in West U and continued a friendship through high school. Once they headed to college, Alli and Stuart began their romance. After eight years of dating, Stuart proposed on the golf course at Braeburn Country Club where the families were waiting to celebrate at a surprise brunch. The wedding party included (pictured, from left, with the bride and groom): Jake Willis, Ross Kiatta, Corinne Kelly, Katie Wegner, Kendall Kampfer, Brooke Willis, Katie Bacich, Jett Lucia, Mckenzie Dagan, Alli Willis, Stuart Peterson, Nick Lednicky, Kiki Schwarz, Sarah Little, Nick Pefanis, Ben Little, and Andrew Strait.
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NEIGHBORS
by Andria Frankfort Dilling, staff writer
Back Porch S
Saint: The Best Hanukkah Gift
aint was the dog I did not want. Here’s how he became mine: My husband (now former) took my daughters (then 7 and 10) into his closet 13 years ago and shut the door. “Let’s get Mommy a dog for Hanukkah,” he said. And that is how I became a mom to a shaggy black goldendoodle from Alabama. It wasn’t that I didn’t want this dog. I actually spent hours researching and choosing him, a fuzzy baby boy with a blue bow around his neck. It’s that I didn’t want any dog. I didn’t need anyone else to bathe or feed or potty train, thank you very much. But once the idea of that Hanukkah present was spoken into my children’s universe, there was no turning back. It was July when my gift arrived at Intercontinental Airport. My mother, my girls, and I were waiting for him with treats and an orange collar that had streetcars and oysters printed on it. We named him Saint for the New Orleans Saints, who had won the Super Bowl earlier that year. For two days or so, our sweet puppy slept in everyone’s arms. Then he woke up. Our new life had begun. Two weeks in, Saint jumped in the pool and inhaled water or something – I can’t remember. Whatever it was, that’s when our veterinarian became our special friend. Overnight, our tiny puppy morphed into a 70-pound Snuffleupagus lookalike who loved my younger daughter, smaller than he, a little too much (meaning he mounted her every chance he got). What had I agreed to? I had a giant toddler who didn’t understand English and didn’t wear a diaper. Our family joined a puppy training class, the kind where everyone gathers in a big circle holding their dogs on leashes and smiling at how sweet they all are. Saint escaped our hold, ran the perimeter of the circle three times with his tongue hanging out, bolted into the center of the circle, and pooped. We were escorted out and invited not to come back. Four months into this new world, my husband and I separated. I was now a single mom of two precious girls and one very cute terror who I hadn’t wanted and had no idea how to control. In the midst of trying to hold everyone together
and rebuild our lives, Saint regularly escaped in the early morning carpool hours, bearing down the street full force while neighbors came out of their houses and stopped their cars to help run him down. Chew toys were no match for scissors. Saint ate those, shoes, eyeglasses, an antique table (still has the scars), a play date’s dress, a stapler – plus more chocolate than he should have survived (with only two-ish stomach pumps). Sticks of butter on the counter wouldn’t last 10 minutes. I’d make cookies and come home confused – where had they gone? At his first birthday party (one daughter made invitations and delivered them to all the neigh- THE GREATEST GIFT “Dogs are great,” John Grogan wrote in Marley and Me. bors and their dogs), the “Bad dogs, if you can really call them that, are perhaps the greatest of them all.” birthday boy helped Saint was everyone’s friend – he wouldn’t himself to an entire box of red velvet (i.e., take no for an answer. Just last year, we hapchocolate) cupcakes. pened to go to a new vet in San Antonio. Saint Saint was the giant galloping into the veteriran into the office to meet everyone, and nary waiting room as the front desk attendants nobody could believe he wasn’t a puppy. smiled and said There comes Saint, just before he With all of that, what he most wanted was to whipped his leash – and me – around in a torhave his head in someone’s lap and a permanent nado trying to say hi to everyone as they seat on top of my feet. watched and laughed, or gave me the look like In Saint fashion, he died on October 4 – the Why aren’t you controlling your dog…and keep him day of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of aniaway from mine. mals. Our un-saintly Saint, the guy who terrorHe was the dog who broke one daughter’s arm ized me, loved us all, and saw us through so chasing a squirrel and who thought he was a 70much life, turned out to be the real deal for my pound lap dog in my 60-pound daughter’s lap. girls and me. Contrary to goldendoodle promise, he shed like Wishing you the Happiest Hanukkah and crazy. He was a lot of dog. If ever I intimated he Merriest Christmas, and memories – or maybe was too much dog, my daughter was quick to future memories – of your own best present ever. remind me: He was her best friend.
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