Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz - October 2023

The Magic of Music Festivals

The Barber Bond

Cindy Gabriel: Full-Circle Moment

Halloween Fun & Fright

A Decade of School Buzz

Costumes: All in the Family

Buzz Reads

Chef Dimitri Fetokakis

Travel Buzz: Dancing through the Chaos

EDITOR’S NOTE

In this issue, we introduce our 2023-24 School Buzz correspondents. Every fall, we kick off this program with a photo shoot. I love meeting talented, inquisitive students. At the shoot, I asked why they want to be part of the program and how they heard about it. They all expressed passion for writing and storytelling, and many of them said they grew up reading The Buzz and were inspired to join the program. Music to my ears. Mind you, they’re already accepted, so I don’t think they’re just telling me what I want to hear. (Or maybe these bright students figured out the importance of their first assignment: Keep your editors happy.) Regardless, it makes me proud to think we’re empowering the next generation of journalists – and that our program is now a decade old. Also in this issue, read a story about “young at heart” neighbors who love the vibes at live music festivals. There is always something special to report on in our great communities. joni@thebuzzmagazines.com

THE BUZZ MAGAZINES

Published by

Editor-in-Chief Joni Hoffman

Publisher Michael Hoffman

Editor Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld

Associate Editor Caroline Siegfried

Design Manager John Duboise

Staff Writers 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

Contributing Writer Russell Weil

Account Managers Andrea Blitzer

Leslie Little

Jo Rogers

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.

Your letters, thoughts, opinions

Springsteen super fan

I really enjoy reading the Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz. Most recently, the article Ready To Rock [Ready to Rock: Always Up to See Springsteen by Cheryl Ursin, Sept. 2023] put a smile on my face because, I too, am a Springsteen super fan (25 shows in 2 countries and 10 states). In July, I flew to London to see two Bruce Springsteen concerts in Hyde Park. It was a bucket-list trip I had planned a year in advance. It was an experience I will never forget!

A lovely legacy

Cathy, thank you so much for the lovely article! [Stitches of Love: Honoring a grandmother's legacy by Cathy Gordon, Sept. 2023] You really captured our story so well. The article is far more in-depth and thorough than I expected! This is such a lovely closer to our family project and a wonderful document of our connection. Thank you for your patience and diligence. We are so proud!

Keerthi

Plenty to say

Cindy, I thought your It’s Too Hot to Write article [ It's Too Hot to Write: But here goes anyway by Cindy Gabriel, Sept. 2023] was terrific. The only line I would take issue with was the second sentence, “I’m writing with nothing to say.” You had plenty to say and it was hilarious. I had to read some sections more than once. My favorite line was about the sisters who “sang into the handles of their hairbrushes” – hilarious! I also liked the comments at the end about everyone’s concern about who is and who isn’t going to hell and which religion was “right.” I grew up with a Pastor (Lutheran) as a Dad so I had plenty of lessons as a child about who was “right!”

Thanks for an excellent article, some good tongue-in-cheek thoughts and some really good laughs. Keep up the good work!

A look back at the ’60s

Cindy [Gabriel]: Loved your article in the September issue. A lot of subtle humor and interesting memories. Now I know why it was so hard to get the girls to make out. Keep up the good work.

Another Cindy fan

Cindy, your article about the Jaybird War [The Jaybird/Woodpecker War: An 'Undertold' Story by Cindy Gabriel, Aug. 2023] was fabulous, but the photo of you peeking through the metal fence was even better!

Down memory lane

I just came across your 2014 article in The Buzz [Restaurant Memories: A look back at Houston's dining past, by Russell Weil, Nov. 2014]. Years ago, I (with help from other native Houstonians), compiled a list of now shuttered local restaurants and clubs.

I’ve selected a few of my faves from years gone by: Weldon’s Cafeteria (on Main near Southmore). Youngbloods on Main (and later a second location on Bissonnet near Chimney Rock). Sonny Look’s Depot (also on Main but this location was downtown…if memory serves me correctly, part of an old rail car). Brittain’s Broiler Burger (W. Bellfort and Chimney Rock. It had a carousel in the middle). Bill Bennett’s 24-hour restaurant (Caroline at Pierce; it had mini juke boxes on the table!). Los Troncos, the Tree House Restaurant (my first New Year’s date! It was a restaurant built as a tree house with ascending private nooks for dining. Very intimate yet casual dining. So unique!)

This barely touches the tip of the iceberg! If anyone would like to see a copy, I’d be happy to email one!

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.

NEIGHBORS

New Couple Friends

Travel tales of a non-traveler

Stan likes to travel. His whole family does. That’s an understatement. I say I don’t like to travel but I really do, once I’m there. I just don’t like the disruption of stopping my life, leaving projects in limbo, packing, and deciding what to do with Zoe-the-Dog.

One thing Stan enjoys about me is that my closest friends seem to live elsewhere. It’s the story of my life. I meet a person or couple I really like. Then, what do they do? They move. Should I take it personally?

Stan wastes no energy wondering what people think of him. He just says, “Let’s go visit them.” It’s not about the free digs. Ok, that’s some of it. But Stan is mostly curious and interested in other people’s lives and he’s not one bit shy about meeting total strangers. He can walk in, meet them, and start cooking dinner for them in their kitchens.

I had no idea how far he could take this until last spring, at his daughter Jenny’s wedding, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. (Out of the country, and the whole family came, of course.)

It was the afternoon before the rehearsal dinner, the night of Stan’s “Father-of-the-Bride” speech. He had worked on it most of that day, then fell into a full-snore afternoon nap. I don’t know how he does it. I was too keyed up to sleep and I didn’t have to give a speech.

I was fidgeting with my phone, when it started ringing one of those weird rings that comes from Facebook messaging. Jason Bradley! I hadn’t spoken to him in decades. We met at TGI Friday’s way back in the late ’70s. Who could turn down a date with a handsome guy with a British accent, fresh out of Oxford University?

Jason had landed a job in the oil and gas business during Houston’s Boomtown days. I was trying to get my first job in the news business, which was still actually hiring people. We were both more interested in moving our careers along than finding the loves of our lives. At some point, I recall, Jason’s job took him overseas, and we basically lost touch. Still, I have fond memories of Jason and have occasionally wondered how his life turned out.

Recently, I found him on Facebook. He had actually married a Cindy, had three young adult

sons, one engaged, and three Labrador Retrievers. Jason appeared to be having a great life I was happy to see, and shot him a quick wave. But that was six months ago.

He apparently only saw it at the moment he called. I guess he was happy to see it. When I didn’t pick up, he called again, and again, and again with Stan snoring next to me less than two hours before the rehearsal dinner. I hoped the ringing would wake him up. Then I could explain who Jason was, and we could get on with the call-back.

Once Stan was standing on two feet, I explained. As expected, Stan was more intrigued with the prospect of meeting someone new and interesting than feeling threatened. Moments later, the three of us were on speakerphone.

“Hello, Cindy.” There was that delightful British accent. I quickly introduced Jason to Stan and explained our time crunch. In our brief conversation we learned that one of Jason’s three sons was finishing graduate school at Rice University in Houston, that Jason’s Cindy was Cindy Cash, a cousin of the legendary Johnny Cash, that they lived in Arlington, Texas. He said that Cindy was a professional fundraiser devoted to Open Arms Health Clinic in Arlington for families with limited budgets. And, oh yeah, they have a second home in Durango, Colorado. Stan perked up on that one. “Durango? Can we visit?”

My face broke into a thousand embarrassed pieces with that question. “Absolutely,” came the British reply. I could tell Jason meant it. But was he speaking for just himself? He and Cindy have been married a long time. Hopefully they have their signals worked out better than Stan and I.

There is another Jason too, Jason Presley, the one about to marry Stan’s daughter, who would be looking for us soon at the rehearsal dinner. We had to go, but first, I needed to sit a moment to give my head a chance to stop spinning.

Stan’s Father-of-the-Bride speech was declared a classic, one for the ages. Then spring dissolved into the record-breaking heat we are all trying to forget. Even I, the traveling “nontraveler” wanted out. We flew into Albuquerque, then spent 16 days hovering outside of the heat dome, mixing two friend visits with three B&Bs, including two days in Durango with Jason and Cindy, our second stop.

Before we arrived, we stopped to pick up some wine and found the largest, brightest bunch of sunflowers I had ever seen. They led the way as we broke through 40 years into their large, lovely home. Cindy, Jason, and the Labs greeted us with Open Arms. (Pardon my subtle plug for Cindy’s favorite charity.)

At some point into the visit, I felt Stan and I were making new couple friends, who can’t break my heart by moving. They are already out of town.

The Magic of Music Festivals

Everybody get together

Even though we live in a world where you can stream any song you want anytime you want, sometimes what you really crave is a real-life experience.

“Magic may be a weird word,” says Melinda O’Connell, “but there’s something electric about people coming together, all to listen to music. Everyone loves everyone.” She’s not alone in feeling that: According to a survey of music-festival fans, 80 percent said going to festivals gives them a sense of connection and community.

This year, Melinda, 64, will have attended five festivals (and about 10 other concerts).

There are two aspects to festivals, she says. “There’s the good show – and it’s always good music,” she explains, “and there’s the good experience.” People don’t know, she says, how easy it is to have a good experience at a music festival.

She has been doing this for the last 10 years because she has found that music has a more profound impact on her than just fun.

Eleven years ago, Melinda’s younger son, Brendan, died suddenly at the age of 17.

“Music helps keep me going,” she says simply. “I needed music.”

Research into the effect of music supports Melinda’s experience. In one study of people receiving bereavement counselling, 95 percent reported that music helped them with their grief. Music, particularly live music, soothes preemie babies in neonatal intensive care units. They sleep better, eat better, and their physical signs of stress (such as blood pressure and heart rate) are lower. By the way, those physical signs of stress are lower in their parents as well. And music reaches so deeply into our memories that sometimes patients with late-stage Alzheimer’s who have lost the ability to communicate can still sing the lyrics when they hear a song from their childhood.

You know that tingle down your spine you feel when you hear particularly beautiful music? That’s the music flooding your brain with dopamine.

Sometimes the feelings stirred can be cathartic. Buzz editor Joni Hoffman remembers a moving moment at Sea.Hear.Now, an oceanside music festival in Asbury Park, NJ, as legend

Stevie Nicks performed the classic song Landslide (“Well, I’ve been afraid of changin’/‘Cause I’ve built my life around you/But time makes you bolder/Children get older/And I’m getting older too”). “I was crying,” she remembers. “Everyone around me was crying happy tears. Literally, live music, being there, does something to you.”

Music is so linked to our memories and emotions that music therapists speculate it gives us a safe space to process our deepest emotions and, as one put it, “tame the overwhelming.”

“I probably cry at every single concert I go to,” says Melinda. “I’ll be teary for 10 or 20 minutes, and then I’m okay.”

And of course, music festivals are fun, fans say.

“Who doesn’t have fun at a music festival?” asks Seema Mir, 44, who has been going to ACL pretty much every October since 2008.

Me, maybe? I haven’t been to a festival in years.

Perhaps I am becoming a party-pooper as I age. (Here my smart-aleck husband would interject, “Becoming?”) These days, when I see an advertisement for a music festival, one part of me is noting all the bands I want to see, but I also think, “It’s going to be hot, and crowded, the parking will be impossible, there will be lines everywhere, and don’t forget, the bathrooms will be porta-potties.”

Melinda loves music festivals.

“You’re listening to good music while you watch the sun set,” she says. “You get to be outside in a pretty place. It’s a chance to act silly.”

What are music festivals? They are events, usually held outside, featuring several musical acts. Some festivals feature more than 100 different performers, from the very famous (Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Coldplay, Willie Nelson, Foo Fighters) to the (as yet) notwell-known, performing on different stages. Other festivals are smaller. One of Melinda’s favorites is the Cherokee Creek Music Festival,

held in May on a private ranch outside the town of Cherokee, Texas (population 200), near Llano. Attendees can camp onsite; the musicians stay right on the ranch. “Kids can run around; you can walk; you can fish,” says Melinda. “It’s so easy and fun.”

Some festivals focus on a particular genre of music; others present a wide range. They are often multi-day affairs; some are scheduled for a couple of consecutive weekends.

Music festivals have become increasingly popular. According to Music Festival Wizard, there will be 310 in the United States this year. According to Nielsen Music, 23 percent of the U.S. population attended a music festival in 2018. In consumer surveys, people are increasingly reporting that they prefer buying experiences over things. Also, the business model for the music industry has changed. Since the early 2000s, with the advent of streaming services, musicians don’t make their living from selling records or CDs anymore. Now, the bulk of musical groups’ income comes from performing and touring.

Festivals attract all ages. When Melinda and her friend, Karen Burns, 66, went to the Telluride Jazz Fest, they met an 80-year-old couple going to their first music festival (who were having such a good time, they plan on attending more) and a young family attending with their 1-year-old. (The baby wore ear protection.) Joni Hoffman said she had no idea how much she would love the music festival experience, especially at her age (her first music festival was ACL in 2019, at age 58). She’s since attended several festivals.

Festival attendees seem to fall into two camps. There are those who love to get right up front. That would be Melinda. “I like to stand and to dance and to be close. Sometimes you can hear the perform-

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ers talk amongst themselves; sometimes they talk to the audience,” she says. Others, like Karen, like to hang back. “I like to sit down, be comfortable with my vodka tonic, and not be jostled,” she says. “There are people who will dance and really let go, and there are people who will sit and bob their heads, and the sitters are getting just as much out of it as the dancers.”

A few music festivals have been the sites of horrendous tragedy, such as the Astroworld Festival here in Houston in 2021, where 10 people were killed in a “crowd crush,” and the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas in 2017, in which 60 were killed and approximately 867 injured.

Hence, all the rules and security measures at well-run festivals. Hina Pandya and her family have gone to ACL every year since 2015. She, like other attendees, says she has never felt unsafe there. “The lines can get pretty long, but that never bothers me,” she says. “I feel good that they are being so thorough. Security is pretty tight; they examine everything.”

Tips from Festivalgoers

Make your plans early. Tickets do sell out. And so do hotel rooms near the festival.

Though it may be more expensive, many veteran festivalgoers opt to stay at hotels or Airbnbs within walking distance. That way, they don’t have to deal with parking or with ride-share companies, given that cell-phone reception may be jammed and Uber will probably institute surge pricing because of the crowds.

For ACL, Seema points out, some hotels, like The W and The Four Seasons, are where the performers stay, so the chance to see some of them might be a factor when deciding where you’ll stay. One year, Seema got to take a picture with LL Cool J at one of the hotels.

Review a festival’s rules on its website. Often, any bag you carry must be clear and limited in

size, for example, and most often, outside food and drink are not allowed. But do bring a refillable water bottle.

Then there’s the question of what kind of tickets to buy. Tickets range from general admission all the way up to VIP and Platinum packages, which can cost thousands of dollars per person and can include amenities such as complimentary dining, an open bar, even onsite complimentary salon services and chauffeured golf carts to bring you to reserved space at the front of the stage. Consider what you can and cannot live without. Melinda says her sweet spot for festival tickets is General Admissions Plus. “They have some perks but are not the ‘perkiest,’” she explains. “I want airconditioned bathrooms.”

It helps to have a plan for the festival itself. Festivals release their line-ups ahead of time. You can see when and where the bands you know you want to see are playing and plan accordingly, although you might still be conflicted on which performances to watch. Seema once split her time between watching Haim and Young the Giant because both were performing on different stages in the same time slot.

A large part of the fun of a music festival is discovering new bands. When you get the lineup ahead of time, you can stream the music of bands you don’t know and decide who you want to see of them as well.

Many music festivals have their own phone apps. Seema has used the one for ACL. “You tap the bands you want to see and it will auto-generate a schedule for you,” she says.

At the festival itself, people tend to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on, and they establish their “base camp.” Surprisingly, these chairs and blankets, though maybe not valuables like your wallet or phone, can generally be left unattended without problem, these veteran festivalgoers say. “Music festivals are a trustworthy type of climate,” says Melinda.

Try to travel light, though. Seema doesn’t bring chairs, just a waterproof tarp she got at a camping store that folds up to the size of a rain poncho and fits in her small backpack.

Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes and comfortable shoes, “with closed toes,” suggests Hina Pandya, for when you are walking near the porta-potties. (Yikes.)

For Hina and her family, ACL has become a family tradition. Pro-tip from Hina’s two daughters, Janvi and Shivani, both alumna of the University of Texas, Austin: Check the football schedule. The weekend of a big game will be less crowded.

And still, things will not always go according to plan. When Karen, Melinda, and their friends went to the Telluride Jazz Festival in 2022, thunderstorms rolled through on two of the days. “We sat in our chairs, pulled our tarp over ourselves, opened our umbrellas, and put on our hats,” says Karen. Likewise, when it became very cold at night at the Innings Festival in February, held in the desert town of Tempe, Arizona, they went back to their hotel rooms and put every piece of clothing they had on.

“You just roll with it,” says Karen. “Even if it’s cold or rainy, I don’t ever regret going. It’s all part of the experience.”

Seema sums up: “Keep an open mind, wear comfy shoes, and put your reservations aside.” Music festivals are the chance to have an adventure.

Near and Far: A Partial List of Music Festivals

Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL)

Austin, TX , Oct. 6-8; Oct. 13-15, 2023 aclfestival.com

VetsAid

San Diego, Calif., Nov. 12, 2023

joewalsh.com/pages/vetsaid-homepage

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Innings Festival

Tempe, Ariz., February (2024 dates have not been announced); Tampa, Fla., March (2024 dates have not been announced) www.inningsfestival.com

South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) Austin, TX, March 11-16, 2024 www.sxsw.com/festivals/music

Big Ears Music Festival Knoxville, Tenn., March 21-24, 2024 bigearsfestival.org

Ultra Music Festival Miami, Fla., May 22-24, 2024 ultramusicfestival.com

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

Indio, Calif., April 12-14; April 19-21, 2024 coachella.com

Old Settler’s Music Festival Dale, TX, April 18-21, 2024 oldsettlersmusicfest.org

Stagecoach

Indio, Calif., April 26-28, 2024 stagecoachfestival.com

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival New Orleans, La., April 25-May 5, 2024 nojazzfest.com

Shaky Knees Music Festival Atlanta, Ga., May 3-5, 2024 shakykneesfestival.com

Electric Daisy Carnival

Las Vegas, Nv., May 17-19, 2024 lasvegas.electricdaisycarnival.com

BottleRock

Napa Valley, Calif., May 24-26, 2024 bottlerocknapavalley.com

Boston Calling Music Festival

Boston, Mass., May 24-26, 2024 bostoncalling.com

Cherokee Creek Music Festival

Cherokee, TX, May (2024 dates have not been announced) cherokeecreekmusicfestival.org

Movement

Detroit, Mich., May (2024 dates have not been announced) movementfestival.com

Hangout Music Festival

Gulf Shores, Ala., May 17-19, 2024 hangoutmusicfest.com

Governors Ball Music Festival

New York City, N.Y., June (2024 dates have not been announced) governorsballmusicfestival.com

Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival

Manchester, Tenn., June (2024 dates have not been announced) bonnaroo.com

SummerFest

Milwaukee, Wis., June 20-22; June 27-29; July 4-6 summerfest.com

Pitchfork

Chicago, Ill., July (2024 dates have not been announced) pitchforkmusicfestival.com

Lollapalooza

Chicago, Ill., August (2024 dates have not been announced) lollapalooza.com

WonderBus Music & Arts Festival

Columbus, Oh., August (2024 dates have not been announced) wonderbusfest.com

Outside Lands

San Francisco, Calif., Aug. 9-11, 2024 sfoutsidelands.com

Telluride Jazz Festival

Telluride, Colo., Aug. 9-11, 2024 telluridejazz.org

Telluride Blues & Brews Festival

Telluride, Colo., September (2024 dates have not been announced) tellurideblues.com

Life Is Beautiful Festival

Las Vegas, Nev., September (2024 dates have not been announced) lifeisbeautiful.com

Farm Aid

2023 venue: Noblesville, In.; locations vary, September (2024 dates have not been announced) farmaid.org

Sea.Hear. Now

Asbury Park, N.J., September (2024 dates have not been announced) seahearnowfestival.com

Editor’s note: See musicfestivalwizard.com to search music festivals by location, month, genre, venue, or size.

The Barber Bond

More than just a buzz cut

Bonds formed with our barbers can go far beyond a haircut. Trips to the barbershop are more than just a place where grown men with fading hairlines open newspapers to talk politics and NFL playoffs. Barbers are often among our longest and most trusted relationships. More than just someone who keeps us wellgroomed, barbers become faithful confidants with whom we share intimate details on many topics.

During my childhood years, regular buzzes were at my dad’s discretion. My opinion as to whether a haircut was needed was neither sought nor considered. That all changed as an adult with my standing appointment every Saturday morning since the mid-1980s with my

barber, Jeanne Mar. The time spent together has cemented ours as an enduring friendship. As my hair has evolved from brown to gray, so has our bond. This rapport is not unique. Just ask any guy who has a long-term relationship with the person cutting his hair.

Many long-time barbershops continue to thrive in Houston, including Bellaire Original Barber Shop in Bellaire, Avalon Barber Shop in River Oaks, and Times Barber Shop near Rice University. Times has been around since the 1960s. Originally launched in Rice Village, the shop eventually moved to their current location near the intersection of the Southwest Freeway and Shepherd Drive.

As a long-time local barber, Robert Arellano has been with the iconic Times Barber Shop since 1963, when he moved to Houston from Austin. He pivoted to an ownership role when he purchased Times Barber Shop in 1971. Now, at 80 years old, Robert has no intention of slowing down from the craft he knows and loves. Alongside Robert are his daughter Christina, brother Robert, and grandson Arthur, making Times a true family affair.

One recent Tuesday afternoon, the business was brisk at Times with walk-ins and scheduled appointments. Conversations ensued as each took their place in one of the vibrant red vintage barber chairs.

Times customer Norman

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Staub has been coming to Times for his haircuts for over 20 years. Staub shared, “Christina and I talk about everything that I can’t talk about with my wife. Our conversations are sacred, and I know she won’t divulge anything. It’s almost like attorneyclient privilege.”

Local urologist and West University resident Dr. Robert Renner has had a long-standing relationship with Times Barber Shop dating back several decades. He shared, “I like to go in, relax, and get my haircut without too much small talk. I think a lot of families in this area have taken their children and maybe even grandchildren there.” Dr. Renner added, “I like Robert – he’s an institution, and there aren’t many institutions left in Houston.”

Over time, I have witnessed the camaraderie among the generations of men who frequent the barbershop where I am a customer – grandfathers and fathers to sons and grandsons. There is an unspoken brotherhood among us, a place where we have gathered not only for haircuts but for lively conversations, debates, and occasional jests. Jeanne, my barber, shared, “I found an old photo of me holding my customer’s little boy, Thomas Royce III, in my arms. That kid is now a 40-year-old man who still comes in for haircuts. A big burly guy. We had a good laugh when I showed him the photo.”

Royce, a Bellaire resident, added, “That photo is from my first birthday in 1984. I think

I still look the same. I can’t think of a time when Jeanne wasn’t my barber. I can remember coming to her as a little kid with my father, and I was never scared.”

Royce recalled one recent appointment. “I came in for my haircut appointment earlier this past May while Jeanne was with another customer. As I waited, I decided to call my dad, and when he picked up the phone, I realized he was the customer in Jeanne’s chair. We didn’t know that we had back-to-back haircut appointments.”

Royce also recalled another story that Jeanne shared about his dad. “He loves to barbecue. Jeanne told me that she can always tell when he has been barbequing because he comes in with singed hair. She knows him well.”

Jeanne and I have shared countless experiences, creating a unique sanctuary within the walls of the barbershop. Our conversations delve into topics both light and heavy, ranging from family anecdotes to heartfelt confessions. I have found solace in sharing joys, sorrows, and aspirations with Jeanne, who listens attentively and offers wise words of advice, providing the kind of ear and guidance that might come from a professional counselor or life coach.

For example, several years ago, I was offered a new role with a local marketing firm. I brought their offer letter to share with Jeanne. Looking over the document, she suggested that I counter the offer with a more competitive salary request. Heeding this advice to negotiate brought favor-

able results. The company agreed, and I accepted the offer thanks to her collaboration. Jeanne possesses an incredible skill that goes beyond her mastery of the scissors and comb.

Recently, Jeanne announced her plans to retire in the near future. Reality has not yet set in, and I haven’t begun to contemplate the impact of Jeanne hanging up her shears. A sensitive topic of discussion, many of her other long-time clients suggested we picket outside her shop when the time comes.

Thomas Royce III shared, “I couldn’t even wrap my head around her retiring. All I could focus on was either setting her up in a parking lot somewhere or finding an apprentice to work under her to take over. My dad said he was actually losing sleep over it all.”

In a world where relationships often come and go, barbers stand as a testament to the enduring power of connection. The simple act of my Saturday morning haircut has evolved into something profound – a refuge of understanding, a bastion of trust, and a haven where I can confide in my most cherished secrets. While I will miss the weekly catch-ups and conversations that have been a mainstay for most of my adult life, I am confident our bond will continue to endure.

Do you or someone you know have a long-term relationship with a barber? Share your story with us in the comments section of this story at thebuzzmagazines.com or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com

A Decade of School Buzz

This fall begins the 10th year of School Buzz. A decade. We’re proud of how this program has grown over those years, and how it’s allowed high school students to practice writing and journalism skills while connecting to the broader community. Each year, our student reporters write about their schools and share their perspectives with Buzz readers on our website, thebuzzmagazines.com.

As the years have passed, the number of reporters has ticked up and up – and we have so enjoyed that students want to be part of this program. But after a record-breaking 97 School Buzz reporters last year, we decided to rethink our approach. This program was always aimed at engaging with students; with so many reporters, that had become difficult. This year, we chose to accept a more limited number of reporters, so that we can give each student more personal feedback.

This year’s School Buzz program reflects a

The Awty International School

Ava Nair

Alina Syed

Gregory Shafir Zelitt

Bellaire High School

Melanie Fung

Shyla Jogi

Charles Yu

Carnegie Vanguard High School

Anjali Martinez

slower, more thoughtful process – our overall goal is to foster writing with care and precision. Out of a large pool of exceptionally talented applicants, we chose 38 students, from 21 local high schools. Read on to see how they began their journeys with writing, in their own words.

Anjali Martinez, Carnegie Vanguard High School

My love for writing came from a young age when I was introduced to poetry. Since then, I have written numerous poems, and have expanded my writing in other genres as well. Journalism is one of my favorite types of writing. There is power in words, and I believe School Buzz gives writers a chance to develop their passions and tell stories within their communities. In the age of hyperconnectivity, the fundamentals of newswriting only become more important to future generations.

School Buzz 2023-24 Reporters

Asia Williams, Lamar High School

Growing up, writing was always my favorite subject. I noticed I was always better at it than my peers in school. My true passion for writing began around the third grade, when I began to compete in writing competitions. I was always intimidated by the fact I was younger than the majority of kids that competed. I was encouraged to continue to write when I won my first competition. I started to write on a higher level starting with UIL in high school, state essay competitions, and writing for a local newspaper. School Buzz will give me the chance to work with different local people my age and get an inside look at different perspectives.

Beatrix Gnemi, Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions

I first discovered my passion for reading at a young age; when I was in elementary school, I

Memorial High School

Alden Farrow

Keira Donovan

Kelsy Donovan

The Post Oak School

Emma Lai

Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School

Audrey Nguyen

Elsie Wire

St. Agnes Academy

Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions

Beatrix Gnemi

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart

Isabel Fernandez-Cueto

Julia Harfenist

Tessa Harfenist

The Emery/Weiner School

Dani Barg

Eli Karpas

Houston Christian High School

Donna Xue

Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

Matthew Jeong

Jordan Muscal

The Kinkaid School

Oliver Oldham

Eshaan Mani

Lamar High School

Aleisha Paulick

Asia Williams

Alexandra Wong

Madeleine Skaufel

St. John’s School

Maggie Hester

Nia Shetty

Stratford High School

Caroline Larrabee

Catherine McClees

St. Pius X High School

Sophia Wagner

Second Baptist School

Anika Engler

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

Carver Hix

The Village School

Solemei Scamaroni

Westbury Christian School

Agnes Tang

Eden Williams

was constantly reading books – even during car rides and going up or down the stairs. I never thought I had any reason to think other people would want to read my own words, but when Covid-19 left me stuck at home for a year and a half, I decided to chronicle my quarantine life in a cerulean blue journal. I wrote to a madeup person named “Marie” every single day until the pandemic ended, detailing the happenings of my day and my general thoughts on everything. Since then, I have gained a strong sense of voice in my writing. After this experience, I have grown to be fond of writing, but have never written for a larger audience than myself. I know for a fact that writing for School Buzz will be exhilarating, as I spread information on what is happening in my school and community to a real audience now.

Aleisha Paulick, Lamar High School

My passion for writing started in middle school when I got into story writing. I loved creating characters and developing plots, or even taking original stories and creating a different ending. While many people groan at the

thought of a writing task, it has never been that way for me. I feel that writing is a way for me to express my opinion, and journalism has allowed me to give my take on topics and talk about situations that don't get enough attention. I love discovering the why, what, and how something occurred.

Catherine McClees, Stratford High School

I first discovered my interest in writing in seventh grade, when we had to write an ode to something we loved. I tend to have some severe writer's block, but it took no time to figure out that I was going to write about chocolate. Whereas my math and science worksheets were a complete chore, I adored writing and rewriting this ode – even adding an anti-ode at the end about white chocolate. Around this time, I began to read more advanced books, and to appreciate the ways in which the authors wrote. I loved Agatha Christie’s characterization, John Irving’s narration, and John Berendt’s dialogue. After I attended a summer workshop at Rhodes College, I grew to love writing even more as I learned about the intricacies of storytelling.

The Doom approached. Hearing his thundering call, my sister and I fled towards the lake. See, the lake wasn't just a lake – it was a magical kingdom that needed saving, and we were its saviors. My father was The Doom, the villain. Before adolescence, I used to spend hours, pen and Moleskine journal in hand, creating new stories, new worlds, for my sister and I to explore around the lake next to our home. Despite growing up in a time saturated with iPad screens and flashing TVs, to me, our “normal” world was incredibly unstimulating. I felt the need to create magic because I could never find it. It wasn't until I was thrust into activities, like theater and journalism, where I was forced to connect to the world around me, instead of inventing it, that I noticed the true magic was the one that lay between us – the people. It is this revelation that has inspired me to explore the magic of the people in my community.

Ancient Egyptians methodically etch hieroglyphics into stone;

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Greeks carefully sketch onto freshly produced papyrus; I chaotically type on my school-issued Chromebook. I have been an intensely passionate writer since I was little, often resorting to my dream journal, and occasionally rage journal, for comfort. It didn't take long before I noticed that there were more important things to chronicle than my love for Taylor Swift (shocking, I know). As I began to observe the incredible triumphs and occasional pitfalls within my community, I knew that my purpose was to advocate and educate effectively. Journalism proved to be a perfect outlet. My journalistic career has allowed me to interview a wide array of people, ranging from the newest Stratford teacher to a Holocaust survivor, each interaction reminding me of the importance of genuine storytelling. School Buzz provides a unique opportunity for me to amplify the voices of my peers through a larger, engaged audience.

Kelsy Donovan, Memorial High School

For as long as I can remember, my mind has been a place of ceaseless chaos. With this,

writing never came easy to me growing up. I had trouble finding the right words to translate my turbulent thoughts. This persistent struggle pushed me away from writing. I realized, however, that all my high school classes would require writing in some shape or form. While frustrating at first, I started to notice a slight improvement in my writing skills. Eventually, my writing advanced from solely school assignments to paragraphs in my Notes app about my life. I learned to appreciate the dynamic and ambiguous nature of writing, which allows authors to connect with various audiences. When the opportunity to write for School Buzz first presented itself, I thought it would be a great chance to explore writing outside of an academic setting, and to share a piece of Memorial High School with a larger audience.

Keira Donovan, Memorial High School

Initially, writing wasn't something I took a major interest in. I was intimidated by writing because I had creative freedom, unlike math, which is black and white. As I wrote more in

school, I found my voice in writing, and rather than shying away, I decided to explore it. I started to write independently and discovered that writing about the things that I love brought me joy. I am still exploring this side of myself, but writing has developed into one of my favorite things. When I think about my future, I can see writing as a potential path that I would thrive in.

Oliver Oldham, The Kinkaid School

I found my love for writing when I realized that it is not a task, but an opportunity to express myself. To be honest, I used to dread writing. I associated writing with assigned schoolwork, and it took me a long time to realize that writing is only as fun as you make it. I began to dive deeper into my writing, and I started to enjoy developing my answers to each prompt I was given. I began to feel a sense of accomplishment and pride each time I finished a piece. At that point, around two years ago, I found a whole new way to express myself through words. I am so excited to continue to write for School Buzz and I look forward to highlighting the

amazing things people in the Kinkaid community are doing.

Maggie Hester, St. John’s School

I have always been competitive, so I have wanted to win just about every game, match, or competition imaginable. I was introduced to competitive writing through the UIL program at Horn Elementary. In my first Creative Writing competition, I won first place and knew immediately that I wanted another shiny medal. Having grown up as an athlete and in a family of athletes, I had never thought of participating in a writing contest, but I quickly fell in love and participated in these competitions throughout elementary school. My love for writing started as a little first grader and continues to flourish even now as a sophomore in high school. Now, I like to write articles about events happening around the world and in my community. I am so excited that I get to continue to write for School Buzz this year!

Nia Shetty, St. John’s School

Ever since I can remember, I've had a deep love for the written word. This passion was ignited by a childhood filled with bedtime stories and visits to the local library. But it was in middle school that I truly found my calling as a writer, when my poems and articles started getting published. Beyond writing, my mission is to ensure that every child has access to the wonders of literacy. I organize book donation drives and literacy events, taking small steps to make this dream a reality. Additionally, I’ve had the opportunity to promote the incredible resources and activities that local libraries offer to our community. I see an opportunity to combine my passion for writing and my commitment to literacy by writing for School Buzz. What excites me most is being surrounded by peers who, like me, have a tremendous amount of school pride and a love for literacy. Through my writing, I hope to not only express myself but also to highlight

all the amazing things that happen at St. John's and contribute to our society.

Anika Engler, Second Baptist School

From writing every detail of my day in my diary, to putting together an eight-page research paper, I love every step of the writing process. Gathering my ideas, formulating a piece of work, and seeing it all come together spark an unexplainable rush in me. The creativity that comes with journalism allows individuals to express themselves, and I thoroughly enjoy participating in that. I appreciate the freedom one possesses when coming up with ideas, stories, and prompts. I tend to be a person that desires spontaneity, and writing provides me the opportunity to embrace that trait through reporting about something new every time. My dream is to one day have my own column in a magazine, and I think that School Buzz is the perfect way to launch my dream. I want to give people a behind-the-scenes look at what happens in the real high school world, the things most people are not aware of and do not see. I want to show others a different way of looking at situations and events that occur. Along with writing and reporting, I love the aspect of being able to take photographs, because it helps embellish the story and allows the person reading to visualize everything in a more detailed manner. School Buzz will allow me to capture the moment and then further explain the moment to all my peers.

Audrey Nguyen, Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School

Entering my third year as a School Buzz reporter, I am continuing to embrace the opportunity to immerse myself in my school and not only learn, but actually apply real-life skills in journalism. I first fell in love with writing when I was four. My mother had given me a mini journal, complete with a matching fluffy pink pen, and from that moment, my path to journalism was inevitable. I couldn't help but

be drawn to the art of storytelling. For me, writing was – and still is – about capturing and preserving every moment. Extraordinary stories unfold behind the walls of my school each and every day, even in places that seem mundane. These past few years, I’ve covered incredible topics, including a sit-down interview with the new Headmaster and the World Culture Club’s International Festival. STE’s spirit and vibrant community are what makes my school so incredibly special to me. With each article, I uncover even more remarkable stories that I can't wait to share.

Carver Hix, Strake Jesuit

Throughout my life, I have always enjoyed writing, whether it be in the form of poetry, creative storytelling, or even school essays, where I was given the opportunity to write about and express what I wanted on a page, but I discovered my passion for writing during my journalism class at my school last year. Through this class I realized the power of writing, or rather the power of telling a story, and the potential it has to not only give presence to what usually lies underground, but also express the stories of different peoples, places, events, and actions that take place to shed them in a new light to all different audiences. I am looking forward to writing for School Buzz so that I can gain more experience writing in a more professional setting but also so that I can share the stories in my school and community with a wider audience.

Alexandra Wong, St. Agnes Academy

From grades one through five, I was readily identifiable as the little girl lugging around a book into the most inappropriate places: in restaurants, with relatives, before piano lessons. My younger self reasoned it was always necessary to have a book “just in case I got bored,” which was how I often explained to my perplexed parents why going to the movie theater required a copy of The Land of Stories.

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Though I doubt they ever understood, by the time sixth grade rolled around, I had grown out of that habit and into a new one. I started carrying a notebook and pen around instead – which was, in retrospect, maybe not a considerable improvement. Regardless, I started taking note of the “coolest” outfits I saw, what I ate for lunch, and anything I deemed exciting. Journaling these things had become my favorite part of the day. So, when applications to write for my middle school's newsletter opened, it was only natural to send in my writing and apply. There I discovered a love for journalism that I took to high school. I am so excited to continue my writing journey with School Buzz and share what being a sophomore at St. Agnes is like!

Emma Lai, The Post Oak School

When I was about six, my mom told me how light is commonly portrayed as good, and dark is portrayed as bad. In TV shows I watched and books I read, I began to notice: protagonists had light features, and antagonists had darker ones. I decided I wanted to

be an author whose protagonists had darker features, and whose villains had lighter ones. But, at six, I only imagined that, and eventually those dreams lingered more as memories than goals. When I was in middle school, I rediscovered my love for writing. I had written a historical fiction story for Humanities class and shared it with my parents. Seeing how impressed they were made me feel proud. After that, I became more involved in writing for my school's newsletter. Writing became a way for me to share my perspective and find my voice. This summer, my mom suggested I apply to be a student reporter for School Buzz. I saw this as an opportunity to share unique experiences from The Post Oak School and continue writing. I hope to represent my school, gain experience in journalism, and, most of all, do what I wanted to do even at six: make a difference through my writing.

Donna Xue, Houston Christian High School

Last summer, I was accepted to School Buzz. As someone who wants to write as a career, this opportunity opened my eyes to what

might be my future. I started looking at projects at school and the people involved in them. Through that, I got to know people I would've never encountered if not for the articles I wanted to write. I knew some seniors very well after I interviewed them. A few months later, they graduated. I stood outside the graduation hall, and everybody greeted me, telling me their goodbyes. It was emotional, but I appreciate having listened to them talk with passion and having recorded their experiences in words. Moving into senior year, I want to share memories of high school that will be there for the seniors, teachers, and all students to read and remember.

Eshaan Mani, The Kinkaid School

I first discovered my passion for journalism as a TIME for Kids Kid Reporter in eighth grade – the rush of covering a meaningful story in real-time is truly special. Over my past three years with School Buzz, I have enjoyed covering the vibrant Kinkaid community and spotlighting the talented students and interesting goings-on on campus. One of my

favorite stories I've written for School Buzz has been my profile of Jaivir Pande, a NepaliAmerican junior golfer who won the Drive, Chip, and Putt competition in Augusta, GA, at one of the most prestigious golf courses. I hope to continue covering the Falcon family in my senior year. The publication's reach, the breadth of topics covered, and the amazing editorial staff are all reasons why I love to write for School Buzz.

Matthew Jeong, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

From high school superlatives to rags-toriches success stories, news stories have a way of bringing people together. It can be funny, inspirational, sometimes just informational. Regardless, the ease in which information is distributed, written by a careful hand and perspective, has a special effect. People learn more about each other, from little quirks and tidbits to major events and revelations. There’s a sense of spirit, of a culture that everyone’s a part of, all facilitated through reporting. My love for human-to-human connections has helped me realize my passion for writing and reporting. I love how news can forge connections between people that can't be observed anywhere else, forming a community bond. As a high schooler, I have a unique perspective of what's happening in my community that I want to share with everyone else. To pursue those aspirations, I’ve developed editorial skills as the managing editor of my school newspaper and student reporter for School Buzz, where I work to deliver the impact of a proper newspaper firsthand.

Gregory Shafir Zelitt, The Awty International School

I discovered that I enjoy writing when my teachers at The Awty International School, where I have been a student since sixth grade, encouraged me to write about whatever I

have a passionate interest in. As a hobby, I study WWII and the history of my family, so my eighth-grade history teacher encouraged me to submit to the Scholastic Writing Awards a piece I wrote about my great-grandfather, a Soviet war hero who liberated the concentration camp where his mother perished. I won a Silver Key award for that piece. The following year I won a Gold Key for a piece I wrote about how my family emigrated from the former Soviet Union to flee Jewish persecution and came to the United States as refugees. I have enjoyed writing ever since. With School Buzz, I want to share all that we are doing at Awty to serve our community, as well as the programs we put on to learn from our school, comprised of students from all over the world.

Eli Karpas, The Emery/Weiner

School

12,000 ft on top of Anchor Mountain, located in Dolores County, Colorado, I had finally filled out my journal. At the beginning of the two-week-long outing through Colorado, I bought a black-and-white spotted journal at a local gas station, which I deemed necessary considering the vast amount of free time I would have. Each day I would journal, losing track of time, and once I finally reached the summit of Anchor Mountain, every page was full. I realized how much I loved writing, and how it models a haven for me. From then, I have maintained an interest in writing with purpose, leading me to take journalism classes throughout high school as well as writing for my school newspaper. Writing for School Buzz will only enhance my passion for writing along with shouting out the awesome school I attend.

Shyla Jogi, Bellaire High School

As long as I can remember, my classmates have agreed upon one, and only one, perspective: English class is the worst. And there's good reasoning behind it, too. Long essays, time-consuming reading assignments, having

to think critically, of all things. I would join in on the complaining and commiserating, until the day I realized that the exact opposite was true for me. Unlike my classmates, I looked forward to spending hours and hours on the essay assignments, reading classics late at night (probably the reason I need glasses), and participating in the class discussions that my peers so loudly bemoaned. My discovery of my passion for writing was less of a triumphant revelation than a gradual stumbling to a conclusion. When I learned about this opportunity to write for School Buzz, it dawned upon me that this was exactly what those English classes were leading up to: for me to be able to tell the stories of the people around me and at the same time, do what I love doing the most.

Madeleine Skaufel, St. Agnes Academy

The Buzz promotes real people’s stories within our community, which is a turn from media often filled with demoralizing stories that dishearten our view of humankind. Ever since I have moved to the area, I’ve enjoyed reading about families, pets, news, and kids, which sparks interest in a more fulfilling, positive way. I have always loved to read (one of my biggest accomplishments to date was winning my 40book challenge with 180 books in the fourth grade!). I love to write and analyze the experiences of others and the events that happen around me. I want to pursue journalism as a career because the culture of the media in the present day promotes misinformation, polarization, bias, and influences the way people form opinions and view society.

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See this article at thebuzzmagazines.com to read more from 2023-24 correspondents about their love of writing. Check out the School Buzz blog at thebuzzmagazines.com/columns/school-buzz throughout the year as these correspondents share school happenings.

Rumor Has It

Inner child surfaced. It may have been 100 degrees outside, but the pink champagne was perfectly chilled inside at Billie Sue Parris’ Barbie Birthday Party, held at Mary Maxey’s home. Guests embraced the theme inspired by the 1960s fashion icon with Barbie lookalikes. Gwen Mullins selected pastel pink bellbottoms; Val Lankford wore a flower power sundress; Kyle Suttles and Synda Frost donned pink derby hats; Ali Balmer wore a bejeweled pale pink sheath channeling Audrey Hepburn. “Beach Kens” wore pink polos and guayaberas. Ralph Burch sported a turquoise jacket, ascot, pocket square, and zebra tuxedo slippers. Paul Hensley and Chuck Brown capped their look with “Ken hair” which everyone agreed shaved years off their age. Guests enjoyed ’60s fare, including Strawberry Daiquiri Birthday Cake, and dancing to ’60s music.

Let there be champagne and cake. A particular group of girlfriends that had a child that graduated from MHS in 1997 wanted to stay in touch when they became empty nesters, so they lunched once a month. Later, bunco games developed and then mah jongg took over as the game of choice. The 25th anniversary celebration of the Mah Jongg Mamas group celebrated with champagne and cake at Toni Meason’s home. Many of them go back to Frostwood Elementary with their children. Their cheers were for women friendships. Sue Shefman, Martee Fuerst, Marilynn Branca, Jill Rose, Sherry Barker, Lacey Carey, Bonnie Vanhook, Diane Menscher were there but Mary Beth Cody, Judy Stockton, and Seanne Klingensmith were missed.

Stellabration. Liz and Tom Glanville returned from Greece in time to welcome Stella Sati Jiwani, born Aug 19 to Ali (Greenfield) and Rafique Jiwani in New York. Stella’s room is decorated in tones of peach and white with graceful egrets watching over her. Egrets symbolize good fortune, purity, grace, and new beginnings. Grandparents David Greenfield and first-time grandparents Liz and Tom Glanville and Sheila and Arif Jiwani (from Atlanta) are ready to spread their wings to NY anytime to see Stella.

Mah Jongg in the pool. Gal pals from a mah jongg group all over Houston had a weekend getaway in Austin with a handmade floating mah jongg game table made by Debi Mishael. She used foam insulation and lots of ingenuity. Summerin-Texas-mah takes on a whole new dimension. Susan Waldman, Cheryl Lidsky, Lisa Lowenstein, Frances Rubin, Bonnie Blumberg, Beth Nelson, and Ruth Reid made the splash. One of the original members, Dr. Beth Nelson, moved to Austin seven years ago to be Vice Dean of Education with Dell Medical School. She invites the group every year to stay with her and play nonstop mah. They usually make side trips but this year it was just a trip to Spec’s for beverages with delivered food to have nonstop mah in and out of the pool. No joke(rs). Worth waiting for. After waiting six hours, Lauren, Clark, and sons Maddox (7) and Weston (5) Edlund’s flight to London was canceled with no options in sight. The flight they eventually booked left the next day from Austin on a different airline without their luggage, which did not detract from their immersive month-long experience in England. The Cotswolds had them spellbound with history and The Lion King was a big hit for Weston while Maddox loved the London Eye to see the 360 views of the city. Grandparents Mindy and Joel Loshak joined them for a while, and Jas and Katie and children Jack (8), Benji (6), Emily (4) Brars and Lyndsie and Ian, kids Garrett (9)

and Evy (7) Palmers met them after a week. A pop of surprise. When Diane Gelman entered six art pieces called Candy PO-P x 6! to the ADC Fine Art for the Art Comes Alive Spring 2023 Competition in Cincinnati, she was attracted to the prize money and her soft spot for the city she used to live in. She won the Gallery’s Art Collective Ultimate Membership Award. These paintings will also be exhibited at the ADC booth during the prestigious Art Basel Miami Dec. 6-10 at the Red Dot Miami 2023 Show that shows contemporary art. How sweet!

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See Rumor Has It at thebuzzmagazines.com for additional photos. Have some good news to share? Email us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Buzz Baby

Family Halloween Costumes

Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones. Writer Annie McQueen is a mother of four children under the age of 9.

Halloween costumes can bring out so much laughter and creativity – especially when a family gets in on a groupthemed costume. It gets even better when the tiniest family member plays a role as well.

My nieces and nephews have dressed in themed costumes over the years – from a medieval theme of a princess, knight, and dragon, a group of spotted pups and a Cruella (of 101 Dalmations), a Tinker Bell and Peter Pan (of Peter Pan) to a group of Texans football fans with a cheerleader. The big reveal of their group costume is so fun to see every year. It was always so cute when their youngest would be the starring role (such as Cruella).

My husband and our kids decided to hop on the family costume bandwagon a few years back. I snagged a perfect set of costumes from a Facebook group – and we stepped out as The Incredibles. Our youngest son, Hank, was 2 at the time, and he was baby Jack-Jack. I can still see his little eyes peering out of the red mask he wore while we trick-ortreated around our neighborhood. It is always my favorite part of every Halloween – checking out the costumes as we meander around with the kids darting up and down sidewalks to ring doorbells and ask for candy.

Mother-of-two Natalie Mercer has come up with some clever ideas for her family’s coordinated Halloween costumes. She and her husband Michael have one son, Shep, 4, and one daughter, Maddie, 6.

When children are smaller, they usually do not mind the parent deciding on the costumes, but as they grow older, they can have opinions. She says the most challenging part is the selection of the costume. “As they are getting older, they might change their mind on Halloween night,” says Natalie, laughing.

Natalie says her favorite family costume to date is when her husband Michael matched their then 3-year-old Shep with a Daddy Shark and Baby Shark costume. “Shep was really into Baby Shark at the time and seeing his dad as

Daddy Shark put the biggest smile on his face,” said Natalie. Even though it was difficult for them to waddle around in their blowup costumes, and hard for a 3-year-old to keep on the whole time, it made for a hilarious photo opportunity and memory. She said the experience of wearing matching costumes makes Halloween extra special and brings out a lot of laughs from neighbors while out trick-or-treating.

Kathleen Van Keppel, a mom of three, says she has loved Halloween for as long as she can remember. “Now, having kids has made the holiday even sweeter,” she said. “To plan our costumes, I just ask the girls what they want to be, and then I plan a family costume around that.

It is so fun to have the whole family involved,” said Kathleen. Their themes have included a Shipley’s donut theme, a space theme with a Martian costume for their daughter, a Frozen theme, and more.

A few great tips from these parents are not to wait till the last minute to assemble a group costume. Visit a local thrift store to find accessories or browse Facebook Marketplace or local buyand-sell groups online. There are many accessories and parts to find, and a lot of it can be done yourself so also check out local crafts stores if you want to DIY.

I personally cannot wait each year to see the creative costumes around my neighborhood and on my social media feeds. Dressing up as a themed family for Halloween adds a touch of humor and a whole lot of heart to the holiday. So, tap into your creative side, and make this Halloween a family affair. You will be sure to create some everlasting memories.

Editor’s Note: Dressing up as a family this year to trick-or-treat? Send us your family-themed Halloween costumes at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Buzz Reads

Five picks for October

Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.

A Beautiful Rival: A Novel of Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden by Gill Paul (historical fiction) – A Beautiful Rival chronicles the bitter feud between two beauty industry giants, Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein, the women responsible for launching the cosmetics industry we know today. Alternating between the two women’s points of view, Paul tells each woman’s story and then paints a vivid picture of their rivalry: copying products and ad campaigns, poaching employees, planting spies, spreading rumors, and more. Both women were extremely driven and motivated to succeed, sometimes no matter the cost, personal or professional. So much history is woven into the tale as the two women kept their businesses afloat during two world wars and the Great Depression. Paul has another winner on her hands as she continues to highlight strong historical women.

Kill Show by Daniel Sweren-Becker (mystery) – Structured in transcript format, Kill Show is set 10 years after a 16-year-old girl goes missing and the circus that ensued after a true crime show comes to town to try to “help” find the girl. The tale is relayed through “interviews” with all of the key participants in the tragedy and demonstrates how Hollywood and others exploit these tragedies for entertainment purposes. It is a compelling story that is also a commentary on the true crime industry, its dark underbelly, the lives that end up ruined by all of these amateur sleuths and online shaming, and why the country’s fascination with it is often problematic. Sweren-Becker says of the inspiration for the book: “I’m fascinated by our national obsession with true crime. How do we detach from the horrific facts to find it entertaining? How do people doing this professionally sleep at night?” Kill Show is a massive page turner and very thought provoking; I highly recommend this brief but powerful novel.

this stellar debut follows Dr. Lydia Weston, a professor at Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. Anna, a patient Dr. Weston has been seeing in the college’s affiliated outpatient clinic, shows up one evening in a manic state and then disappears just as quickly. Lydia is dismayed to learn that Anna’s body was subsequently dredged out of the Schuylkill River, and her death deemed a suicide. Certain Anna’s death could not be a suicide, Lydia insists on participating in the postmortem, after which she is drawn into the investigation of her demise. Mukerji creates a strong sense of time and place as well as crafting realistic and authentic characters. She vividly depicts Lydia’s medical procedures and examinations as well as what it would be like to work as a female doctor during this time period. The crime will keep you guessing until the last pages – the best kind of mystery.

The Square of Sevens by Laura ShepherdRobinson (historical fiction) – This multilayered, gothic historical saga is structured around cartomancy, telling fortunes using the ancient Square of Sevens method. The structure of the book itself is built around the Square of Sevens, with each chapter assigned a significant card with an explanation about the significance of that card. The story opens with 7-year-old Red traveling from place to place with her Cornish father, a “cunning” man who tells fortunes using the ancient Square of Sevens to make a living. Shortly before he dies, her father entrusts her care as well as an ancient Square of Sevens document to a gentleman to raise her. Eventually, Red’s desire to understand her past leads her on a journey across England to solve the mystery of her origins. This lengthy novel (it runs over 500 pages) incorporates history, twists and turns, car-

tomancy, intrigue and drama into a well-structured and clever tale with a fabulous ending.

Starter Villain by John Scalzi (science fiction) – John Scalzi’s latest novel is an engaging and witty romp starring Charlie Fitzer, an exjournalist working as a substitute teacher, who discovers that his estranged uncle has died and left him his supervillain business. Suddenly, Charlie is thrown into the world of comical James-Bond-style villain societies, talking cats, laser death rays, dolphin labor disputes, a volcano island lair, and lots of double and triple twists. The book is chock-full of laugh-out-loud dialogue as well as Scalzi’s thoughts on modern day billionaires and who is actually running the world, making this both an enjoyable and intriguing read. This is a short book that will appeal to a wide range of readers; I highly recommend it. Note: Readers who aren’t usually drawn to science fiction may want to give this a try; it’s not heavy on the sci-fi and is a fun read.

Editor’s note: Southside Place resident Cindy Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column at thebuzzmagazines.com. She hosts the award-winning Thoughts from a Page Podcast, is co-creator of the Houston literary event series Conversations from the Page, runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfromapage, and regularly speaks to groups about books.

Travel Buzz

Dancing through the Chaos

This is not a joke. I’m legit stranded in Japan w/ 31 people and have no clue when I’m coming home.”

So begins the now-viral video series of Dr. Trevor Boffone (aka @dr_boffone on Instagram, @official_dr_boffone on TikTok, and @trevor.boffone on Facebook), a virtual journey that followed an arduous real-life one on social media.

On the first video, a perplexed Trevor stands in the soft drink aisle of a convenience store, shrugs helplessly and launches into a peppy dance number to the tune of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”

In front of him is the text:

“POV: You chaperoned a student trip to Japan and when you arrive at the airport you find out that American Airlines/Japan Airlines lost your booking and now you're stranded in Osaka, Japan and American Airlines tells you the soonest available flight is in 12 days and the only thing that will comfort you is another trip to the 7-11.” The video quickly amassed thousands of views and comments.

Dr. Trevor Boffone knows what it’s like to go viral – he and his Bellaire High School Spanish students took TikTok by storm four years ago when he started choreographing and posting the dance moves his students were teaching him. “It happened immediately; I got like 10,000 followers within a week, and 50,000 within six weeks,” he told Good Morning America in an interview at the time. Within two months, his followers shot up to 100,000, with views in the millions.

Trevor’s outsized social media presence began as a way to connect with his students, and ended up as the subject of his first book: Renegades: Digital Dance Cultures from Dubsmash to TikTok. Now the pop-culture scholar has begun a new career as a professor at Rice University and a content producer for Stages Houston. But he never imagined that his flair for dance and social media would help him get back home from the other side of the world – along with 30 other teachers, parents, and Carnegie Vanguard High School students on a class trip to Japan, all stranded in Osaka because of an airline error.

Wife Kayla Boffone, theatre director at Bellaire High School, had joined him on the chaperoning gig, invited by longtime friend and

fellow theater teacher at Carnegie Vanguard, Steward Savage, and they’d had a great trip –nine days exploring Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, several smaller cities and a number of temples and museums. They’d ridden a bullet train, eaten sushi in its place of origin, and, surprisingly, had some of the best pizza they’d ever tasted. Trevor had done TikToks eating the famous black eggs of Owakudani, which was supposed to extend his life by seven years; danced his signature “Hannah Montana” dance in front of Kyoto’s Nijo Castle; and did a montage of some of his favorite Japanese architecture. In short, he’d had a blast.

Until, that is, the group checked in at the Itami Airport in Osaka for the trip home and got the shock of their lives. They all had reservations, they were informed, but no tickets.

Somehow American Airlines made a mistake and didn’t pass along the information about the 31 passengers that were to fly to Tokyo on the morning of August 11. And so they had a reser-

vation, but not a booking. The soonest they could get a flight home, they were told, was in 12 days.

“We kept calling and they kept saying, ‘We cannot help you until the group booking opens,’ which to me feels insane,” said Trevor. “You have 31 teachers and students stuck in Japan. Like someone should be able to help you, right?”

At the height of his frustration, he stepped out to film the 7-11 video, which quickly shot to 135,000 views on TikTok, and nearly another thousand on Instagram. But it was the next one that really topped the charts – the one where, standing in the hotel lobby in front of the vending machines, he laid out the whole debacle, ending with the solution the airlines finally came up with: an obligatory 48-hour trip around the world.

It wasn’t until their first layover – some 12 hours later, in the middle of the night, in Bangkok, Thailand – that he logged back on,

ready to make a new video, and saw that his second post had gone viral – big time. It had already topped a million views; at press time, it was over 2.7 million.

“I was super shocked because, you know, you just throw things out, and even though I've gone viral before… but you just never know what is going to resonate with people and what stories they're going to want to pay attention to.”

This story, apparently, had all the ingredients for a viral post: “It had a good hook – I’m stuck in Japan. I'm with 31 students and teachers. And big corporate American Airlines will not help us.”

It didn’t hurt, of course, that he was already a hip hop dance sensation on “the Clock App,” as he calls TikTok. But for the first time, he went viral with a non-dance video.

Kayla, for her part, was not too surprised. She’s seen her husband’s TikTok account take off before, but it wasn’t until they finally made it back to Houston that it hit home the impact his posts had had.

“I don't want to say I'm used to it at this point, but yeah, he has a strong presence on social media, so it I guess was helpful in getting the attention of the airlines to hopefully fix the issue faster,” said Kayla. As for herself, she’s a bit more reserved and definitely does not have a big social media presence, she says.

“So I usually just kind of step to the side and let Trevor do his thing when he is social mediaing. At this point it happens a lot.” Sometimes, like when they were at Nijo Castle in Kyoto, she

gets to lend a hand. “He was like, ‘Hey, um, I know it's raining, but can you please come film me? I need to make a video in front of this arch.’ And so we went out … and sometimes my cinematography skills are not up to par, but I felt honored to be asked on that day.”

Once they got to Bangkok and Trevor saw the overnight sensation his Osaka video had become on TikTok, he hopped back on and made the Thaithemed dance video he’d been planning on the 12hour flight there – “One Night in Bangkok” – and linked it back to the previous ones:

“American Airlines stranded me in Osaka, Japan. Now I’m flying around the world. First stop, Bangkok.”

In Munich, he only had 2.5 hours, so he made a quickie sharing the best pretzel of his life.

And in Charlotte, N.C. – the last stop before Houston – an exhausted Trevor responded to the news of his and Kayla’s lost luggage with a half-hearted dance number dedicated to Meryl Streep singing ABBA – and “watching Mamma Mia on every flight.”

Finally, back at home, they were able to relax and go through the photos and remember some of the highlights of the trip itself. “I know we've focused a lot on what happened at the very end of the trip,” said Kayla. “But the trip itself – just getting to be there and experience the culture was really incredible.”

She loved Tokyo the best – she remembers the neon lights, the breathtakingly fast bullet trains, the bustling energy everywhere she went.

One of the things that really surprised her was that, despite the fact that Tokyo was nearly as hot and humid as Houston, she still enjoyed spending time outdoors.

“I don't want to sound cheesy, but I thought it was a really magical place. Like the signage and the lights, everything there. I don't know if it was the humidity or what it was, but it felt very glowy and it had a really beautiful energy to it. It’s one of those places where you travel to and you just connect with it in such a different way.”

For his part, Trevor has been focused on getting their lost luggage back – hours of filling out forms and waiting through automated phone hell – and trying to recover the $600 he lost in extra expenses. His goal throughout the ordeal was to stay positive – to help raise the group’s morale and his own. And if the videos are any indication, to a large extent, he succeeded.

“I tried to have fun with it and tell the story in a way that felt organic to who I am and also a way that felt organic to TikTok. I never wanted to rant, you know, and complain and be negative. I tried to be positive about it. And even though I was very upset about American Airlines, I've never wanted to use my platform to just be mean or ranty or negative. I can do that behind closed doors.”

Asked where he gets his capacity to turn adversity into creative good humor, he harkens to his origins as a native of New Orleans. Living through the nightmare of Katrina and other natural disasters was a lesson in emotion-

al resiliency, he said.

At the end of the day, he found a heartwarming side to the whole fiasco.

“It was kind of funny because I was posting updates as I went. And so every time I got off the plane, I had DMs, and usually they were a bit late because people got the videos too late, but they were like, ‘Hey, I'm in Munich, or my cousin lives in Munich. I'll send him to the airport with food for y'all.’ Or several people offered to drive me from IAH to Hobby

(Trevor’s car was parked at Hobby Airport, but he was rerouted to George Bush Intercontinental…). One person was in Charlotte and she was like, ‘I work for American. I can have some special stuff for y'all in Charlotte.’ And I'm like, I don't know what the special stuff would be, but like, people were trying to help, right? And they wanted to offer their resources in whatever way they could.”

And for those who want to know if they ever got their luggage back… as of press time, one

Tips from our Travelers

Trevor shares a few insights gained from his recent foray.

On Japan:

suitcase out of two had arrived. Twelve days after their departure from Osaka … the day American Airlines had first offered to send them home.

Grist for another TikTok, of course.

Editor’s note: See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for links to Trevor’s videos. Also, read an article Bellaire High School student Olivia Baba wrote about Dr. Boffone for our School Buzz blog in 2019. It was one of The Buzz Magazines’ most-read stories of the year in 2019.

Don’t miss: (Restaurants, museums, parks, historic sites, etc.) Kyoto, especially the Arashiyama area. The walk from the Bamboo Forest along the river back into town is gorgeous, peaceful, and a perfect respite from the crowded city.

Don't bother: Skip sushi. It's not that different from the sushi you can get in Houston so I wouldn't "waste" a meal on it. The ramen on the other hand...

What surprised me: Japan is the cleanest place I've ever been. The entire country was meticulous!

What delighted me: The food! Japanese food is top-tier, but don't forget about the desserts. The sponge cakes were off the charts!

Worth the splurge: Japan has excellent shopping so definitely budget to spend some money on souvenirs.

What I learned from the locals: Silence is king.

What I will never forget: (Besides the trip home!) Stumbling upon a pop-up bar in Kyoto and then strolling along the Kamo River at night.

On Travel Under Duress:

Lessons learned: Don't forget to eat and drink often so you don't get hangry or more easily lose your patience. Sleep as much as you can!

Lessons I'd rather forget: Always pack extra clothes and deodorant in your carry-on bag.

How to keep a positive attitude: Knowing that so much of the travel kerfuffle was beyond my control helped me to view it in a positive light. After a certain point, I was along for the ride and couldn’t change anything about that.

How to help boost group morale: Make TikToks! ... Jokes aside, staying positive can go a long way. Creating fun social media posts can be a great way for group bonding and to help pass the time.

Chef’s Corner

The blue and white Cycladic architecture paintings at the entrance of Niko Niko’s on Montrose call to mind the Mediterranean and Greece. But the eclectic interior of this 46-year-old restaurant – lined with “Greek Is Chic!” and “Get Your Greek On” T-shirts – screams Houston.

Here and there, you get glimpses of Dimitri Fetokakis – well, hand-drawn caricatures of the owner wearing oversized, black-rimmed glasses anyway – because the walking-and-talking version is in the kitchen or working at another location. These days, the salt-and-pepper-bearded man whom many people credit for keeping the Greek culture buzzing in Houston is on the go as he closes one chapter and starts a new one. After 15 years, he is shuttering the Market Square location to focus on his biggest project

to date: Opening a 10,800-square-foot Niko Niko’s Greek & American Café in the Woodlands with Cousin Niko Bossinakis.

“My cousin Niko is the second Niko on the sign. The first one is my brother,” Dimitri says. “He came to me about two years ago and said, ‘Hey, how about we do something together?’ I was like, ‘Nik, if it’s with you, I’ll do it. If it were with anybody else, I wouldn’t do it.’”

October is a busy time. Dimitri is preoccupied with opening the new eatery by spring 2024, then there’s the annual Original Greek Festival. In its 57th year, this is when the entire Greek community comes together Oct. 5-7 in a celebration that attracts 35,000-plus attendees.

“We have an amazing community: The older people work the booths, the grandmas make all the desserts, and the kids dance,” says the

Memorial resident, who turned 51 last month.

The Original Greek Festival started in 1966. A decade later, his family – Dad Chrisanthos Fetokakis, Mom Eleni, and their four children –arrived in Houston from New York City. An ornate, silver-framed black-and-white photo hangs near Niko Niko’s kitchen, showing a woman ordering from a walk-up to-go window. At the bottom is a tag – 1977 – the year Niko Niko’s opened.

The décor at the original Niko Niko’s (2520 Montrose Blvd.) is a mishmash of old and new. That was by choice when the space was remodeled and expanded in 2004. Framed family photos – many faded – are scattered throughout the restaurant. Dimitri lived in the back of the restaurant, but when Niko Niko’s took off, he converted the living quarters into a commercial kitchen.

Greek album covers hang above the pastry

case. In one, a handsome dark-haired man holding a guitar is flanked by sultry models. Oldtimers instantly recognized the vintage artwork when Niko Niko’s had a dozen or so tables, and Dimitri was the only cashier working the register. “That’s my uncle, Tasso. He’s the reason my mother came to America,” he says.

The LP covers remind him of when his mother – then-18-year-old Eleni, a gifted singer – performed with her brother in nightclubs and communities in Greece and the United States. They were popular and recorded vinyl records. Later, she became the heart and soul of Niko Niko’s kitchen. The Moussaka, Pastichio, dolmathes, and cabbage rolls are her recipes.

Nearby, plywood board menus hang below cash registers, written with pseudo-Greek fonts that date back to 1977. They tell the story of his father, a risk-taker and gambler who ran dice games, but had keen business sense. A year after moving to Houston, Dimitri recalls his family being evicted from their apartment across from Niko Niko’s because they adopted a stray dog. While sitting on the doorsteps, pondering, Dimitri’s dad noticed a “For Lease” sign on an abandoned gas station across the street. “That’s how we got Niko Niko’s,” Dimitri says. “He signed the lease that day and borrowed $350 or $400 for the first month's rent.”

The next day, dad Chrisanthos went to the farmers market, bought some produce, and started selling it. “Niko Niko’s started as a fruit stand,” Dimitri says. That didn’t last long. Dad had bigger dreams – a gyro booth. People thought he was nuts. This was barbecue country. Still, he was convinced he would succeed with blond-haired Eleni by his side. She was born in 1937 in the back of her father’s restaurant on Christmas Day. He thought, “‘She’s an amazing cook, a stickler for detail, and will run the restaurant like a sergeant.’”

With hat in hand, Dimitri’s father approached Pete Pappas. “Back then, the Pappas sold restaurant equipment, and their reputation was golden,” says Dimitri, adding that after the legendary

co-founder of Pappas Restaurant heard the request, he asked whether he was a gambler.

“Yes, I am,” Dimitri’s dad replied.

Pete told Chrisanthos to get the equipment he needed and pay the money back when he could. Next, Dimitri’s dad approached the Demeris family of Demeris Bar-B-Que, who introduced his dad to a banker and co-signed for a loan even though they hardly knew his parents.

Soon enough, then-five-year-old Dimitri started peeling potatoes while his older siblings helped slice tomatoes and onions for the lamband-beef gyros. Today, the gyro sandwich remains the No. 1 seller, and in August, Yelp picked Niko Niko’s as the best sandwich shop in Texas because of it. “We have one of the best gyros,” Dimitri says. “It’s our proprietary recipe and something I always work on, little tweaks here and there, but I was surprised. I mean, we’re in Texas. I would think they would pick barbecue or something like it, but hey, I’ll take it.”

Running a restaurant can feel like wading through uncharted waters. Starting with his dad as his mentor, Dimitri learned that good advice could clear hurdles faster. Now, he frequently meets with veteran chef Arturo Boada and restaurateur Ziggy Gruber at Kenny & Ziggy’s (1743 Post Oak Blvd.) to “solve a lot of the world’s problems,” Dimitri jokes. “It’s a nice friendship, and it’s fun. We love each other. I call those guys my brothers.”

Ziggy refers to it as an “unofficial breakfast club.” Frequently, another chef or restaurateur, such as Breakfast Klub owner Marcus Davis; a purveyor; or a produce guy will drop in. On this day, it’s chef Mark Cox, who for nearly 20 years operated Mark’s American Cuisine.

“We show up, eat, and discuss the restaurant business's problems. You know, all kinds of stuff, like, ‘Do you know a good AC guy or an accountant?’ We all help each other,” Ziggy says.

This breakfast club meets once or twice a week unless Dimitri is in Greece. “He usually goes away with the family for a couple of months

in the summer,” Ziggy says. “People know about his great sense of humor, but what most people don’t realize about Dimitri is his whole existence, and his whole life is for his family. He is very active in his kids’ lives.”

When he bought the business from his mother after his dad passed away in 1998, he mapped a plan to grow the business so he could start a family. Before remodeling the original Montrose location, he worked from 8 in the morning to midnight every day. “After 10 years of that, I didn’t want to be stuck behind the register anymore. I had to plan for the future,” he says.

He added more entree options, starting with oven-roasted lamb shanks with olive oil, oregano, and lemon. “That went crazy, then I added the grilled pork chops. That went crazy. I started doing oven-roasted whole fish, bringing fresh catch from Greece. I saw an upswing not just at lunch, but also at dinner. It was just the right time. The neighborhood was changing. When I took over, we were only doing about $700 a day. I was happy if we made a thousand, then we went to $1,600, then $2,000, and the rest is history, right?” says Dimitri.

Publications often describe Niko Niko’s as a Houston institution or a landmark. Its rise seems like a shooting star, especially after the Food Network’s Guy Fieri of “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” featured Dimitri on his show not once, but three times since October 2009. “We were already busy before that, but business went up 35 percent when the show aired,” he says.

By 2016, he opened a stand-alone, 8,000square-foot location at 1040 W. Sam Houston Parkway North. Not only was there enough demand for it in the Memorial/Spring Branch area, but it also was just minutes from his home with his wife Laura and his two children. “It’s why I built it,” says Dimitri, who named his oldest boy Chrysanthos after his dad and baby daughter Nikoletta after the restaurant. For him, “food ties into everything in life.”

The menu claims that

(continued on page 42)

Niko Niko’s is the only place in town to get these addictive crispy honey balls (Greek doughnuts) besides the Greek Festival. Dimitri served this to Guy Fieri on his first visit to the eatery. He asked the Food Network star if he thought it was good. Guy replied, “It’s great!”

Niko Niko’s Loukoumades

1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast

2 cups warm water (80 degrees F)

3/4 tablespoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon iodized salt

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 1/8 cups all-purpose flour

Vegetable oil for frying

For Honey Sauce:

2 cups water

1 1/8 cups sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cinnamon stick

1/4 lemon, juiced

1 ½ tablespoons honey

For Topping:

1 1/8 cups sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

In a small bowl, add one cup of warm water and stir in the active dry yeast until a creamy foam forms. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, salt, and remaining warm water. Add the yeast mixture and vanilla extract to this mixture and mix well. Gently work in the flour until the mixture forms a smooth, soft dough. Transfer the dough to a larger, oiled mixing bowl, cover, and allow to rise at room temperature until it doubles in volume, which should take about 1 ½ hours.

Meanwhile, make the honey sauce. Bring the water to a boil in a medium-sized sauce pot over medium heat. Add sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon stick, and lemon juice, then simmer for 45 minutes. Add the honey and simmer for another five minutes. Set the sauce aside until ready to use.

To make the topping, combine the sugar with ground cinnamon in a bowl and set aside. If you don’t want to make this topping, you can substitute powdered sugar for the cinnamon-sugar topping.

To make the Greek doughnuts, heat about two to three inches of oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F. Using a tablespoon, scoop the dough into balls about ½-inch in diameter. Try not to overhandle the soft, puffy dough. Drop the dough into the fryer and cook in batches, being careful not to overcrowd. Fry until golden brown.

Remove the fried doughnuts from the oil with a spider strainer and drain on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Transfer the warm doughnuts to a serving platter. Drizzle with honey syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, and serve immediately. Makes about 8 servings.

Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime Houston-based restaurant writer.

SportzBuzz

With its runner-up finish in the prestigious Katy/Cy Fair Volleyball Tournament, the Stratford Spartans served notice of a powerful season ahead for the team. Stratford won its first seven games of the tournament before falling to state number one ranked Grand Oaks in the championship final. “To get to the finals was special,” said Spartans head coach Jenny Adcock. “We defeated several of the area’s best volleyball programs. The source of our success is that these girls love and play for each other. They also push each other every day so what happens on the court is because of those relationships.”

Beyond the opening tournament, Stratford maintained its winning ways with a 22-6 record entering district play. “We went into the season wanting to do great,” added Adcock. “We also talked about being humble, selfless, and putting the success of others above yourself.” Leading the Spartans to great success was a standout core of eleven seniors including libero Izzy Rodriguez. “Izzy has great ball control and also hits the ball well,” said Adcock. “She’s the heart of our energy on the court.”

In addition, setters Jaelyn Chen and Audrey Cook were both major contributors. “Both girls are incredibly intelligent players who play great defense while also anchoring our offense,” said Adcock. Also, sophomore outside hitter Gwen Koss led the team in kills, while 6-foot-4 sophomore Sarah Hickman was a dominant presence for the Spartans. “Gwen has one of the highest volleyball IQs I’ve ever seen,” added Adcock.

Under the direction of first-year head coach

Beck Brydon, the Second Baptist Eagles kicked off the football season with an impressive 41-0 shutout victory over St. Pius X. Brydon arrived at Second Baptist this past spring after building a perennial powerhouse at the Regents School of Austin. Brydon guided the Regents football program to 10 state championship finals in 20 years, including five state titles. “I always enjoyed competing against a great program in Second Baptist and now hope to continue building on that success as the Eagles head coach,” said Brydon.

On the field this season, the Eagles are led by senior quarterback

Turner Murdock

“Turner has total command of the offense,” said Brydon. “He’s making great decisions and is our field general.” The Eagles boast a dynamic one-two punch at running back in sophomore

Langston Davis and junior Bryce Butler while Brydon says the Eagles offense is bolstered by a pair of outstanding receivers in JD Crisp and Jackson Powers. The offensive line is anchored by 6-foot-4, 340-pound tackle R.J. Lee and senior guard Chase Tepper.

On defense, Eagles defensive end Charlie Shears already owns several collegiate offers, while Brydon says sophomore lineman Kelvin Baptiste and junior linebacker Cash Harris are also making a major impact.

Aftertaking down all opponents while winning this past season’s Texas Prep State Wrestling Championship as well as the SPC Wrestling Championship, Kinkaid Falcon Will McMackin is bringing down opposing players this fall as a standout linebacker and defensive end on the Falcons football team. As a returning All-SPC and All-State defensive player, the Falcons senior has been a part of two SPC football championships.

“Last year’s football championship was extra special,” said McMackin. “I had major knee surgery on both knees during the off-season and was able to come back and lead the team in tackles and quarterback sacks.” Then, only four months later into his junior season, McMackin would be crowned the Texas Prep State Wrestling champion in the 175-weight class. “I missed my sophomore season of wrestling because of the knee surgeries, so I felt like I had

something to prove. I wanted to do it for everyone who had supported me,” added McMackin.

But the state championships did not end in wrestling, with McMackin capping off the school year as a starting defenseman for Kinkaid’s Texas High School Lacrosse League State Championship team, in essence earning him a fourth state championship in one school year. “It was kind of a shock to me,” said McMackin. “I don’t consider myself a lacrosse player. I’m more of a football player who happens to play lacrosse. My nickname was The Enforcer.”

But all state championships aside, McMackin’s talents also extend well beyond the athletic arena. The Falcon senior has performed with the Kinkaid honors choir and musical theater company over the last several years, and this past month joined with his sister Lauren to sing the national anthem just before the Falcons football game against Archbishop Shaw. “My sister is someone I’ve always admired and to have her side by side with me on the football field as brother and sister means the world to me. I just love that connection.”

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.

SportzBuzz Jr.

Welcome to SportzBuzz Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.

Donkeys win

The Post Oak Little League 12U All-Star team, playing as the Donkeys, coached by John Nicholson, Hunter Sage, and Carter Ayers, swept the championship title at the Oak Tree Classic Baseball Tournament. The team had some strong wins throughout the tournament, including defeating NASA 12U All-Stars 15-0, the Alvin 12U All-Stars 12-0, and NASA again 11-1. They finished with a 10-0 score in the final game. The team celebrated their victory after the final win. Everyone was so proud of these POLL players and their hard work and dedication to take home the title. Pictured (from left) are Benjamin Luks, Driscoe Bertillion, Nifewa Famurewa, Dylan Gompers, Owen Ott, Douglas Nicholson, Ethan Sandoval, Robert McNair, Hudson Sage, and Dash Dowell.

Football friends

A group of buddies from Rummel Creek Elementary including (pictured, from left) Adrian De La Cerda, Kolt Gregersen, Brooks Hendrick, Greyson Zazzi, Theo Zazzi, Barrett Spangler, Marcelo Ramos, Aidan Madden, Brooks Saathoff, and Finn Gregersen have fun together on and off the field. The friends played on the same Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association 7 on 7 football team, the Wyoming Cowboys. The boys were coached by Casey Gregersen and Derek Hendrick. A highlight was chasing the ice cream truck at Memorial Middle School after hot practices. They are playing SBMSA 7 on 7 again this fall and having a ball on the field together.

Texans take it all

The Oak Tree Classic Baseball Tournament was one for the books for some hard-working young baseball players. The 11U Post Oak Little League All-Star team, playing as the Texans, swept the title, held at NASA Little League. Fans, family, and friends cheered along the sidelines to notable moments such as Terry Boffone’s perfect game against Dickinson, and when players Hayes Toomey and Chase Adam combined for a no-hitter game against Alvin. They went on to beat the League City 11U All-Star team 10-5 in the championship. Pictured (front row, from left) are players Will Lewis, James Davis, Harrison Cooper, Chase Adam; (middle row, from left) Mason Maggi, Burke Wise, Calhoun McNair, Robert Pugh, Hayes Toomey, Terry Boffone; (back row, from left) coaches Philip Wise, Tony Pugh, Bobby Marquez, and Mike Maggi.

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.

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SCARY GOOD Junior BJ Rottinghaus (left) wants to make sure every kid can get the full Halloween experience. His charity, Y’alloween, worked with Elizabeth Galante (right) of Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, as well as other organizations, to provide new costumes to kids in need.

Buzz Kidz

Y’alloween

When I was younger, Halloween was everything to me. The scary monsters, the creepy crawlies, the candy – I loved it all. Now that I’m older, every year I think about how much fun it was to be someone else for a night. I got to be Luke Skywalker, Spider-Man, Tigger the Tiger, and my favorite baseball players. But not everyone gets that same experience. Since the pandemic, many families around Texas have faced economic challenges, and their kids can’t get the full Halloween experience due to the high cost of costumes. So, in 2021 my family and I set out to change that. We started Y’alloween, a 501(c)(3) charity that provides new costumes to kids in need. In 2021, we worked with our first partner, the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC). We raised money

to provide every kid in their care (over 50 kids) with a costume.

Last year, we partnered with two more organizations, as well as HAWC, to increase our total to over 200 costumes. We helped Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) and Assurance Therapeutic Outreach (ATO) by providing costumes for kids in their programs. Our work with these organizations raised our profile and helped us fundraise. We started to get support from businesses, like ONE Digital, who held a costume drive, and were featured on many news outlets.

This October, we are expanding to Austin to work with the Rathgeber Center for the Salvation Army. This new partner will add another 150 costumes to our total. This will be the first shelter that we are helping outside of the Houston area,

and the biggest shelter to date. In two short years, we have grown from providing 50 costumes to over 300 for kids in need – all thanks to generous donations from our community.

Over the coming years, I want to grow my charity to help more kids – I know that this can be the biggest Halloween charity in Texas!

Editor’s note: To find out more about Y’alloween or to donate, visit www.yalloween.org and follow on socials @yalloweentx.

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.

Surprise! You’re a trustee!

Today everyone enjoys a $10+ million federal estate tax exemption. Normal families don’t pay estate tax because normal people die without saving $10 million. However, everyone reading this article had grandparents if not parents that came of age when the estate tax exemption was much lower ($60,000 in 1976; $600,000 as late as 1997). As surviving spouses die, children and grandchildren discover they were named successor trustees of taxplanned trusts they know little enough about. Don’t accept the appointment without reading the trust instrument, reviewing the trust accounts and assets, meeting with a lawyer and CPA, and discussing with the beneficiaries.

In Texas, the trustee’s powers and duties are defined by the trust instrument as sometimes limited and often supplemented by the Texas Trust Code. Common law (court decisions) fill in the gaps. If a will created the trust on Grandpa’s death, the will is the trust instrument and it’s available from the clerk of the probate court. Other trust instruments are private, and easily lost. If Grandpa’s lawyer or CPA can’t help, ask the banker or a broker for a copy; they often require one to open a trust account. If an estate tax return was filed, the IRS may have a copy.

What are the trust assets? Are they all there? If the trust is a surprise, that suggests Grandpa neglected to make annual reports to the beneficiaries. Did Grandpa steal the grandkids’ share? Grandma’s? Every trustee is responsible for collecting trust assets, including stolen ones. Beneficiaries can forgive Grandpa (or his estate); the trustee cannot. Best to know the required cleanup before accepting the job.

Get professional help. A lawyer can determine and explain the trust

requirements, even the unwritten ones, e.g., annual accounts. If Texas law does not govern, a Texas lawyer cannot help. Because Texas does not have a state income tax, Grandpa’s CPA in Ohio may be as qualified as any Texas CPA to assist with the income tax return required for irrevocable trusts.

Talk to the beneficiaries. Will they release prior trustees from liability? If not, Thanksgiving may never be the same. Do they oppose trustee compensation? Good to know if you’re working for free. Is there consensus regarding reasonable expenses of administration, e.g., replacing a roof to insure a house that’s already paid off, hiring a CPA, or engaging an investment advisor?

Trustee appointments are not mandatory and you can decline to serve. Look before you leap.

We write wills and go to probate court. We offer no-obligation initial interviews for estate planning and administration, so it costs nothing to hear specific recommendations that suit your needs. Foreign nationals and international families welcome.

Neighborhood Tails

Dusty, age 1, Labrador Retriever, Holly Springs Dr.

Hello! My name is Dusty and I’m a white Labrador Retriever. I turn one this month – hopefully my family brings me a treat from the dog bakery to celebrate! I met my human family at a charity gala auction, and they took me home after. They must have been excited to be watching the Astros win the World Series at the same time as the auction, because they named me after Dusty Baker. I enjoy playing tug-of-war with my four human siblings – I always win! I love to chew up toys, and probably hold a world record for destroying new toys in mere minutes. I love it when my family brings me to the ranch where I can go swimming in the pond. I can’t wait to hop out of the car after the drive and jump right in. Please say hello if you see me walking on Tanglewood Boulevard!

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.

2023 update on nose sprays

The most popular type of preventative nose sprays for allergy contains small amounts of steroids. Examples include Flonase, Nasacort, and Nasonex. For the past several years, Flonase and Nasacort have been available without a prescription (OTC). After that, Johnson & Johnson brought Rhinocort OTC, but it didn’t sell well, so they discontinued it. One advantage of Rhinocort is its lack of irritating preservatives. If Rhinocort helped you, search for “Budesonide Nasal Spray, 32 mcg” – many places still sell the generic. Regular Flonase contains phenylethyl alcohol (PEA), which gives it that floral odor. Many people find the odor unpleasant, though others tell us it’s the “smell of relief.” PEA, an alcohol, can dry the inside of the nose and cause nosebleeds. Both Flonase and Nasacort contain benzalkonium chloride (BKC), another preservative that can dry out the nose. Rhinocort has neither, so many prefer it. In March 2017, Glaxo (owner of Flonase) put Veramyst OTC, renaming it Flonase Sensimist. Like Rhinocort, Flonase Sensimist has no PEA or BKC, so it too is gentler. Why would Glaxo put its superior product OTC? To sell some! They couldn’t sell much prescriptiononly Veramyst for $250, but OTC Flonase Sensimist sells for $28. Costco has it in a pack of three that goes on sale for about $45 a few times a year. In 2022, Nasonex went OTC. It contains BKC but not PEA.

Meanwhile, Glaxo’s Flonase, which contains fluticasone propionate (along with PEA and BKC), is losing more and more market share to generics, which can sell for less than half the $20 price. Recently, Costco had a package of five bottles of its Flonase generic, called Aller-Flo, on sale for $16.99! That’s less than $4 each.

Unlike decongestant nose sprays, such as Afrin, you can’t become physically dependent on steroid nose sprays. The decongestant nose sprays go to work more quickly than steroid nose sprays, but the more you use them, the less effective they are. They work for stuffy nose, but not for sneezing, itching, or runny nose.

Besides steroid sprays, you can also get antihistamine nose sprays (e.g., azelastine or olopatadine), and anticholinergic nose sprays. Both of the antihistamine sprays provide faster relief for sneezing and itching than nasal steroids, and Astepro went OTC in 2022. Ipratropium nasal, an anticholinergic spray, works like magic for runny or drippy nose, but doesn’t relieve any other symptoms. It is Rx only, but inexpensive as a generic. As of August 2023, GoodRx has it for $6.82 at Walgreens.

No one nose allergies like we do.™

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

David B. Engler, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 1400, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic

Buzz About Town

Summer Soiree

More than 300 guests gathered for the 20th annual Summer Soiree hosted by Tootsies and Women of Wardrobe (WOW). Sarika Patel, Anna Gryska, Catherine Sdao, Jane Siskin, and Lauren Levicki Courville (pictured, from left) joined the group of supporters at Tootsies to shop the latest fall trends and raise funds for Dress for Success Houston (DFS Houston), while enjoying local bites and sips and entertainment from DJ Johnny Bravo. This year’s event, chaired by Gryska and Sdao, raised nearly $20,000 to help Houston women achieve economic independence through professional attire, development tools, and a network of sup-

port. Since 2003, Summer Soiree has raised more than $280,000. DFS Houston president Lauren Levicki Courville welcomed the crowd, including WOW cofounders Mia Gradney and Traci Lee, and current WOW president Sarika Patel, and thanked guests for their support.

AOS gives back

For the second year in a row, Annunciation Orthodox School (AOS) kicked off the new year with a back-to-school service project. AOS families gathered to fill backpacks with school supplies during a breakfast event supporting the BE A Resource for CPS Kids (BEAR) Back to School program. Students and their families

donated and assembled new backpacks and school supplies for children who are under the supervision of Child Protective Services. At the end of the service project, the AOS volunteers completed more than 70 fully stocked backpacks to be given to children so they can have a successful school year.

St. Agnes senior sunrise

Seniors at St. Agnes Academy welcomed the new school year by watching the sunrise together in the school parking lot.

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Donning comfy pajamas, members of the class of 2024 got up extra early and gathered in decorated cars to kick off their final year as high school students. When the sun had risen, they enjoyed breakfast served by school administrators and then headed to class. Pictured (from left) are St. Agnes seniors Olivia Murphy, Lucy Logan, Hannah Yi, Natalie Boersma, Bianca Burga, Avery Leaman, Audrey Rogan, Amelia Benzman, and Blakely Veselka.

In the mountains

Anne Neeson, and Will and Elizabeth Galtney (pictured, from left) escaped the Houston heat and enjoyed time in Aspen, Colorado at a celebration for the Memorial Hermann Foundation. This was the third annual event in the mountains for Memorial Hermann Health System

donors and friends, highlighting the work of Memorial Hermann Life Flight. More than 150 guests joined hospital leaders and kicked off the event at a cocktail reception. A string quartet of students from Aspen Music Festival entertained the group while they enjoyed bloodorange rosaritas and beautiful mountain views. Memorial Hermann executives Anne Neeson, Dr. David Callender, and Dr. Jamie McCarthy welcomed and thanked supporters, and gave an update on Life Flight operations and service to the community. The celebration continued the following morning with brunch at the Garden at Hotel Jerome, hosted by Melissa Juneau and Leticia Trauber, who was represented by her daughter Lexi Trauber. Before heading home, guests received a gilded Aspen leaf ornament in honor of trees donated by Memorial Hermann

Foundation that will be planted at the Aspen School District campus.

Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston

Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston (EGMH) founders Atul Kothari and Devinder and Sushma Mahajan (pictured, from left) attended a preview of the new museum located in southwest Houston (not pictured: founders Manish Kiwani and Rita Kothari). The museum pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and his legacy of nonviolent conflict resolution and is the first of its kind in the United States. Houston’s culturally diverse population makes it the perfect place for the museum that incorporates immersive experiences to teach visitors about peace leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Dalai Lama. A grand opening celebration is scheduled for Oct. 2, Gandhi’s birthday. For more information, visit egmh.org.

Saving the blue-throated macaws

Five years after the dedication of the Laney Rickman Blue-throated Macaw Reserve in Bolivia, Dorothy Paterson (pictured) visited the site named for her late sister. Along with her husband Malcolm, daughter Audrey, and friend Terry Huffington, Dorothy made the trip to the Beni Savannas of Bolivia, the only place where the critically endangered Blue-throated macaws live in the wild. They held a memorial ceremony and spread the ashes of Laney and her husband, Jack, on the reserve while a pair of the beloved blue birds happened to fly overhead. Laney, who passed away unexpectedly during Hurricane Harvey, was an advocate for aviculture and conservation, and founded the Bird Endowment. Dorothy has assumed the role of president and executive director of the Bird Endowment and continues Laney’s legacy with efforts to save the Blue-

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throated macaw from extinction. Read more about Dorothy, Laney, and Blue-throated macaws in the 2019 article A Sister’s Legacy: Saving the blue-throated macaw by Andria Frankfort Dilling.

The basic needs

A group of physicians recently returned from Bangladesh where they provided heart-surgery procedures for local children through The Basic Needs Foundation. Established in 1993 by Dr. Richard Hubbard, a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist at Texas Children’s Hospital, The Basic Needs Foundation connects corporations and nonprofit organizations to provide assistance including food, clothing, and medical care. Dr. Hubbard is grateful to the team of dedicated doctors who gave their time and medical expertise to children in Bangladesh, and he was honored to work alongside them. The Basic Needs Foundation volunteers are (pictured, from left) Dr. Diego Casali, Dr. Judy Becker, Abdul Khader Biplop, Dr. Selim Rokonujjaman, Dr. Richard Hubbard, and Dr. Rezwana Rima

A senior retreat

The Second Baptist School (SBS) Class of 2024 (pictured) recently spent time away from campus as a group and participated in the senior retreat. This annual tradition is reserved for the 12th-grade class and is designed to strengthen relationships

between students and give them a time and place to reflect on their time at SBS and think about their futures after graduation. The SBS faculty played an important role in the retreat when they presented special sessions for the students with topics focusing on critical thinking, leadership, and living in faith. A highlight of the beloved event is when students are given letters from their parents, and each senior can read a special message written just for them. When the retreat was over, students returned to campus and regular school life with a new enthusiasm for their final year.

Ready for school

Christian Community Service Center’s (CCSC) back-to-school event provided supplies for more than 4,000 Houston-area students as they started the new school year. CCSC held a school registration event at Bellaire United Methodist Church and distributed supplies at Faith Lutheran Church. Since 1986, CCSC member church congregations,

community supporters, and volunteers have worked together to ensure that underserved children have what they need for school. This year, thousands of pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students each received new, gradeappropriate school supplies, a new backpack, and a clothing gift card. The 2023 back-toschool committee members are (top row, from left): Alma Lopez, Laura Notestine, Elaine Fitzgibbon, Kelly Mathews, Jennifer Rosenfeld, Leisa Novak, Elizabeth Detweiler, Kenya Rodriguez , and Sarah Hans ; (bottom row, from left): Karen Womack, Sarah Lopez , and Bronwyn Campbell; not pictured: Whitney Anderson, Kip Haines, Rachelle Maldonado, Mayra Marshall, and Miriam Zatarain.

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.

Back Porch

Halloweens Gone Wrong

The fine line between fun and fright

Halloween: it’s fun until it’s not. For a holiday that in our world is supposed to be all about candy and pumpkin spice and friendly ghosts, Halloween has a tendency to cross the line from fun to fright pretty quickly.

We’re not talking about watching movies like The Exorcist or patronizing haunted houses where floors shake and “bloody corpses” jump out at people who pay to feel their stomachs in their throats. Somebody please tell me why any of that is fun?

We’re talking about regular old neighborhood Halloweens gone wrong. Like when The Buzz’s editor Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld’s grandmother thought she was being funny but wound up ruining Halloween for Jordan’s younger brother for a long time.

Ryan Magaziner, who founded Atlantic Recreation Group, a real estate investment firm, says his grandmother Flo Magaziner (who passed away several years ago) was the “sweetest, most caring, generous person we knew. She was always laughing and giggling,” he says. “If I ever had a long drive to work or was driving from Austin to Houston, I would just call her and talk for an hour and a half. She was my go-to person.”

But when Ryan was 3, Flo – a.k.a. Buby or Bubbie to her grandchildren – showed up to Halloween masked. “I have this memory in my head of kind of a monster-looking thing that covered her whole face and head, and I had no idea who she was when she walked in our door. I saw this person walk into my house and look at me, and that was it. I did not like this monster in my house. From that moment on until, really, I was in middle school, I hated the whole concept of Halloween. I went a decade hating it and pretty much refused to do Halloween. Elementary school days are pretty much peak Halloween, but I was not participating.”

Ryan says it took 10 years for him to realize, when he was maybe 13, that going out to trickor-treat was cool. “She probably felt horrible,” he says of his beloved grandmother. “She was just trying to be funny, and it went wrong.”

A young woman who grew up in West U –what most of Houston sees as the epitome of an idyllic trick-or-treating neighborhood (it’s a

Halloween night destination, if the cars entering the ’hood filled with trick-or-treaters are any indication) – says she’s scarred from her nights knocking on doors in the 77005.

“We had a neighbor, an older lady, who lived across the street,” she says. “She smelled like smoke, and it was always pounded into our heads that smoking was bad, so maybe that was the start of my fear. She also kind of looked like a witch to me, in my little-kid eyes.

“On Halloween, she had a green porch light. Or maybe it was orange. I don’t know but it was some weird color. You would knock on her door, and she would shuffle over and look down on you, because we were little, and I was like, ‘OMG she’s gonna eat me.’ But then she would hand you the bag of candy, and she was actually very nice. Just very terrifying. Don’t use my name because everyone in the neighborhood will know who it was!”

The young woman continues: “There was also a house we called ‘the funky house.’ It wasn’t that

funky, but it was modern in the middle of all these traditional houses. They had this stupid red light – or whatever color it was, it was not normal lighting – and a smoke machine and a talking witch that said heheheheee when you walked by. It was enough to send me into a coma! I hated that thing. It always made me think of Fiddler on the Roof and Fruma Sarah [a ghost who appears in a dream in the musical]. “I thought she was coming for me. The sheets would be hanging from her, and she was blowing around in the wind. My dad would try to hype me up to trickor-treat at their house. We’d stand there in the street, and he’d say, ‘Okay, go!’ and I’d be like, ‘No way, I’m not going. I’m good right here.’ The other kids would walk up to their door and get their candy and I would just stand on the street.”

Her dad chimes in: “That witch startled me, too. But I got over it.”

The young woman shakes her head. “I didn’t,” she says adamantly. “The witch wasn’t worth it.”