truly texan

1T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

yaTEXANpg1-16.indd 1 2/22/08 4:42:39 PM

Y O U R A D D R E S S2


3T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

The Nature of Shopping

www.HillCountryGalleria.com | 512-263-0001 | 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave, TX 78738

Purchase Hill Country GalleriaGift Cards Year Round at Guest Services.



features10 Your Event Calendar

14 BeJeweled, A Fashion Show

16 At Home with Linda and Frank Ginac

28 Texas Hill Country Wineries

Contents Y O U R A D D R E S S T R U LY T E X A N I S S U E 2 0 0 8

36 30

ON THE COVER:Linda and Frank Ginac outside their Rob Roy home in the warm glow of the setting Texas sun. Cover photography by Scott Ramsey. Make-up by Anthony Hernandez.Hair Styling by David Jorgensen.

6634

16



Contents Y O U R A D D R E S S T R U LY T E X A N I S S U E 2 0 0 8

your home24 Stockpile it! Wine Decanters

32 That’s Haute: Texas Inspired Furniture

your backyard30 Texas Native Plants

your kitchen34 A Beginner’s Guide to Homebrewing

36 Setting The Menu: Cowgirl Cuisine

40 Tastemaker’s Top Twelve: Larry McGuire

your fashion55 Finely Fitted Gowns by Analea De La Fuente

56 That’s Haute: Boots

58 Gala Essentials: Cowboy Cool

your family63 Transitions: Get Clear and Get Going

your soiree66 Rodeo Kick-off Party

your show guide41 12th Annual Texas Home & Garden Show Guide

40

24

2855

63



PRESIDENT/PUBLISHERIrene Allen

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETINGDavid Melichar

EDITORKelly Ayoub

ACCOUNTANTClaire Costin

A R T & P R O D U C T I O N

ART DIRECTORShannon Skinto

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTORTyler Lee

COVER PHOTOGRAPHERScott Ramsey

WEB DESIGNERTyler Lee

DESIGN ASSISTANTMelisenda Villarreal

S A L E S & M A R K E T I N G

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETINGDavid Melichar

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTLisa Klatt

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVESDeb Lopez

Ali Valentine

MARKETING ASSISTANTSMonica HayesMei Donghua

STAFF WRITERSJames BridgesAshley Carker

Ann DalyClaire Rissman-Sherr

Matt Turner

Send us your comments, questions, and contributions atwww.youraddressmagazine.com

Your Address Magazine is committed to going green. Wemake choices with energy and material conservation in mind,selecting sustainable materials and vendors who share ourcharge to be environmentally conscious. For more information,

please visit www.youraddressmagazine.com.

YOUR Address Magazine is published by Celebrate Publications,Inc. Corporate offices are located at 911 W. Anderson Lane,Suite 101, Austin, Texas 78757. For advertising information,

please call 512.439.4399.www.youraddressmagazine.comCopyright and Trademark, 2008,

by Celebrate Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.No part of the magazine may be reproduced in any formwithout permission in writing from the publisher. YOURAddress Magazine is published bi-monthly for distribution tonew homeowners in Central Texas and packaged in relocation

packets for Austin Newcomers.

from the Editor

Y ou don’t have to be a native Texan to know that we have a tremendous amount of pride and an unrivaled

sense of patriotism as evidenced by ad campaigns l ike “Don’t Mess with Texas,” or signs prominently placed in storefronts boasting, “We Speak Texan.”

With so many reminders of Texans’ own esteem, locals and outsiders a l ike are bound to ask why. Maybe it ’s southern charm and comfortable conversation between strangers, or perhaps it ’s the unique blend of cultures and cuisine. Heck, maybe “ bigger” real ly is

“ better” to some degree. Whatever the reason, we have dedicated this entire issue to celebrating a l l things Truly Texan. From cowgirl cuisine to cowhide furniture, we’ l l be highlighting a l l that keeps us in a Lone Star State of Mind.

With Texas on the brain, we visited Linda and Franc Ginac, Co-Chairs of the 2008 Cattle Baron’s Bal l, t it led “Brandin’ a Cause; Ropin’ a Cure,” benefiting the American Cancer Society (ACS). An altogether inspiring couple, the Ginac’s gave insight into their local ef forts that have far-reaching impact for ACS, as wel l as the work and love they put into making their home their own.

To get a better understanding of the importance of “going native” in our own backyard, we turned to Matt Turner, President of the Austin Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. While we can al l appreciate the l ink to our common goal: a greener, environmental ly conscious l i festyle that native landscape provides (yet another reason why Texans, Austinites especial ly, can be proud!), I personal ly admire Turner’s

abi l ity to create a unique sense of place – helping Texas look l ike Texas.

Of course, a l l self-respecting Texans know a thing or two about “ f inger-l ickin’ vittles,” even i f they were once Yankee’s! In her cookbook, Cowgirl Cuisine, Paula Disbrowe tel ls how she lef t the chaos of New York City and moved to Texas, where she traded in her sti letto heels for a pair of cowboy boots. You are sure to enjoy our featured recipes from her book, which are some of the most delicious this side of the Brazos.

Saddle up and enjoy!


9T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

specialists, each with multiple years experience in the luxury motorcoach market. Our goal is to earn your business for a


Y O U R A D D R E S S1 0

your Event CalendarFebruary 29Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo Cowboy BreakfastAuditorium Shores512.919.3000www.rodeoaustin.com

February 29 – March 39th Annual Texas Spring Home & Garden ShowAustin Convention Center800.654.1480

www.homeandgardenshow.com

February 29 – March 15Star of Texas Fair & RodeoTravis County Expo Center512.919.3000www.rodeoaustin.com

March 1Best of Austin Style Show & BrunchHelping Hand Home SocietyPalmer Events Center512.459.7705

www.helpinghandhome.org

March 1Crystal Ball Gala/Helping Hand Home SocietyPalmer Events Center512.459.7705www.helpinghandhome.org

March 1Explore UT Open HouseUT campus512.471.7753 www.utexas.edu/events

March 1 – August 31Bat Watching SeasonCongress Ave. Bridge 5112.416.5700 x 3636 www.batcon.org

March 280th Annual Zilker Park Kite FestivalZilker Park512.448.KITE www.zilkerkitefestival.com

March 34th Annual Texas Independence Day Dinner/Texas State History Museum FoundationBob Bullock TX State History Museum512.320.8204

www.thestoryoftexas.com

March 3Stars Over Texas Gala/Georgetown Circle of FriendsDell Children’s Medical CenterDon Hewlett Chevrolet Showroom512.284.6790www.childrensaustin.org

March 1,8,15,22,23Austin Farmers’ MarketRepublic Square Park512.236.0074 www.austinfarmersmarket.org

March 34th Annual Texas Independence Day DinnerTx State History Museum FoundationBob Bullock Tx State History Museum 512.320.8204 www.thestoryoftexas.com

March 3Stars Over Texas GalaGeorgetown Circle of FriendsDell Children’s Medical CenterDon Hewlett Chevrolet Showroom512.284.6790www.childrensaustin.org

March 5Debra Winger Celebrity Interview w/ Evan SmithParamount Theatre512.472.5470 www.austintheatre.org

March 6-8Free Public Tours & PerformancesThe Long Center for the Performing Arts 512.482.0800 www.thelongcenter.com

March 7Texas Film Hall of Fame AwardsAustin Studios512.322.0145 www.austinfilm.org

March 7Partnerships for ChildrenTexas Treasures, 3rd Annual Gala512.203.5599 www.partnershipsforchildren.org

March 7-16South By Southwest Interactive Film & Music FestivalAustin Convention Center & Local Venues512.476.7979 www.sxsw.com

March 8STARflight 5KZilker Park 512.536.6981 www.runtex.com

March 8-9Whole Bead ShowPalmer Events Center530.265.2544 www.wholebead.com

March 9Austin Bridal Events of DistinctionAustin Convention Center512.282.9455www.austinweddingday.com

March 13-168th Annual Heart of Texas Quadruple Bypass Rock FestLocal Venues www.texasrockfest.com

March 14-15Andre Watts, PianoAustin Symphony OrchestraRiverbend Centre512.476.6064 www.austinsymphony.org

March 14 – April 20Cult of Color: Call To ColorArthouse512.453.5312 www.arthousetexas.org



your Event Calendar (cont)

For constantly updating events, please visit our exciting website at www.youraddressmagazine.com.

March 157th Annual Easter Seals Central Texas Gala“A Show of Hands in the Wild Lands”TDS Exotic Game Ranch512.615.6819www.centraltx.easterseals.com

March 15Family DayThe Long Center for the Performing Arts512.482.0800 www.thelongcenter.org

March 15-16Wildflower Days & Artisan FestivalLadybird Johnson Center512.232.0100www.wildflower.org

March 15-16City-Wide Garage SalePalmer Events Center512.441.2828 www.cwgs.com

March 26Urban Chic Style ShowAmerican Cancer Society512.919.1961 www.cancer.org

March 28-29Grand Opening Gala WeekendThe Long Center for the Performing Arts 512.428.0800 www.thelongcenter.org

March 29Rockin’ RoundupAny Baby CanTDS Exotic Game Ranch512.334.4426 www.abcus.org

March 2910th Annual Junior ‘Dillo Kids RunAuditorium Shores512.445.3598 www.statesman.com

March 3031st Annual Statesman Capitol 10,000Auditorium Shores 512.445.3598 www.statesman.com

April 12Wine & Food Foundation of Texas’Rare & Fine Wine AuctionFour Seasons512.327.7555www.winefoodfoundation.org

April 5– May 15Toast of the TownSt. David’s Community Health FoundationVarious Private Homes512.879.6600www.sdchf.org

April 17-2021st Annual Old Settler’s Music FestivalSalt Lick BBQ Pavilion & Camp Ben McCullochwww.oldsettlersmusicfest.org

April 18–20Austin Green Living & Home Products ShowAustin Convention Center210.408.0998www.showtechnology.com

April 2410th Annual Umlauf Garden PartyUmlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum512.462.6050www.umlaufsculpture.org

April 24VIP Cattle Baron’s Ball PartyAmerican Cancer Society512.919.1961www.cancer.org

April 269th Annual Hill Country Ride for AIDS512.371.RIDEwww.hillcountryride.org

April 26–27Palmer Events Center512.441.2828www.cwgs.com

May 1-31Latin Music MonthLive Music, including David GarzaVarious Live Music Venueswww.austinlatinomusic.com

May 3-4Old Pecan Street Festival6th Streetwww.oldpecanstreetfestival.com

May 5-11National Wildflower WeekLBJ Wildflower Centerwww.wildflower.org

May 6WCR Women’s Council of Realtors Fashion Show8600 Balcones Club Drivewww.austinwcr.org

May 17O Henry Pun OffBrush Square, 409 E 5th St.512.472.1903www.punpunpun.com

May 22 - June 8Kerrville Folk FestivalQuiet Valley Ranch, 9 miles south of Kerrville830.257.3600www.kerrville-music.com


1 3T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8



your SCENE Be Jeweled: A Fashion Show

The Austin Cattle Baron’s Ball Season kicked off in style this year with “Be Jeweled.” Hosted by the fabulous new North location of Neiman Marcus and the Cattle Baron’s, “Be Jeweled” featured accessories designers Penny Preville, Paul Fisher Estate Jewelry, Shaesby and Nava Zahavi, among others.

Laura Sunderman (Designer Jewelry Manager, Neiman Marcus), Shaesby (Jewelry Designer)

Megan Oleary, Erica Jeffery, Thomas Urgento (Models)

Kelly Wala, Dylnn Boyd (Westlake Dermatology)

Fermin Navar, Frank Ginac, Linda Ginac, Artur Troilo III, Miriam Troilo

Leigh Anne Crewellge, Glen Screws (Enfield Homes)

Deborah Portman, Shawn Stewart, Lahoma Dade (IBC Bank)Renee Kroese (modeling Paul Fiser Estate), Fermin Navar (Maison de Navar)

March 5, 2008 Wally Workman Gallery from 6-8pm“Boots and Berets” Gallery PartyEnjoy complimentary wine and delicious appetizers from Café Josie.This event is free of charge and Wally Workman has generously agreed to donate 10% of all sales to ACS.

March 30th, 2008 Lil’ Buckaroos We honor our youngest cancer patients with a party just for them. Boots will be custom painted by a child and stuffed with a “Horseshoe of Hope” in recognition of a loved one who has suffered or triumphed in the war against cancer.

April 3, 2008 from 6-8pmAdelante Boutique Shopping NightAdelante has generously agreed to donate 10% of the evening’s sales to the Society.

April 24, 2008Cattle Baron’s Club VIP PartyVery important cowpokes will be treated to the red car-pet with a private high-end event and entertainment.

May 30, 2008Volunteer Kick-off Party, Volunteers will enjoy a kick-off party so that they can get together with friends and supporters.

May 31, 2008Cattle Baron’s BallGuests of the Cattle Baron’s Ball enjoy a unique, western-style event complete with live entertain-ment, Texan-style cuisine, fabulous music, dancing, gaming, auctions and other special attractions.

Upcoming Events For more infomation, please visit:www.cattlebaronsballaustin.org


your home |

1 5T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

gy)

o

s)

te),


| your home


Linda and Frank Ginac outside of their Rob Roy home, their Mediterranian balcony overlooking the Texas hill country and gorgeous setting sun.

| your home


your home |

1 7T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

A s co-chairs of this year’s Cattle Baron’s Ball, Linda and Frank Ginac are hosting the affair of the season, raising money that will allow the American

Cancer Society to provide patient services, research, education and government advocacy to those afflicted with cancer and their loved ones. Both ideally embody the soul of hospitality, ensuring that this year’s event will be unforgettable. Your Address Magazine benefited from their supreme graciousness when the Ginac’s invited us into their home to share their sense of home, family and community.

Beyond welcoming, Frank and Linda opened the doors of their impeccable home to our crew, offering a complete and impressive spread of food and beverages, which perfectly reflected their ideals of home.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT RAMSAY

MAKE-UP BY ANTHONY HERNANDEZ

HAIR STYLING BY DAVID JORGENSEN

Brandin’ a Cause

with Linda and Frank GinacRopin’ a Cure


| your home


DesUt in euguer irit ea commy nulla consectet iuscilis enit alisis et, quisi.Wisl iurem delit, cortio dolobore minim etum enibh exercing exer amet nisi tat.Re cortisl dolobore do odigna

Descriptive copy to come, Descriptive copy to come, Descrip-tive copy to come, Descriptive copy to come,

“WE WANT ANYONE WHO COMES HERE, WHETHER IT IS FAMILY OR FRIENDS, TO FEELLIKE IT’S THEIR HOME,” SAID LINDA.

Pursuing a style they have termed “Mediterranean comfort,” the Ginac’s have successfully struck the perfect balance between elegance and ease. While their furnishings, from John Williams Interiors for the most part, are luxurious, they remain comfortable and inviting, having been chosen with family in mind.

With the help of interior designers, Susie Johnson and Kelly Scully, Linda and Frank chose classic pieces in a monochromatic palate for the downstairs, making it ideal for entertaining. But it is the upstairs portion of their home that is infused with the vibrancy of their personalities.

Each room upstairs is a different color and was lovingly painted by Linda’s own hand. For the great room, she chose a rustic orange, Venetian plaster that warmly

Rather than replacing their cabinetry, Linda and Frank added a personal touch in the kitchen by stenciling their hood with a gorgeous Mediterranean design in black.

Linda selected orange, one of her favorite colors, for the great room upstairs, where the family gathers to relax and be together.


1 9T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

your home |

“We became very interested when we saw with our own eyes exactly what the organization is doing for people,”

— Linda Ginac

envelops the family as they gather for a meal or watch movies together. Each son was given choice of his room color. Andrew, 12 naturally selected a vibrant blue for his skateboard themed room, while Vaughn, 4 went Texan all the way with his rawhide brown, cowboy room.

The charming guest bedroom in cool blues and greens, is reminiscent of a Hill Country bed and breakfast. Frank’s mother, who stays in the room when she visits the family, was the inspiration for the cozy getaway motif.

Perhaps Linda’s most ambitious (and triumphant!) project is the Castle dungeon themed toy room, with walls featuring meticulously detailed aged, textured bricks. It is any child’s dream space and something Linda loved watching develop.

“I love that it’s the unknown, almost like an artist painting a canvas,” Linda said. “I don’t know what it’s going to end up being, but it’s going to be something that reflects us. It makes it ours.”

Frank, too, takes a hand in personalizing their home. He has always loved working with wood, and gets great satisfaction out of seeing it all come together.

“For a house to be at all homey and inviting, you have to connect with it,” said Frank. “If you are putting your own hands to work on it, you do.”

That level of hard work and care is not something the Ginac’s reserve for their own home and family. They are equally committed to making their community their own as well, and actively do all they can to support local philanthropic efforts. After touring the facilities benefited by the American Cancer Society, Linda and Frank were moved to become involved.

“We became very interested when we saw with our own eyes exactly what the organization is doing for people,” said Linda. “It just really hit me that I don’t think the community knows enough about the level and the depth and the breadth of services that the American Cancer Society provides. Getting involved in the Cattle Baron’s ball, something that’s fun and addresses cancer in a hopeful way, really captured our attention.”

Frank, whose sister is a cancer survivor, is motivated by the brilliant, cutting edge advances the American Cancer Society is responsible for each year.

for s to

The bedroom, beautifully furnished by John Williams Interiors, is a reflection of the Ginacs’ casual elegance.


Vaughn, 4 years old, went Texan all the way with his rawhide brown, cowboy room.

This Roman-inspired tub is the perfect place to escape in relaxation after a long day at the office or night on the town.

“The American Cancer Society has invested in research that most of the bigger companies and other organizations have turned away from –more risky, leading edge, promising research,” said Frank. “Over the last 60 years, they’ve invested in scientists doing research that couldn’t get funding anywhere else, and who ended up becoming Nobel Prize laureates!”

With so much at stake and such potential to make a difference, Linda and Frank have gone above and beyond the call of duty this year, coordinating not only the ball, but a series events with which everyone in the family can get involved – even a Lil’ Buckaroo’s party.

“We planned a season of events this year because we wanted to start building up momentum and energy for the ball. We also wanted different events that would appeal to people of all ages.”

Every detail, from the menu, to the live music, has been thoughtfully planned to ensure a great party, worthy our inner cowboy. Guests of the event, titled “Brandin’ a Cause; Ropin’ a Cure”, will enjoy a unique, western-style event complete with live entertainment, Texan-style cuisine, fabulous music, dancing, gaming, auctions and other special attractions. Bust out those Stetsons, dust off your boots (or slip into those Stilettos), put on your best attire and join the Ginacs for a rustic and rowdy good ‘ole time on May 31st at the TDS Exotic Ranch and Pavilion in Austin, Texas. The Ball promises to be an evening embracing the elegance of an era gone by as you stroll under the Texas stars, embark on a night of dancing and talking with your friends and gaze at the magnificent animals surrounding this one-of-a-kind ranch.

“We want everyone to leave saying, ‘that was a great experience -- something we want to come back to again and again!’”

For more information about this year’s Cattle Baron’s Ball and other scheduled events, please visit: www.youraddressmagazine.com.


your home |

2 1T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

n


| your home


ask theEXPERTI read recently that A/C units should be maintained twice a year. I purchased my home two years ago and have yet to schedule maintenance. It seems to be in working order, so is what I read true?

Admit it: You probably don’t think about your indoor comfort system until it stops working and you become either too cold or too hot. It’s human nature to put something off until there is a problem and you are no longer comfortable.

You might tend to think of your heating and cooling system as just a “box” that can be turned on or off in order to control your temperature. But your system is a lot more than that. Itdoesn’t just control temperature. It has an impact on the air that you breathe, on moisture and mold growth, the amount of energy that you use and money that you spend, and most importantly, on you and your family’s health.

Don’t ignore your heating and cooling system. Your HVACR system is a great big (and expensive) mechanical system, just like your automobile. You know that you need to keep your car tuned up and get your oil changed regularly. Your comfort system also requires regular maintenance from qualified specialists.

Ignoring your comfort system means it will break down more, need replacement sooner, cost you more throughout its shortened lifespan, and most importantly, it might impact your health. Visit www.accaaustin.org or call 512-507-4826 to schedule a maintenance check up for your HVACR system and ensure your continued comfort this winter!

Susan RockportACCA Austin512.507.4826www.accaaustin.org


2 3T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8


| your home


Each year, Central Texas wineries boast award-winning wine, and it’s time to celebrate! Gather a few friends, hold a wine tasting, and be sure to serve the wine in style. All decanters available at Sur La Table.

Stockpile it!


NEW PARABOLA CRYSTAL DECANTERGeometrically designed Parabola wine decanter offers a unique shape to a classic wine accessory. This stunning mouth-blown wine decanter is visually exhilarating and optimally functional. Made of 24% lead crystal, the Parabola decanter offers a unique handle and spout, holding a full standard-sized bottle of wine and provides flawless aeration.(pictured above)

AMPHORA ITALIAN 2-PIECE DECANTERThis mouth-blown crystal decanter represents the oldest style of wine vessel, generously sized for excellent oxygenation. Decanter is removable from its base—place it on its side and it revolves on the tabletop to decant wine. Hand wash. Made in Italy.(pictured above)


RIEDEL CORNETTO DECANTERHandmade and mouthblown leaded crystal for your most prized wines. 42½-ounce decanter shows the promise of young wines and the clarity and brilliance of older vintages.(pictured right)

W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 2 5

V1 VACUUM DECANTER BY METRO-KANE®Vacuum-reserve leftover wine right in the hand-blown crystal decanter. Includes pump and rubber stopper. Hand wash. 19¾” x 16½” x 14”. Three-piece set.(pictured above)



| your home

After a few centuries of established wine culture in Texas, the time has finally come for the rest of the world to celebrate the pairing of Zinfandel with BBQ, Pinot Grigio with Tex-Mex, and to raise a glass to native concoctions such as peach and jalapeno wines. While Texas has only more recently received attention and praise as the fifth-largest grape and wine producer in the country, the first winery in Texas, Val Verde Winery in Del Rio, was established in 1883 and continues to operate today. Admittedly, it has taken some time for the Texan wine industry to rise to the top. That may be due in part to some setbacks that

have occurred over the years: prohibition, dry counties, and legal restrictions against shipping wine out of state. So, Texas wine may not be as world renowned as the grape empires of Italy or France, yet. But, when parasites began to destroy vineyards across Europe in the 19th century, it was Thomas Volney Munson, a brilliant viticulturist of Denison, Texas, who saved the European grape and wine industry with his expertise. Furthermore, Munson set the standards for grape growers in the United States when he published Foundations of American Grape Culture in 1909, which is still referenced to this day. As we fast-forward

to the current wine culture in Texas with its couple hundred family-owned vineyards, annual festivals and competitions, and not to mention over a $1 billion boost to the state’s economy, we should never forget to take pride in the pioneers who made it all possible.

The Texas Hill Country is the leading wine making region in the state with five million visitors pouring in each year. We’re also surprising some folks with the fact that the Hill Country has been ranked the second hottest wine destination in the country. The next Napa? That’s exactly

More Than You’ve Heard Through the Grapevine TEXAS HILL COUNTRY WINE:

BY ASHLEY CARKER

W e love the Texas Hill Country for its outdoor attractions: spring-fed swimming holes and waterfalls, wildflowers and caverns, and Texas-sized sunsets. But lately there’s been one natural beauty that has been turning

heads nation-wide--Hill Country vineyards.


Everybody has their own tyle.Now.

Lighthearted, fun and clearly unserious,

your sweet side is your trademark.

It is what makes you, you. Now there’s a

wine store with an entire section of

special “nectar” selections just for you.

www.winestyles.net

Store Nameturn right the left then right, directions

1234 Some Name Street, address555-123-4567, phone







13435 U.S. Highway 183 North, Suite 306512-331-9463 (WINE)


| your home


what some are predicting. Even the city that never sleeps has taken a few cues from the rising popularity of the Hill Country’s food and drink specialties. In the summer of 2007, Hill Country Barbecue and Market opened its doors in New York City. Inspired by the legendary Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Texas, this barbecue newcomer has already received much praise for its Hill Country classics and even features a wine list consisting exclusively of Texas wines.

Although the Hill Country’s gastronomy and wine culture’s influence is spreading far and wide, here on the home front Hill Country wine is just a grocery trip away, and vineyards, only a day trip away. You can find many varieties of local wine at Central Market, Whole Foods, and HEB in addition to specialty liquor stores like Grapevine Market and Spec’s. For a more personal and adventurous experience, you may want to visit some of the vineyards and wineries within the Texas Hill Country, each with their individual charms, special events, and of course, wine tasting. There are many wonderful Texas vineyard and winery destinations, but just to name a few close to home:

• Becker Vineyards: (830) 644-2681, 464 Becker Farms Rd, Stonewall, TX 78671 Hours: Mon-Thu 10-5; Fri-Sat 10-6; Sun 12-

6, www.beckervineyards.com

• Comfort Cellars Winery: (830) 995-3274, 723 Front Street, Comfort, TX 78013 Hours: Thu-Sat 11-6 Sun-Mon 12-5 Tues-Wed 12-6, www.comfortcellars.com

• Fall Creek Vineyards: (325) 379-5361, 1820 CR 222, Tow, TX 78672 Hours: Mon-Fri 11-4; Sat 11-5; Sun 12-4, www.fcv.com

• Fredericksburg Winery:(830) 990-8747, 247 West Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX78624 Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-5:30; Fri-Sat 10-7:30; Sun 12-5:30, www.fpgwinery.com

• Lost Creek Vineyard: (325) 388-3753, 1129 RR 2233, Sunrise Beach, TX 78643 Hours: Mon-Sat. 10-5; Sun 12-5, www.lostcreekvineyard.com

• Texas Hills Vineyard: (830) 868-2321, 878 RR 2766, Johnson City, TX 78636Hours: Mon-Sat 10-5; Sun 12-5, www.texashillsvineyard.com

There are a few upcoming celebrations of wine and food in the Texas Hill Country that no wine enthusiast or aspiring aficionado would want to miss:

• 2008 Wine and Wildflower Trail:(Apr. 4-6, 11-13) This springtime visit to the Hill Country is free of charge and invites you to bring along a picnic basket and some of your closest wine-loving friends.

• 2008 Hill Country Food and Wine Festival: (Apr.9-13) Wine seminars, cooking classes, winemaker dinners, special guests, and tons of Texas wineries. Visit www.texaswineandfood.org for many more details.

• 2008 Austin Food and Wine Festival:(May 24-26) If it’s anything like last year’s grape-stomping good time, there will be wine sampling, live music and arts and crafts vendors. Visit www.austinwinefestival.com for more information.


your home |

2 9T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8


| your backyard


W AIT, BEFORE YOU PLANTTHAT HOLLY FERN,AZALEA, OR MARIGOLD,

OR LAY IN A ST. AUGUSTINE LAWN,CONSIDER SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLYTHRIVES IN, AND SPEAKS TO, CENTRALTEXAS.Native plants offer three huge advantages over the mass-produced cultivars that glut the marketplace: they are adapted to our environment; they support our local wildlife; and they provide a Texas-proud “sense of place.”

Being adapted to our geography and climate is critical. Native plants have had tens of thousands of years to adjust to our precise soil components and weather patterns: from the dark heavy clays of the Blackland Prairies in the eastern half of Travis County to the limestone of the Edwards Plateau in the western half; from balmy winters with sporadic freezes to oven-baked, rainless summers.

Adaptation means that natives will actually thrive, blossom, and reseed in conditions in which other plants merely persevere. Adapted to long periods of dryness, natives will use much less water, once established, than non-natives. Given the increasing pressure on water use in the Southwest, this in itself, strongly recommends the plants. But adaptation implies many other attributes. Having built up resistance to the insects and pathogens of our region for eons, native plants don’t require pesticides and can fend for themselves with only minimal damage. With an ancient lineage in our soils, they also need no artificial fertilizer; in fact, fertilizers often

make them grow lank and scraggly.

Consider, by contrast, the non-native St. Augustine grass lawn. St. Augustine is a tropical grass native to the Gulf of Mexico, the West Indies, and western Africa. It is used extensively as a turfgrass in southern states, and throughout Austin, on account of its fondness for warmth and its partial tolerance of shade. However, it requires fertile soil and lots of water – and we’re often shy of both. For a St. Augustine lawn to flourish, you need about 1” of water per week (560 gallons per week per 1000 sq. ft. of lawn), plus fertilizers, especially on alkaline soils. Since the grass is prone to chinch bugs and various fungi, pesticides are also frequently needed. Finally, a thriving St. Augustine lawn will need mowing at least once every other week. Add up the costs of water, fertilizer, pesticides, and mowing…and you’ve got quite a layout of expense, to say nothing of the toll that the chemicals take on the environment.

Native plants are also adapted to our wildlife. All trees and shrubs offer some sort of shelter and nesting sites for mammals and birds, but only the natives offer provisions that our specific wildlife use. For instance, the endangered golden-cheeked warbler only uses bark strips of one native tree --the Ashe juniper (aka cedar) -- to construct its nest. As for food, the natives win hands down. Shrubs such as the beautiful Texas persimmon or evergreen sumac offer fruits that are the delight of raccoons, ringtails, and opossums, while yaupon holly and possumhaw attract birds throughout the winter with their brilliant scarlet berries. You’ll note that many of our birds avoid the fruits of non-natives, many of which are unpalatable to them.

The list goes on and on. Hummingbirds

Gayfeather Plant (Liatris spicata)

Photo of a butterfly on a Lantana Camara Flower.

WHY USE NATIVE PLANTS? acwmgipckmoysMfwpodt

BttahwCstooolaAwafhcoL

WWTn

BY MATT TURNER


your backyard |

3 1T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

are wildly attracted to our native Turk’s cap, crossvine, and scarlet sage, some of which are timed to bloom as the hummers migrate through our area. Mockingbirds greedily devour the chiltepin pepper, which, incidentally, is the ancestor of all modern peppers and has kicked up the local human cuisine for centuries. Even school children know that monarch butterflies rely on milkweeds as larval host plants. Simply plant one so-called butterfly-weed in your yard, and you’ll find out soon enough. The stunning tiger swallowtail butterfly equally depends on our Mexican plum, and the brilliant orange gulf fritillary is crazy about our passionflowers. You won’t see a single butterfly visiting a begonia, petunia, or pansy –or any other of the hundreds of other horticultural varieties—because decades of breeding for showy flowers have left them sterile for wildlife.

But the real clincher for native plants is that they provide us with a unique sense of place: they help to make Texas look like Texas. We all instinctively recognize how the pine-clad hills of say, Oregon, differ from the deciduous woods of Pennsylvania, how the estuaries of Chesapeake Bay look nothing like the desert-scapes of Tucson. So, why when it comes to our front yards, do we all acquiesce to a one-size-fits-all attitude? Our vast stretches of clipped lawns with foundational plantings of shrubbery hark to a 19th-century British landscape that is not only out of place in America, but especially won’t work in Texas without considerable expense. Given the astounding variety found in nature, our front lawns end up looking monotonous and homogenized. Where are the prickly-pear cactus, the red yuccas, the bluebonnets, or lovely native bunch grasses, such as Lindheimer muhly, in our lawns?

WHERE TO START?

Where can you get more information? Central Texans are lucky to live in a place rich with native plant resources. First, the City of

Austin runs the Grow Green program (www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen), a comprehensive landscaping program that discusses gardening basics and design and for central Texas. The downloadable native (and adapted) plant list provides the thumbnail basics for any beginner. Available in booklet form as Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, the primer is free to Austinites at most local nurseries.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center hosts two annual all-native plant sales (April and October) where hundreds of natives, many available nowhere else, can be purchased. Their website ( www.wildflower.org) contains searchable lists and photos of thousands of native plants, as well as lists of suppliers, landscapers, and plant recommendations by region.

And be sure to check out the Austin chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas! We have

monthly meetings where you can meet others interested in everything from growing natives, to participating in plant rescues, hikes, and restoration projects. Our website (www.npsot.org/austin) also has a good list of central Texas nurseries that regularly carry native plants, as well as lists of plants for special purposes (for instance, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds).

BE SENSIBLE. BE GENEROUS. BE A TEXAN.GROW NATIVE.

MATT TURNER IS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF

THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF THE NATIVE PLANT

SOCIETY OF TEXAS AND AUTHOR OF THE SOON-

TO-BE-PUBLISHED REMARKABLE PLANTS OFTEXAS (UNIV. OF TEXAS PRESS, FALL 2008).

w w w . M o t i f F u r n i t u r e . c o m

Open 10-7 Daily

512.262.2211

Modern Style. Modest Price.

M O D E R N L I V I N G

I-35@ Kyle Parkway (exit 215)Just 10 minutes south of Austin


| your home


Whether you’re a rancher or CEO, bring a hint of the cowboy spirit into your home with these rustic furnishings. From heavy mesquite furniture to authentic local art pieces, these local finds will plant you deep in the heart of Texas.

That’s Haute!

CONSOLE TABLE (TEXAS MESQUITE)This beautiful console or sofa table is handmade with the utmost attention to the grain of the mesquite. Amazing inlaid turquoise makes it a true texas classic. (pictured above)www.texmes.com

TREASURE BOX (TEXAS MESQUITE)The beautiful and unique inlaid turquoise makes each treasure box a true collector’s item.(pictured above) www.texmes.com

SUN VOTIVE(TURQUOISETRADING POST)Made of turquoise, this beautiful votive will add a lovely glow to your Texas decor. (pictured left)www.turquoisetradingpost.com

RAWHIDE LOVESEAT (ADOBE PUEBLO)This amazingly authentic, one-of-a-kind love seat handcrafted in the Southwest will make any sitting area a stellar one. (pictured left)www.adobepueblo.com

RAWHIDE BARSTOOL(THE BARSTOOL COMPANY)Knock back a cold one in a lonestar inspired barstool at home. (pictured right)www.thebarstoolcompany.com

GREEN POTTERY(ADOBE PUEBLO)Adding unique and brightly colored local art pieces to your home will surely inspire a Texas atmosphere. (pictured above)www.adobepueblo.com


your kitchen |

3 3T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

yatrulytexan33-48.indd 33 2/22/08 4:56:43 PM

| your soiree


B Y J A M E S B R I D G E S

When Benjamin Franklin said, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy,” he succinctly captured the heartfelt sentiments of most Texans. We take our cold brew seriously and have been taking the matter into our own hands for hundreds of years. The

Kreische Brewery of La Grange, founded in 1855, paved the way for countless commercial and independent breweries in the Lone Star State. Be a part of the proud Texas tradition and create your own brew at home! The smartest (and safest) way to start is with a beer brewing kit. Try a few of these techniques to tweak brew to your own personal taste.

Tweaking your beer kit’s flavor: You can adjust the bitterness of the beer by using fresh whole or pelletized hops, which are relatively inexpensive and make a huge difference in flavor. Most kit beers are designed to have low bitterness, and are flavored with hop extract, which contributes bitterness but none of the other desirable hop characteristics to the beer. For a 23 liter batch, 12-14g of low to medium bittering hops (such as Hallertauer, Cascade, Goldings or Willamette), boiled for 10-20 minutes, will make a positive and noticeable contribution to your kit beer.

Another way to personalize brew is enhancing the aroma. This is done by adding 5-10g of aroma hops during the last minute of the boil, then immediately strain, spurge and transfer to your fermenter. By including this step in your brewing process, you will create a balance, complexity and depth of character in your beer that is missing from most kit beers. Fuggles, Willamette, Hallatuaer, Mt Hood, Cascade, Goldings, Tettanger and Saaz are among the more popular aroma hops. For those who choose to continue their brewing endeavors, fine-tune your beer.

A Beginner’s Guide

to Homebrewing

Golden Hops


your kitchen |

3 5T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

Quick overview of the Beer Brewing Process:

1Making Wort. Wort is the liquid extracted from the mashing process during the brewing of beer. It contains

the sugars that will be fermented by the brewing yeast to produce alcohol. After the barley is malted, it is ground to grist. The grist is then mashed; that is, mixed with hot water and steeped, a complex and slow heating process that enables enzymes to convert the starch in the malt into sugars. At the end of the mashing, the hot wort is decanted or filtered, boiled, cooled, and the yeast is added to start the fermentation.

2Fermentation. The wort is prepared for fermentation by cooling it down to pitching temperature, typically near

room temperature. The cooled wort is poured into the primary fermenter in an aggressive manner, so as to aerate the wort; sufficient oxygen is vital for the yeast’s growth stage. The yeast is then pitched (sprinkled or poured, depending on which yeast is used; dry or liquid) into the wort. Primary fermentation takes place in a large glass or plastic carboy or food-grade plastic bucket, nearly always sealed, but can be

left open. When sealed, the fermenter is stoppered with a fermentation lock, which permits the escape of carbon dioxide, without introducing oxygen and airborne bacteria to the brew. During this time, it should be kept at optimum temperature for the fermentation process. For ale this temperature is usually 65-75°F / 18-24°C, and for lager it is usually much colder, around 50°F / 10°C. During this stage the fermentable sugars (maltose, glucose, and sucrose) in the wort are consumed by the yeast, while ethanol and CO2 are produced as byproducts by the yeast. A layer of sediment, the trub, appears at the bottom of the fermenter, composed of heavy fats,

proteins and inactive yeast. A sure sign that primary fermentation has finished is that the head of foam (krausen), built by bubbling of CO2, falls.

3 Clarification or “racking.” Often, the beer is then racked (siphoned) into another container, usually a carboy or

keg, for aging or conditioning. Racking is done to separate the batch from the trub so that it is not used as food by remaining yeast, as this can give the beer an off-flavor. Racking also helps separate the beer from sediment, making it less likely to find its way into the finished product.

4 Conditioning. After the primary fermentation has been racked into a new container, the process of aging or

conditioning takes place. During this stage, some chemical byproducts from the primary fermentation are digested, which considerably improves the taste. Conditioning can take from 2 to 4 weeks, sometimes longer, depending on the type of beer. Additionally, lagers are aged at this point at near freezing temperatures for 1-6 months depending on style.

5 Carbonation. Once this conditioning is finished, the beer is ready for carbonation. About 3/4 cup of corn sugar

(dextrose) or other fermentable sugar is added to the beer, which is then transferred to bottles and then capped, or placed in a keg. The fermentation of the priming sugar in the closed container by left-over yeast suspended in the beer creates carbon dioxide which then dissolves into the beer. This takes 1-2 weeks. Using this method, sediment will remain at the base of the bottles after completion. This is normal and will not effect the quality of your brew.

6Packaging. The final step in your brewing process is packaging. Many home brewers choose to use Cornelius

kegs as their container, but bottling still remains the traditional manner of packaging.

Now you’re ready to give your new hobby a test-run! Utilize the simple beer kit tips to practice on your method and after a few batches, then consider turning that basement or storage shed into a home brewery. Discovering a new passion, not only for beer in general, but for the dedication and hard work it takes to create “your” style of brew can be very rewarding. Cheers!


| your kitchen


Texas Beef Chili with Poblanos and BeerServes 8 (about 8 cups)

Chili making is serious business in Texas – I quickly learned that nobody adds beans (if you do, you’d better drive a fast truck). Here, it’s all about cubes of well-marbled chuck braised in a spicy chili broth. My version is as rich and thick as a French daube. This chili is best made the day before. This allows the flavors to meld and mellow, and makes it easier to skim the fat from the chili before reheating. Shredding the meat is as important step – it helps to create a thick, luscious texture. A dollop of Mexican-style crema helps cool the fire.

ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil2 large sweet onions, diced (about 4 cups)3 poblano peppers, stemmed, seeded, and diced5 garlic cloves, minced1 teaspoon kosher salt4 ½ pounds beef chuck, cut into 1 ½ -inch cubes2 bay leaves, preferably fresh2 cinnamon sticks1/8 teaspoon ground cloves¼ cup ground New Mexico chile powder1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground chipotle chile powder1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground cumin1 12-ounce bottle amber ale2 quarts beef broth

For Garnish

1 medium red onion, chopped3 medium tomatoes, cored, seeded, and chopped1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantrosalt, as desired12 ounces Mexican-style crema or sour cream, as desired

Method:In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the

onions and sauté until softened and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the poblanos and sauté for an additional 10 minutes, reducing heat if necessary to prevent the onions from sticking to the pan or turning brown. Add the garlic and salt and sauté an additional 5 minutes. Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large Dutch oven (preferably a cast-iron poot with enamel coating). Add the beef in batches, as necessary, to avoid crowding the pan, and brown the cubes on all sides until brown and crusty. Remove the browned beef with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining beef.

Return all the browned beef to the Dutch oven. Add the spices and sauté until they form a thick paste on the meat, about 4 minutes. Watch the pan carefully to avoid scorching the spices. Add the ale to deglaze the pan, and simmer until slightly reduced and the meat mixture is thick. Add the beef broth, reduce the heat to low, and simmer the mixture, partially covered, for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

If not serving immediately, chill overnight. The next day, skim the fat from the top of the mixture. Using a slotted spoon, remove about 2 cups of the beef cubes to a plate. Shred the meet with a fork (it should be very soft) and return to the pot. The shredded meat will help create a thicker-textured chili.

Just before serving the chili, combine the copped onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl to create a pico de gallo to serve as a garnish. Serve the chili in warmed bowls, topped with a dollop of crema and a spoonful of pico. Alternately, you can simply offer separate bowls of chopped onion, tomatoes, and cilantro as garnish.

Note: If, like me, you prefer to add beans to chili (it can be our little secret), offer them as a garnish. Drain and rinse two 14-ounce cans of kidney or pinto beans. Place them in a glass bowl, cover with plastic, and warm in the microwave. Offer the warm beans alongside bowls of the other garnishes.

Setting the MenuNow that you’ve mastered your own home brew, use it to personalize these recipes from Paula Disbrowe’s Cowgirl Cuisine. Like Texas itself, the recipes in Cowgirl Cuisine are big-hearted and bold. Once the food editor of Restaurant Business Magazine, Paula now lives with her husband and their menagerie of animals at Whistle Berry Ranch in the Nueces Canyon and in Austin, Texas.

Texas Beef Chili with Poblanos and Beer

Golden Hops


your kitchen |

3 7T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

Shiner Bock Beans with EpazoteServes 6 to 8

I used to simmer beans uncovered, very gently, treating them like fragile shells rather than the hearty legumes they are. Then a handsome old man named Dorsey came to the ranch to cook for the deer hunts in December. Dorsey makes insanely good Southern fare: barbecued chicken and the best grits with giblet gravy and “floaters” (egg fried in a vat of oil) you will ever taste. He also makes great pinto beans. Dorsey added little more than salt pork, but he covered the beans and boiled the hell out of them, checking to see if they needed more water every now and then.

So that’s how I started making my beans, and the results are perfectly creamy every time. I flavor mine with Shiner Bock beer, a local variety from Shiner, Texas, but any amber beer will work just fine. If you can’t fine epazote, feel free to use cilantro, parsley, or leave it out altogether. These beans thicken upon standing and taste even better the second day (with huevos rancheros or in warm flower tortillas with shredded cheese and salsa).

ingredients:2 cups pinto beans, sorted, soaked overnight, or quick soaked (see Note)1 medium onion, chopped4 garlic cloves, crushed1 jalapeno (or 2 serranos), seeded and finely chopped2 fresh bay leaves, torn1 bunch fresh eepazote, stemmed and chopped (about ½ to ¾ cup)1 bottle Shiner Bock beer or other amber ale2 to 4 tablespoons chipotle chiles in adobo2 tablespoons sherry wine vinegarsalt½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Method:Drain and rinse the soaked pinto beans, and place in a pot with fresh water to

cover by 1 ½ inches. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeno, bay leaves, and epazote to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the beans, covered, for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Add the beer and continue to shimmer until the beans are tender and creamy, 30 to 45 additional minutes. When they have reached the right texture, remove the bay leaves and flavor with the chipotle chile puree, vinegar, salt to taste, and cilantro. Taste and add more salt or vinegar, if necessary.

Note: To quick soak beans, place them in a large pot and cover with at least four inches of cold water. Bring the beans to a boil over medium-high heat. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, remove from the heat, and cover for one hour. Drain the beans in a colander and cook as directed.

Paula Disbrowe at her Texas RanchShiner Bock Beans with Epazote


3 9T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8


| your kitchen


c

Lamberts Downtown Barbecue offers a wide range of Texas, Tex-Mex, and Southern specialties, authentic in spirit but finished with a master chef’s hand, served in a unique environment that is both up-to-the-minute and infused with the soul of the past.

“We call our food ‘fancy barbecue’,” says owner Lou Lambert, “but there’s nothing snobby or highfalutin’ about it. We’re just kind of giving barbecue its due, and showing that it can be an art form.”

Enjoy this unique environment that is both modern and infused with the

past, authentic in spirit and perfect for Austinites and first-time visitors.

You can find Larry and sample his culinary masterpieces at Lamberts

Restaurant on 401 West 2nd Street.

For more information, visit www.fancybarbeque.com or call 512-494-1500.

LARRY MCGUIRE

Taste Makers Top Twelve

US Range Commercial 6-Burner: Puts out

the heat!

A Good Hood Vent: Cooking on a big stove

with a lot of heat will smoke out your house if you

dont have proper ventilation

Expensive Olive Oil: Drizzle it on everything!

Kosher Salt : Pour it in a bowl so you can use big

pinches.

A Coffee Grinder: To grind fresh spices... grind

pepper every time you cook!

KitchenAid® Mixer: Looks good and does

everything.

8” Wüstof Chef’s Knife: The classic, versatile,

heavy, feels really good in your hand

.

Music: Jam out while you cook.

Fresh Lemons: I think I put lemon juice in

everything- acid brightens up sauces and balances

out richness.

Kitchen Towels: Fold ‘em up and keep one in

your left hand at all times- get rid of your oven

mitts!

Good Wine: To cook with or drink!

Two All-Clad Aluminum Saute Pans: The

only pans you need.

Boo, my Blue Tick Coonhound, who likes to eat everything.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

*yatrulytexan33-48.indd 40 2/22/08 4:58:02 PM

4 1T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

c

February 29 - March 2 at theAustin Convention Center

S H O W G U I D E 12th Annual

WITH EVERYTHING FOR THE EXTERIOR TO THE INTERIOR OF YOUR HOME,THE TEXAS HOME & GARDEN SHOW IS YOUR ONE-STOP FOR HOME AND GARDEN SHOPPING.

The largest floor dealer in Austin!

www.imagetileandcarpet.com

the magazine that makes the city your home

Drop by booth 931 and enter to win a beautiful new hardwood floor!

Thank you to

our Sponsors!!!



Talk to HUNDREDS of REAL experts at the Texas Home

& Garden Show, February 29 - March 2, 2008, at the Austin

Convention Center. It’s the place where you can find products

and services “from windows and doors, to ceilings and floors,

shop for everything for your home and garden at one time and

in one place.”

Don’t miss your chance to talk to more than 250 real

experts on home remodeling, decorating, home improvement,

energy efficiency, landscaping and vacation & leisure activities

under one roof. It’s sensory overload with thousands of

products, services and ideas for your home and garden. Best

of all, you’ll find hundreds of experts who can do the job for you

or teach you how to do it yourself!

February 29- March 2, 2008at the Austin Convention Center

For more information, visit TexasHomeandGarden.com or call713-529-1616. A production of International Exhibitions, Inc. (IEI)

When: Friday, Feb. 29 1 pm to 7 pm

Saturday, Mar. 1 10 am to 7 pm

Sunday, Mar. 2 10 am to 5 pm

Where: Austin Convention Center

500 E Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78701

HowMuch:

About the Show

Adults, $8, CASH ONLY

Children 12 and Under, Free

Friday only, $6 for Sr. Citizens

(Not valid with other discounts.)

$1 off coupons available at

and at www.TexasHomeandGarden.com

Meet the Experts

GET MAD…AboutOrganization!

Jessica Markley, owner of Mad

About Organization!, has been

providing hands-on organizing

services to residential clients in Austin

since 2004. She is a member of the

National Association of Professional

Organizers (NAPO).

Jessica is a lively organizer and

is well known for her passion and

creativity. She is an elementary

school teacher by day, but she couldn’t contain her desire to

organize everything.

During her off time, Jessica started helping friends and

family organize and decorate their homes. Soon, those close

to her started referring her to people they knew who could

use some advice. She realized others could benefit from her

weekend ‘hobby’ as well and created Mad About Organization!

to help Austin residents simplify their home life. She’s excited

that she’s able to bring a little peace into her clients’ lives by

showing them the tricks and strategies she’s picked up over

the years.

She’s “mad about organization” and has created her

company to help people like you feel better about themselves

and their homes. Join her at the Home & Garden Theater

on Saturday and Sunday and “Get Mad About Organization!”

Keep Austin Beautiful!

John Dromgoole, owner of The Natural Gardener Nursery and Lady Bug Natural Brand, has

been deeply involved in the advancement of organic gardening and environmental issues for

more than thirty years. His nursery has been voted “Best Nursery” eight times in The Austin

Chronicle’s Best of Austin Poll, and is known for supplying organic products, native and well

adapted plants, and bulk compost, soils and mulches.

John’s radio show, “Gardening Naturally,” has been on the air on KLBJ AM 590 for 25 years.

Gardening Naturally is a question and answer program that focuses on the organic technique

for homeowners and weekend gardeners. He is also the host of Backyard Basics on KLRU

(PBS, Austin), TV’s weekly show Central Texas Gardener and The Weekend Gardener on KXAN

TV’s Saturday First Cast.John was the originator of the City of Austin’s “Chemical Clean-Up Day”, which has become an annual event and has now

established a permanent drop-off site. In 2002, John was awarded the Dennis Hobbs Individual Achievement Award by Keep

Austin Beautiful for his contribution to many different Austin and surrounding area non-profit groups, schools and the general

public. Come learn about “Advanced Organic Gardening” at the Home & Garden Theater on Saturday and Sunday.


From Windows and Doors…to Ceilings and Floors….With everything for the exterior to the interior of your home, the Texas Home & Garden Show is your one-stop for home and garden

shopping. Looking for new home decorating ideas? Visit featured exhibitors Décor & You and Select Comfort. With the help of Heavens

Above Starscapes, you could create your very own 3-D cosmic “getaway” in your own home.

The outside of your home deserves as much care as the inside, and that’s why the Texas Home & Garden Show features nearly 2000 sq.

ft. of outdoor living, pool and spa ideas and exhibits. Add a beautiful deck to your backyard for outdoor entertaining. Start making plans

for a refreshing pool or spa with exhibitors Anthony & Sylvan Pools, Azul Pools, Blue Haven Pools, Cody Pools and Lone Star Fiberglass

Pools.

GO GREEN!The emphasis these days is going green and striving to be energy efficient. There are tons of products on the market that will improve the

energy performance of your home and use of green products. This year’s event will introduce you to a number of products you’ll find both

amazing and practical for your home. Talk with professionals about green products and learn how your home can become more energy

and resource efficient while saving you money. Talk with the experts from Efficient Attic Systems, Integrity EnergySystems Radiant,

Rethink Solar – Longhorn Solar, South Texas Siding/ Window World, or T-C Sun and Window Solutions, to get you started on your green

and energy efficient projects.

Find Your Happy Place!Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall…every season calls for a “Vacation Getaway!”

From tranquil to adventurous, you’ll find the perfect escape at the Vacation, Leisure & Outdoor Pavilion. Cruise through the aisles and

visit with experts from AAA New Mexico, Bluegreen Resorts, Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce, Rancho Del Lago, Wyndham Vacation

Resorts, and the Texas Hill Country River Region.

From floor to ceiling, indoor to outdoor, the Texas Home & Garden Show is the place to find everything you need for your home!

All seminar times are subject to change without notice.

MEET THE EXPERTS!

HOME & GARDEN THEATER SEMINARS & DEMONSTRATIONS

Friday, February 29th

4:00pm David Melichar, Your Address Magazine

5:00pm Sheri Soltes, TV’s “Cafe´ Woof” Training Tips for Your Dog

Saturday, March 1st

11:00am Your Address Magazine Welcomes:

Earth’s Outlet, Mark Smith

Efficient Barrier Systems, Brian Burns

Pedernales, Ms. Matthews

Let’s Talk GREEN.

12:00pm Laura Skirde, KXAN Austin News,

Meteorologist / Reporter

3:00pm Jessica Markley, Owner, Mad About Organization!

Organizaing Your Home.

1:00pm John Dromgoogle – KLBJ Radio

Owner, The Natural Gardener Nursery &

Lady Bug Natural Brand

Advanced Organic Gardening. Organic techniques for homeowners and weekend gardeners.

3:00pm KXAN Personality

4:00pm University of Texas Informal Classes

5:00pm Jinji Willingham, Bamboo Logic Consultation &

Landscape Design

Bamboo Trouble Shooting & Landscaping with Non-invasive Bamboos.

Sunday, March 2nd

1:00pm University of Texas Informal Classes

2:00pm Your Address Magazine Welcomes:

Earth’s Outlet, Mark Smith

Efficient Barrier Systems, Brian Burns

Pedernales, Ms. Matthews

Let’s Talk GREEN.

3:00pm Jessica Markley, Owner, Mad About Organization!

Organizaing Your Home.



1st Avenue Mortgage Inc. 1217

A P Financial 1023

AAA New Mexico 720

Above It All Storage 1414,1413

Advanced Exteriors 1419

Advanced Tile & Concrete 1332

Airtight Insulation 1241

Allied Powder Coatings 1031

All-Tex Insulation 1319

Anthony & Sylvan Pools 808

Ashtech Systems 837,1532

A-Tex Family Fun Center 501,601

ATX Floor Coverings & 712

Austin Humane Society 418

A-Z Grass 1040

Azul Pools 1231

Bamboo Arts & Crafts 807

Barbeque Etc. 1007

Best Water Solutions Inc. 1518

Billiard Factory 631

Blue Haven Pools 1512

Bluegreen Resorts 1531

Bolero Flooring & Custom 621

Books Are Fun 137

Brad Marshall Homes 1336

BrightStar Healthcare 1416

Brinks Home Security 1330

Carlson Chiropractic 1019

Ccms Resorts, Inc. 441

Central Texas Coatings 1237

Central Texas Tourism 538

Classic Wellness 1431

Cody Pools 1107

Companion Trailers 437

Cook’s Warehouse 1238

Culligan Water Conditioning 1130

Custom Stone Supply 1325

Cutco Cutlery 1321

Decor & You 1136

Dickinson Designs 1038

Dimension Builders 1317

Directbuy of Austin 1207

1037

1139

Elegant Illusions CZ 1341

Emerald Paradise Creative 836

Four Seasons Home 625

Galleria Homes 1515

Garagetek of Central Texas 1235

Gary’s Pool & Patio 1505

Granite Transformations 1318

Guttermaxx 1315

Exhibitor Booth


Heavens Above Starscapes 1124

Hill Country Watergardens 925

Huntsville CVB 438

Image Tile & Carpet 931

Integrity Energy Systems 830

Intelli-Bed 1113

Invisible Fencing of Texas 941

John Carroll Custom Homes 1213

K & M Wholesale 1430

Keller Williams Realty 1334

Kimera Shepler & Associates 1118

King Ranch Turfgrass 624

Kitchen Craft International 831

Leafguard Austin 1025

Liquid Assets Custom Pools 1407

Lone Star Chiropractic 1219

Lone Star Fiberglass Pools 825

LP Building Products 618

Miracle Method of Central 1440

Mission Mortgage 714

Morgan Buildings & Spas 813,913

Naco Swimming Pools 1340

New Creations Custom 1233

New Stone Concepts 613

O.R. Marketing 439

Option Kitchen 1138

Orange Lustre of New Mexico 939

Owner Builder Network 1215

PBC Marketing Company Lobby

Pedernales Electric 1314

Phantom Screens 838

Premier Custom Pools & 637

Premier Pools 513

Press A Print 1337

Protective Coatings & 1119

Pull Out Shelf 1513

Rancho Del Lago 1420

Rayne Water Conditioning 519

Re-Bath of Travis County 1432

Rent A Man 1509

Roofcrafters, Inc 1331

Saf-T Surfaces 1218

Sanrod Trade Corporation 1436

Select Comfort 713

Sharon Elizabeth Lee 806

Signature Home 1021

Silverleaf Resorts 709

South Texas Siding/window 719

Southern Shutters & Blinds 1120

Southpoint Alliance 940

Statewide Remodeling 1223

Sundek Of Austin 936

Texas Hearing & Service 239

Texas Hill Country River 537

The Healthy Gourmet 1125

Touch of Purple 1521

Ubuildit 1312

Ultimate Creations 1033

United 1st Financial 707

Vita-Mix Corporation 731

Waddell & Reed 1511

Wyndham Vacation Resorts 536

Your Address Magazine 725

HOME FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES:• Bamboo Arts & Craft Network, booth 231

• Décor & You, booth 1136

• Direct Buy of Austin, booth 1207

• Heavens Above Starscapes, booth 1124• Select Comfort, booth 713• Sharon Elizabeth Lee, booth 806

KITCHEN, BATH AND MORE

• ATX Floor Coverings & Granite Countertops,

booth 712

• Custom Stone Supply, booth 1325

• Granite Transformations, booth 1318

• Image Tile & Carpet, booth 931

• New Creations Custom Kitchen, booth 1233

• New Stone Concepts, booth 613

• Signature Home Improvement, booth 1021

POOL, SPA AND OUTDOOR LIVING:• Allied Power Coatings, booth 1031

• Anthony & Sylvan Pools, booth 808

• A-Tex Family Fun Center, booth 501, 601

• Azul Pools, booth 1231

• Blue Haven Pools, booth 1512

• Cody Pools, booth 1107

• Four Seasons Home Products, booth 625

• Lone Star Fiberglass Pools, booth 825]

• Morgan Buildings & Spas, booth 813, 913

THE GARDENS & LANDSCAPING DISPLAYS

• Hill Country Watergardens, booth 925

• King Ranch Turfgrass, booth 624

• Saf-T Surfaces

GREEN BUILDING / ENERGY EFFICIENT

PRODUCTS:• Efficient Attic Systems, booth 1037

• Efficient Barrier Solutions, booth 1139

• Integrity Energy Systems Radiant, booth 830

• Pedernales Electric, booth 1314

• Rethink Solar – Longhorn Solar, booth 1013

• South Texas Siding / Window World, booth

719

• T-C Sun and Window Solutions, booth 1416

VACATION, LEISURE & OUTDOOR PAVILION

• AAA New Mexico, booth 720

• Bluegreen Resorts, booth 1531

• Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce, booth

440

• CCMS Resorts, booth 441

• Central Texas Tourism Council – Village of

Salado, booth 538

• Huntsville CVB – booth 438

• Rancho Del Lago, booth 1420

• Silverleaf Resorts, booth 709

• Texas Hill Country River Region, booth 537

• Wyndham Vacation Resorts, booth 536

HOME BUILDERS / REMODELERS

• Advanced Exteriors, booth 1419

• Brad Marshall Homes, booth 1336

• Dickinson Designs, booth 1038

• Dimension Builders, booth 1317

• John Carroll Custom Homes, booth 1213

• Owner Builder Network, booth 1215

• Protective Coatings & Remodeling of Texas,

booth 1119

• Rent A Man, booth 1509

• Statewide Remodeling, booth 1223

• Ubuildit, booth 1312

Texas Home & Garden Show - Austin

Features Exhibitor List

ENTER TO WIN A BEAUTIFUL NEW HARDWOOD FLOOR!!!

Come by Booth 931 and drop your business card off. We are giving away enough hardwood for a 12x12’ room! Every new floor should start with Image Tile & Carpet.

Enter to

Win!Exhibitor Booth Exhibitor Booth


| your kitchen


After

Before

FREEAeration


your kitchen |

4 7T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8


YAtrulytexan9-64.indd 49 2/22/08 6:10:00 PM

adve

rtor

ial


Austin-tatious Blinds and ShuttersKeeping Austin’s Fabulous Vistas in ViewThey specialize in window coverings but their goal, surprisingly, is not to cover windows. “We’ve got views here in Austin that are just phenomenal,” says Tracey Hopkins, president of Austin-tatious Blinds and Shut-ters. “The last thing we want to do is cover up those views. We want to accentuate the views and allow the outside to come inside, so people can enjoy them from their homes.”

The company’s philosophy is that windows are people’s access to the outside world. And no one wants that access cut off. Austin-tatious also understands there are other factors to consider as well. And it’s found that listening to customers is the best way to determine what additional factors are important.

How is each room being used? Are there neigh-bors close enough to make privacy a prime con-sideration? Are there delicate furnishings in the room that might be damaged by direct sunlight? “We look at each window, each situations and try to come up with the best possible solutions for each and every criterion,” Hopkins says.

Hopkins believes it’s the consideration of these factors that distinguishes Austin-tatious from others in the very competitive field of window coverings. “It would be very easy to tell custom-ers this is what your neighbors did. So this is what you should do.” But we’ve made it our policy to do the listening instead of the talking.” Often-times, the end result is a product the homeowner didn’t even know existed. “It becomes an interesting and exciting challenge for us every day,” says Hopkins.

Sisters Tracey and Stephanie Hopkins make up two-thirds of the Austin-tatious ownership. The two of them, along with co-owner Norma Catano, make Austin-tatious surprisingly unique in the window covering field. “We’re one of the only fe-male-run and owned window-covering businesses in Austin,” says Hopkins. “I think that plays a part in our success because the vast majority of our customers are women. They enjoy and appreciate getting another woman’s take on their homes and on their decorating ideas.”

“Our primary goal is to give each client the best possible solution with the best possible service,” says Catano, one of the founding partners.

That philosophy has paid off. Austin-tatious has quickly risen to the top of the ranks in the competitive Austin market. Its customer referral rate is phenomenal, and business is booming with 700 percent growth over the last four years. In order to maintain their level of service and growth Catano, and Hopkins added a third partner last year. Stephanie Hopkins’ background in retail management and operations perfectly completed the management trifecta at Austin-tatious.

“It’s been both surprising and exciting to have this kind of success in a market that’s so competitive,” says Tracey Hopkins. “But you won’t find us sitting around the office, patting ourselves on the back. We’re still out there every day, mak-ing sure we’re satisfying ourcustomers to the best of our ability.”

Getting ‘back to basics’ in window coverings with the RetroLift® pulley system by Hunter Douglas. This unique lifting system elevates blinds smoothly with a timeless style using an exposed pulley system. It is available exclusively for Hunter Douglas Alustra Wood Blinds.

adve

rtor

ial

Expires May 31, 2008

Expires May 31, 2008


Creating the Moment

“The one thing we want to do is make you feel so special and make the event so perfect that the first words out of your mouth are, “I can’t believe Austin Dia-mond District did this for me!”

With Austin Diamond District, you can give a loved one a magical experience – and the gorgeous jewelry is just the icing on top! From meeting clients at res-taurants or “accidentally” running into couples in the park at midnight, to consulting with pastry chefs and Maître d’s to create an unforgettable presentation, Sheldon and Matt pour over every detail to deliver incomparable service.

Working with local goldsmiths and artisans, they carefully consider personal attributes to create custom pieces that are thoughtfully matched to each client.

...whether you spend $1,000 or $100,000, it is the moment that matters.“We want to know likes and dislikes, what he or she does for a living, and a little bit about physical ap-pearance. A lot of times we meet to talk without even pulling out a stone.”

Because Austin Diamond District is a brokerage, rather than a retailer, they are able to get the best quality diamonds directly from the source. With no middlemen in the mix, clients are able to get more diamond for far less money. Of course, whether you spend $1,000 or $100,000, it is the moment that mat-ters – and Austin Diamond District specializes in moments that last forever.

For more information please call512-458 - GEMS (4367)

“ ”

Local diamond brokers, Sheldon Millsapp and Matt O’Desky, are not just in the business of selling jewelry, but in marking special moments in people’s lives. Whether it is an engagement, wedding, holi-day or memorial to honor a loved one, they make a point to rise above to make the moment special.


| your fashion


This Season’s Hottest TrendsNothing is more essential at your next gala than an authentic Double D outfit. This season, look your finest in a showstopping, trendsetting Western haute couture dress and jacket from the finest fashion empire this side of the Southwest.

DOUBLE D RANCH WEARTHE DOUBLE D RANCH COLLECTION CAN BE FOUND IN STORES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE APPAREL LINE HAS BEEN CALLED WESTERN HAUTE COUTURE. THE AMAZ-INGLY TRENDY LINE OF CLOTHING BEGAN AS A TRIP TO MEXICO, ON A RICKETY BUS TRIP, BY FOUR YOUNG WOMEN FROM YOAKUM, TX. THIS AMBITIOUS RUN IN SEARCH OF AUTHENTIC SILVER BUTTONS LANDEDTHESE YOUNG WOMEN FROM A SMALL TEXAN TOWN INTHE GIANT LANDSCAPE OF NEW YORK CITY. BUT THESE FOUR REGULAR GIRLS FROM YOAKUM, BUILDING ON THEIR HARD SPENT TEXAS ROOTS AND AN AUTHENTIC SOUTHWESTERN CHILDHOOD, COULD CARE LESS HOWTHINGS ARE DONE IN NEW YORK CITY. THEY’VE BUILTA FASHION EMPIRE DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS ANDTHEY WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE AND RARE COL-LECTION THAT WOULD MAKE ANY EVENT A SHOW-STOP-PING EVENT, VISIT THE DOUBLE D WEBSITE AT WWW.DDRANCHWEAR.COM.


ANALEADE LA FUENTE

From the minute you step foot in Analea De La Fuente’s design studio, you can sense that she is in the business of special occasions. Impeccably designed with the help of local interior designer,

for sophistication and luxury and is ideal for pondering the details of those very special days that seldom come along in a lifetime.

“I was looking for a space that provided a woman with that feeling of being pampered from start

And it is the attention to detail that makes working with Analea incomparable. She gives her clients a truly custom experience every step of the way.

France to the customized dress forms meticulously

clients’ bodies, Analea takes every measure to make special days unforgettable.

During her consultation, Analea takes time to get to know and understand her clients to build lasting relationships. Many return to Analea several times a year for couture gowns for galas and other special events. She has even expanded her catalog to include a custom intimates line for which women return all year long. Naturally, for returning clients, each visit becomes more

and more comfortable because Analea is able to reuse their customized dress forms and has an appreciation for their styles and body types.

Drawing on extensive repertoire of design principles, including architecture and interior design, Analea is able to create a certain

evoke emotion.

“I found that as much as I love architecture, it was the more personal aspect of designing for the body that called to me. In a lot of ways, fashion

on your sassy shoes or a beautiful ball gown, and

She mastered her craft at The University of Texas, but found a true passion for design during her time in Barcelona, where she connected art, culture and experience to timeless couture. It was there that she was able to explore new methods of draping and organic construction.

creating, and what comes of it is always amazing because you make decisions that you wouldn’t normally make. Because there is visual element there that is tactile and you’re touching the fabrics,

It is this inspiration to create living, personal garments that allows Analea to match every bride to a gown that is uniquely her.

For a personal design consultation, please call 512.373.3364or visit www.analeadelafuente.com.

“The wedding gown is perhaps the most personal and memorable article of clothing a woman will wear in her lifetime. My approach is to design is just that: personal and memorable.,”

— Analea

Finely Fitted Gowns by Analea De La Fuente

AS

NE

C

D

L-P-


| your fashion


The search for the perfect boot is more of a quest for most Texans. With all there is to consider, it can be quite an exhausting one at that. We have pulled a few pairs from local shops to help make sure you’re in style from head to toe this season. All boots available from Cowboy Cool, www.cowboycool.com.

That’s Haute!

ALLIGATOR BOOTwith distressed natural finish featured on vamp, collar and inlays. $3000.(pictured right)

BLACK ITALIAN CALFwith silver butterflies, red flowers and white vine inlays. $1190.(pictured above and left)

COGNAC ITALIAN CALF BOOTwith multi-colored inlays, multi-colored stitch, sterling silver conchos and pink tourmaline stones. $2000.(pictured right)

AMBER ITALIAN CALFwith brown wingtip and collar, featuring multi-colored inlays and carnelian stones. $1900.(pictured right)


DESIGNER ORIGINAL GOWNS BY ANALEA DE LA FUENTEEVERY COUTURE GOWN FROM ANALEA DE LAFUENTE IS A DESIGNER ORIGINAL MADE WITHIMPECCABLE QUALITY AND FABRICS IMPORTEDFROM THE BEST MILLS IN THE WORLD. THIS GEM FEATURES GOLD CHANTILLY LACE IMPORTED ANDLAYERS OF ITALIAN SILK. FOR YOUR OWN DE-SIGNER GOWN FOR AN EVENT THIS SEASON, CALL 512.373.3364 OR EMAIL [email protected].

ANALEA

DE LA FUENTE


| your fashion


Cowboy Cool: Gala EssentialsLooking to dress your inner cowboy or cowgirl, but want a modern twist? Cowboy Cool blends traditional Western gear with a contemporary edge, and it specializes in custom-made products available off-the-rack.

SHERRY NIKKA CREPE DRESSBlack crepe dress with hand distressed leather detail, $900. (pictured above)

ROUTE 66 “SUGAR SKULL”Black snap front shirt with white piping and embroidered skulls on front and back, $200.(pictured above)

TEXAS HATTERSHI-ROLLER COWBOY HATLocal legend Texas Hatters has been making cowboy hats for decades for some of the most famous cowboys and characters in history. Anessential for any Western occasion, from the most rugged ranchhand to the most elegant occasion. (pictured above)800-421-4287www.texashatters.com

YOGA ARMY ROPE DRESSOrange cotton halter dress with leather, copper stud, and rope detailing, $325. (pictured above)

MILK + HONEYBefore any huge event or just for a night on the town, a visit to Austin’s premier day spa will make your night extra fabulous. Massages, facials, body treatments and nautural nail therapy will make you glow. Give you or someone you love the gift of beauty and health. (pictured right)512-236-11152nd Street Districtwww.milkandhoneyspa.com

Abafesmcry

8

1qfohpg

2pthe

3a

4stru

5w

6trs

7intiaw

8st

PMO

mJ


your fashion |

5 9T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

At Garbo, Our roots grow deep because we place social, spiritual, and environmental values as our foundation. Our core is strength-ened through a well-established sense of family, ceaseless com-mitment to excellence, and joy in connecting love, beauty, and envi-ronment. We want you to pamper yourself!

8 Ways to Enrich Your 2008

1. Improve the quality and regulate the quantity of food you eat -- fresh, whole foods grown by small, local producers have very different energy than highly processed foods created by huge con-glomerates.

2. Reduce the amount of clutter that prevents energy from flowing freely through your home and office. Blocked energy flow leads to blocked cash flow.

3. Keep your home, office, and car clean and in good repair.

4. Surround yourself with things that stimulate positive thoughts and memo-ries. Ged rid of things that stimulate unpleasant memories.

5. Interact with positive, satisfied people who don’t complain and gossip.

6. Manage your cash flow by keeping track of your money and making con-scious financial decision.

7. Develop positive inner habits, includ-ing thoughts, beliefs, emotions, expecta-tions and behaviors that are expansive and supportive of who you are today and who you would like to become.

8. Exercise and move your body to stimulate your physical energy systems.

Peace, love and joy,MarshaOwner, Garbo Salon

more thanJust a Salon


| your fashion


your fashion |

6 1T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

First of all, I would never suggest buying a diamond online. Would you ever buy a house based on pictures and floor plans? Would you buy a car without test driving it? Would you ever go to a college without visit-ing the campus first? Most likely, almost everyone would have answered most or all of those questions, no. If you answered no to any of these, then why would you ever buy a diamond online?

Knowing the color, clarity, carat and cut of the diamond is never enough to tell you how beautiful a diamond may or may not be. The only way to truly determine the beauty, and scintillation of a diamond, is by seeing it with your own two eyes. Would you really want to risk hundreds or thousands of dollars on such a meaningful gift for your loved one? Sure, some websites offer 30 day guarantees. However ship-ping and insuring a diamond back to the website, is not inexpensive.

This is why you need to know your jeweler. This person should be as well known to you as your banker, accountant, lawyer or physician. This is a person that has your best interest in mind as well as a reputation to uphold within your community. If you do not know such an individual ask people you know or associate with for recommendations.

While no one can please everyone all of the time you will find that one or two names will continue to ‘pop up’. After you narrow your choices arrange to meet with these individuals. First impressions will tell you a great deal. How knowledgeable is this person? Do you feel secure with this person’s recommendations? Do you feel safe leaving your jewelry with this individual? If not keep looking until you find someone with whom you feel comfortable.

A friend once told me that he ”always felt better if he could put his hands around the person he purchased a diamond from”. I’m not certain that I would carry it that far but his message rings true. When making a major jewelry purchase I always recommend purchasing from someone with a good reputation. Remember KNOW YOUR JEWELER!!!!!!

Matthew O’Desky – DCA Diamontologist and Guild GemologistSheldon Millsap – Diamond Graduate GIA

Austin Diamond District, 3301 Northland Drive, Suite 300 Austin, TX 78731Cell - 512-940-1646 Office - [email protected]

ask your DIAMOND EXPERTI am thinking about buying a diamond. Where should I start? Online, in a store, or somewhere else?


Like the bumper sticker says, I’m not a native Texan, but I got here as fast I could. Of all things truly Texan (barbeque, live oaks, Friday night lights, to name a small sample), my favorite is the Texas Woman. You know who I mean--that strong, goodol’ girl with the sly wit, broad smile, and bighair.

As a Yankee, I’ve learned a lot from the Texas Woman over the past two decades.When I arrived here, my New-Yorker’s-eye-view of a Southern woman was an over-refined, over-domesticated belle. Imagine my surprise at the gutsy, ballsy, larger-than-life women I encountered here.

Ann Richards, of course, was hard to miss.And not just because of her white helmetcoiffure and Harley hog. Her famous quip at the 1988 Democratic National Convention about that infamous silver foot revealed tome that the Texan Woman’s tongue may beslow, but her wit is quick.

Closer to home, the first neighbor I met inmy first house, in south Austin, was a retiree named Melba. I remember when she came over to introduce herself. I was on my hands and knees in the front yard, pulling up the runners of my St. Augustine lawn because it looked like the weed we northerners call crabgrass. She invited me to come see her“meta,” and for as many times as I asked her to repeat the word (cautious about what Iwas being drawn into), she finally spelled it out for me: m-e-a-d-o-w.

Melba was gentle-spirited, but she also spoke her mind plainly. Shall we say bluntly. She picked up the trash on our block on her morning walks. But time had taken its toll, and she insisted that intruders were gettinginto her sock drawer. She decided that hooligans were stashing their weapons inthe 10-foot fountain grass in my next doorneighbor’s front yard. It was a tribute to the affection we all felt for Melba that Juliecut down that magnificent plant, to easeMelba’s fears.

The thing about a Texas Woman is, she surprises you. I was used to Melba’s sturdy,forthright manner, so I was delighted (and touched) to see her at the book signingfor my first book. She was decked out in a soft, flowing dress and a spectacle of a hat. The stack of books she purchased reflected a sophisticated aesthetic that I had not suspected.

Here are a few of the qualities I admireabout the Texas Woman:

HumorSometimunpopulaimpeccabtactic, buto attack.

GritDon’t let Woman idoesn’t leget in her

PassionBecause hher passi

Big HairAs often big hair isymbol foWoman bvisibility. she refusinvisible.

Public SpNot only is the visiis filled wJohnson wimprove the lives of all citizens.

Grassroots Know-HowIt’s not just a network, it’s a mafia. When Texas women get together to advocate for social change, they know how to leverage

the power of ordinary people.

Personally, I’m still a work-in-progress.There are some things Yankee that I’ll never let go of. But I must admit, I did recently buy some hairspray.

(For further reading about Texas women, pick up a copy of PJ Pierce’s Texas Wisewomen Speak,kavailable from The University of Texas Press.)

Transitions: Get Clear & Get Going!BY ANN DA LY, PHD

Ann Daly PhD (www.anndaly.com) is a

life coach, speaker, and author of

Clarity: How to Accomplish What

Matters Most. A proud Texan for nearly

20 years, she helps women in

transition get clear about what they

want and how to get it. Write to Dr. Daly

at: [email protected].


St. Gabriel’s Catholic School

Vir tue. Excellence. Leadership.

• Well-Trained Faculty and Staff• A Commitment to Spiritual Growth• Music, Art, and Foreign Language • Access to the Latest Technology

• And so much more . . .

COME SEE WHO WE ARE! Open House April 24, 2008 & Weekly Tours

For More Information, Visit: www.sgs-austin.org

PRE-K - EIGHTH GRADES • ALL FAITHS WELCOME

2500 Wimberly LaneAustin, TX 78735(512) 327-7755


For more information on the Brand U Home Edition contest, visit: www.AustinGoodwill.org or call 512.637.7100


6 5T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

To learn more call 512.259.9911 or visitour web site at www.PremierGarage.com

C o a t i n g s / C a b i n e t s / O r g a n i z e r s

PremierGarage®

The Leader InGarage Enhancement

Our revolutionary

PremierOne


| your soiree


F or your rodeo kick-off party this year, keep it classy by foregoing chips served out of an upside-down cowboy hat and renting that mechanical bull. The Star of Texas Rodeo & Fair will run from February 29 to March 15. The Rodeo is a defining part of Austin’s culture, but you don’t

have to be an expert on “Mutton Bustin” to get into the spirit. The Star of Texas Rodeo & Fair is a non-profit event that raises millions of dollars to support their mission, “Promoting Youth Education – Preserving Western Heritage.” There are ways to preserve the western flair in your rodeo theme without including a horseshoe toss. This isn’t a hoedown, after all, but you are celebrating the rodeo kick-off. Use this guide to keep your rodeo kick-off party on the classy side.

InviteFor that personal touch, have your invitations hand delivered. Attach your invitation to a bouquet of sunflowers. Your guest will be touched by your gesture, and have your gift on the counter as a “save-the-date.” This invitation will tie in nicely with the sunflowers used to decorate your event.

If your kick-off party is for the whole family, consider having old-time western “Wanted” posters printed with pictures of your children as the “criminals.” Include details of the party, and run a match along the edges of the poster to give it an aged look. Roll each poster into a scroll and tie with a bandana.

DecorateUse small Mason jars with bunches of wildflowers at each place setting. To turn these into place cards, use jar labels to display your guests’ names. If you’d like them to take these keepsakes home, fill your jars with decorative marbles or stones instead of water.

Create gorgeous sunflower centerpieces by placing a

Kick-Off This Year’s

Rodeo ... In Style

BY CLAIRE RISSMAN-SHERR

The mild Texas climate allows for a year-round sunflower supply (above).

| your soiree


your soiree |

6 7T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8

narrow vase inside a cowboy boot and filling the vase with stalks of the cheery flowers. Surround each boot with small lanterns illuminated by votives that provide the centerpiece with a warm glow.

To keep in theme with the sunflowers and wildflowers, choose a color palette that compliments the flowers. Think warm tones: oranges, yellows, reds, and purples. Forget gingham and go with table linens in these wildflower tones.

Use mini horseshoes as napkin rings. Also scatter a few of the horseshoes around the centerpieces.- Rent a covered wagon that can be parked outside the entrance to your party. This will really impress your guests and set the Western-inspired mood.

Spread the votive-filled lanterns and the flower-filled mason jars throughout the party: on the bar, a buffet table (if you choose to serve buffet-style), etc. Sweet Potato Puffs

Ingredients:3 sweet potatoes½ cup butter or margarine2/3 cup packed brown sugar½ cup sugar1 teaspoon cinnamon2 cups shredded coconut

Mini marshmallowsMethod:Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Poke holes in the

potatoes with a fork and bake the potatoes until tender, between 1 and 1 ½ hours. Peel and mash the potatoes. Mix with brown sugar and butter or margarine. In a separate bowl, stir together the cinnamon, sugar, and coconut. Around each mini marshmallow spread mashed sweet potatoes until a ball is formed. Coat each ball in the coconut mixture. Place balls on a baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes.

Tip: Use an old-fashioned triangle dinner bell to alert dinner guests.

Peach Cobbler MimosaIngredients:

Two Tablespoons thawed peach sorbetChilled prosecco or champagneRim glasses with crushed graham cracker

Method:Wipe rim of glass with wet paper towel, then dip

rim in crushed graham crackers. Stir thawed peach sorbet until it turns to liquid. Pour chilled prosecco or champagne over sorbet.

Strawberry Rhubarb MartiniIngredients:

Two tablespoons rhubarb pureeFresh strawberriesChilled vodka

Method:Pour puree into glass. Place two-three strawberries

(depending on size) in glass. Fill glass with chilled vodka.

Boot-Scootin’ Beverages

Lonestar StarterHoney-Bourbon Salmon makes a delicious and different main course for any event.

Honey-Bourbon SalmonIngredients:

2 pounds salmon filletHoney-Bourbon marinade:

½ cup honey½ cup apple butter¼ cup bourbon whiskey2 Tablespoons honey mustard¼ cup lemon juice

Method:Mix all marinade ingredients together and pour

over salmon. Marinate for a half hour. Place on fish grill tray so salmon doesn’t fall apart on the grill. Grill on medium for roughly four minutes on each side or a couple minutes longer if fillets are thicker than 1 ½ inches

Cowboy Course

(find dessert on page 68)


| your soiree


Rhubarb Crisp with Cinnamon Ice CreamIngredients:Filling

5 cups fresh rhubarb2/3 cup sugar2 tablespoons flour1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted½ teaspoon grated orange peel

Method:Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Trim rhubarb and cut into ½

inch pieces. Mix all ingredients together, and then pour unto an 8-inch

square baking pan. Streusel Crust

1 cup packed brown sugar1 cup all purpose flour3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted1 teaspoon cinnamon1/3 cup chopped toasted walnuts1/3 cup rolled oatsMethod:

Combine brown sugar, flour, butter, cinnamon, walnuts, and rolled oats, mixing until crumbly. Crumble streusel crust over rhubarb. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until streusel crust is golden brown. Serve warm with cinnamon ice cream.

One of the best reasons to hire an ACCA Contractor is that, first and foremost, they are a member of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America Association. What does this mean to you, the consumer? It means they are properly LICENSED AND INSURED. Based upon this fact alone, the homeowner is assured a much better chance of dealing with a reputable contractor.

In addition, ACCA Contractors are educated, instructed and trained to perform the work at hand correctly the first time. They comply with the codes that govern the way installations and repairs are done. They pull permits and have their work inspected to ensure the work has been done to standards & code guidelines. They adhere to a Code Of Ethics and hold themselves and their staff to a higher standard of professionalism.

ACCA Contractors are committed to doing a better job of training their people. Many ACCA Contractors require their employees to complete a minimum number of continuing education hours each year. This ensures they remain on the leading edge of technology and methods, whether it be a New Installations, Upgrade or Repair.

ACCA HVAC Contractors belong to Mix Groups and Local Chapters that provide them opportunities to take advantage of networking with other Contractors. By working together, they take advantage of shared experience, knowledge and best practices.

Need to hire an Air Conditioning & Heating Contractor? Need an estimate for new installation or repair? Need competitive options for a Maintenance Agreement? As a home owner or business owner, protect YOUR investment - HIRE THE BEST – HIRE AN ACCA CONTRACTOR. In Austin call 512-507-4826 or visit www.accaaustin.org to locate an ACCA Contractor.

Why Should I Hire An ACCA Contractor?

(continued from page 67)


6 9T R U L Y T E X A N 2 0 0 8



512.444.WOOD (9663)

Our boothis too bigto move.

6717 Burnet Road

6103 Burnet Road at Koenig 323-5011


your IndexA Place for Everything512-930-3020www.aplaceforeverything.netfind us on page 50

AAA Stone Works512-918-0100www.aaastoneworks.comfind us on page 49

ACCA Austin512-507-4826www.accaaustin.orgfind us on page 68

Afterglow Medical Spa512-419-7546www.afterglowaustin.comfind us on page 63

ANALEADE LA FUENTE512-373-3364www.analeadelafuente.comfind us on page 55

Archadeck512-267-7005www.archadeck-austin.comfind us on page 11

Ashtech Systems512-251-5160find us on page 46, IBC

ATX Floor Covering and Granite Countertops512-339-9600www.atxdiscountfloors.comfind us on page 33

Austin Diamond District 512-458-4367www.austindiamonddistrict.comfind us on page 52-53

Austin Hardwood Flooring512-444-9663www.AustinHardwoodFlooring.comfind us on page 70

Austintatious Blinds & Shutters512-608-0302www.austintatiousblinds.comfind us on page 51

The Barstool Company512-459-7600www.thebarstoolcompany.comfind us on page 38

Best Agents in Texas9100 United Drive, #100Austin, TX 78758512-388-3313www.BestAgentsInTexas.comRealtors serving the Austin Area by providing an experience worthy of your referals. We recruit and hire only the BEST Realtors®!

Blinds of All Kinds512-889-8787www.blindsofallkinds.net

Capitol One Bank11 Locations in Austinfind us on IFC

Cell-U-Insul Spray Foam830-620-4470www.biobased.netfind us on page 49

City Girls Residential512-657-8367, Diana512-496-9640, Sandywww.citygirlsresidential.comfind us on page 25

David Jorgensen512-745-7175find us on page 21

Design It With Consignment512-301-9800www.designitconsignmnet.comfind us on page 50

Earth’s Outlet512-331-7435www.earthsoutlet.comfind us on page 1

Efficient Barrier Solutions512-504-3582www.ebsnational.comfind us on page 60

Ethnic Loft512-458-4000www.ethnicloft.netfind us on page 29

Face Logic Spa512-918-3223www.facelogicaustin.comfind us on page 21

Galleria Concrete [email protected] us on page 48

Garbo a Salon & Spa512-458-4162www.garbosalon.comfind us on page 59

Granite 4 Less512-249-9100www.granite4lessep.comfind us on page 50

Granite Transformations512-834-2500www.granitetransformations.comfind us on page 23

Habitat for Humanity512-371-9506www.habitatforhumanity.comfind us on page 7

Heartsong Music512-371-9506www.heartsongmusictogether.comfind us on page63

Hill Country Galleria512-371-9506www.hillcountrygalleria.com find us on page 3

Image Tile & Carpetwww.imagetileandcarpet.comfind us on page 39

Interior Motives Design512-291-7550www.myinteriormotives.comfind us on page 29

Leaps N Bounds512-346-5327find us on page 70

Lights Fantastic512-452-9511www.lightsfantastic.comfind us on page BC

Lone Star Riverboat512-327-1388www.lonestarriverboat.comfind us on page 38

Mandola’s Italian Market512-419-9700www.mandolasmarket.comfind us on page 21

Massage Envy512-381-9500www.massageenvy.comfind us on page 61

Mesa Ranch512-853-9480find us on page 68

Mid City Homes512-373-4600www.midcityhomes.comfind us on page 5

Milk & Honey Spa512-236-1115www.milkandhoneyspa.comfind us on page 58

Mosquito Control Systems512-844-8498www.mcsaustin.comfind us on page 48

Motif Modern Living512-262-2211www.motifmod.comfind us on page 31

Motor Homes of Texas1-800-651-1112www.motorhomesoftexas.comfind us on page 9

New Creations512-963-9043www.newcreationsckr.comfind us on page 65

Premier Garage512-259-9911www.premiergarage.comfind us on page 65

Ramucci Studios512-294-5288www.ramuccistudios.comfind us no page 15

Real Green512-454-7336www.realgreenlawns.comfind us on page 44

Rinnai America (The Roemer Agency)678-829-1700www.rinnai.usfind us on page 33

Shoal Creek Nursery512-458-5909www.shoalcreeknursery.comfind us on page 70

St. Gabriel’s Catholic School512-327-7755www.sgs-austin.orgfind us on page 63

State Farm Insurance - Carmina Eaton512-244-6641www.statefarm.comfind us on page 70

Steamers Carpet Cleaning512-990-7279www.steamerscarpet.comfind us on page 49

Texas Hatters512-398-4287www.texashatters.comfind us on page 57

Texas Mesquite co.866-300-7656www.texmes.comfind us on page 65

The Barstool Company512-459-7600www.thebarstoolcompany.comfind us on page 38

The Flower Studio512-236-0916www.cobyneal.comfind us on page 13

Turquoise Trading Post512-323-5011www.texasttp.comfind us on page 70

Wallpapers To Go512-459-4169find us on page 38

Wine Styles512-331-9463www.winestyles.netfind us on page 27

Your Secret Closet512-206-4993find us on page 57

Zinger Hardware & General Merchandise512-533-9001www.zingerhardware.comfind us on page 39


| your marketplace

your address change

Post OfficeMagazine SubscriptionsMedical PrescriptionsCredit CardsBanksInsurance CompaniesPast Employers (W2 Form)Friends & Family

your help

Cleaning Service Dry Cleaner & LaundryNanny & Childcare Landscaping ServiceInterior DesignerHome Security

your connections

Telephone, Cable & InternetLocal Newspapers & MagazinesPharmacy

your home safety

Smoke DetectorsCarbon Monoxide DetectorFamily Contact InformationSpare Set of KeysFire ExtinguisherFirst Aid KitFlashlight & Batteries

your city info

Health Information, (512) 972-5400 Utility Services, (888) 340-6465

Community Development, (512) 974-3100

Parks and Recreation, (512) 974-6700 Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, (512) 530-2242 School Enrollment, www.austin.isd.tenet.eduWaste Pick-Up and Recycling, (512) 494-9400Gas, Water, Electricity, (512) 494-9400

your registrations

Driver’s License and Registration, www.txdot.govPets, (512) 972-6007Insurances

your resources

www.austin360.comwww.austin.citysearch.com

your sound

FM

88.1 KNLE / Christian89.5 KMFA / Classical90.5 KUT / Public Radio93.7 KLBJ / Rock95.5 KKMJ / Soft Rock

96.7 KHFI / Contemporary Rock98.1 KVET / Country100.7 KASE / Country

102.3 KPEZ / Christian103.5 KBPA / Classic Rock105.9 KFMK / Oldies107.7 KINV / Spanish

AM

590 KLBJ / News1260 KWNX / ESPN Sports1300 KVET / Longhorn Sports1370 KJCE / Conservative Talk

Ribbon Reminders:The Settling-in ChecklistDetails frequently fall through the cracks amidst the chaos associated with any big move. You may have unloaded all your possessions into your humble abode, but have your remembered everything else that needs to be done? Because there isn’t enough room to tie 57 reminder ribbons around your index fingers, Your Address Magazine has compiled a convenient checklist to help settle you into your new home.


truly texan

Documents