2011.1.Issue

Spring 2011

Ladybird Lake Lake Austin Lake Travis Lake Marble Falls Lake LBJ Lake Buchanan

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12 Beguiled By Big Bend

18 2011 Austin BoAt, sport & outdoor show

24 MAyBerry MeMoriAl FAshion show

25 Austin Children’s shelter gAlA

28 4th AnnuAl dAnCing with the stArs Austin

32 living lArge outdoors

35 the toddler ChroniCles

36 2011 lt AreA eConoMiC ForeCAst

37 getting to Know the ltCC

40 Business proFiles

42 where Are they now?

44 ‘ZAt you, sing Alongs?

48 texArts

49 dAnCe institute

Waterways Magazine604 Peterson Lane; Lakeway, TX [email protected]

Editor/PublishEr: Cathie Parssinen 512.785.6313

dEsignEr: Sheila Parr [email protected]

Contributors

Editorial: Keija Parssinen, Selena Rosanbaum, Steve Zbranek

art and PhotograPhy: Eric Hegwer, Nick Moles, Michael Sullivan, Bonnie Wunderlich

blog: www.theflyingchalupa.com

42

18

24

28

Spring 2011

35

ABout the CoverOur Spring cover is a painting of Big Bend’s Dark Canyon by artist Bonnie Wunderlich. More of her work can be seen in the feature Beguiled By Big Bend that begins on page 12.

“ In 1992, when I discovered the wild and expansive Big Bend landscape, I found a lifetime of subject matter to investigate, explore…and paint. In a remote area on the border with Mexico, this surreal West Texas landscape—where cubistic rocky mountains are explosive with light and shadow—presented me with the inspiration for a playful treatment of the brush and paint on canvas.”

—Bonnie Wunderlich

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12 Waterways | Spring 2011

T his year, none of my three kids were able to make it home for Thanksgiving, and I confronted the approaching holiday with a feeling of unease, imagining the empty places around the family table. In the end, the absence of the children

sparked an impromptu visit to Big Bend, a trip I had secretly been longing to take ever since I read the account of my daughter Keija’s visit there in December, 2004 (featured in Waterways, Spring 2005).

Pamphlets we picked up at the Marathon Visitor’s Center trumpeted slogans like “Where the Big Bend begins and the Texas of your imagination still exists!” and “Where the pavement ends and The West begins!” I immediately rejected the designation “corny” as the assessment only a cynic would make. Yes! I thought. This is the landscape I have been yearning to see…a landscape that is both empty and expansive, a galaxy of mythic geology, scarred by events chronicled in an “mya” (millions of years ago) timeline.

And the historic Gage Hotel in Marathon, with its elegant incorporation of Mexican, Native American and cowboy cultures, offered the perfect indulgence after a day’s explora-tion of the wild and rugged Chihuahuan desert or the Chisos Mountains. The rooms in Los Portales (where we stayed) open onto a lush, traditional courtyard in a hacienda-style setting, with a landscape of abundant flowers and a tinkling fountain. We were definitely transported to a time and place “long ago and far away.”

The Hotel offers an intimate space for enjoying a sampling of fine Tequilas (or other spirits of your choice) at the White Buffalo Bar. Here we were warmed by a crackling fire and drank up the ambi-ance (as well as the tequila) beneath the transcendent gaze of White Buffalo, a sacred artifact the current owner purchased, along with a wealth of other memorabilia from a collector friend in Cody, Wyoming. Fine dining at the Hotel’s Café Cenizo offers grilled prime steaks, roasted game and an extensive wine cellar.

Beguiled by Big Bendstory and Photos by Cathie Parssinen

The lobby at the Gage Hotel

The White Buffalo Bar

Cathie Parssinen

White Buffalo guests Tara Sechrest, Tim Thayer and Donut

Gage Hotel entrance

13 Spring 2011 | Waterways

MArFA/ForT DAviS ConneCTionS

In our imaginings of the Wild West, we appropriate a common recollec-tion, gleaned from the pages of elementary school primers and fleshed out by iconic scenes from movies like Lonesome Dove or The Last of the Mohicans. These viscous images, conscious or unconscious, stick with us and transform a past we never experienced into a remembrance that is genuine nonetheless. In an interview with Joel Whitney, U.S. Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin speaks of specific landscapes that have impacted his poetry. Speaking of a village in southern France, he says, “One of the great draws of that place—the thing that made me love it from the begin-ning—was the feeling that I had walked, as if in a fairy tale, into a place that had an unbroken connection with a deep past…” In that same sense, the endless skies and sweeping vistas of the great highland plain known as the Marfa Plateau evoke the unbroken connection with the West. Filmmakers saw the promise of this landscape as early as 1955 when George Stevens’ academy award-winning film Giant, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean, was shot near Marfa. Stars and filmcrew stayed at the Paisano Hotel. More recently, There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men were also filmed in the surrounding area.

Modern Marfa was established in 1883 as a shipping point for livestock and ore, and a water stop and freight headquarters on the Galveston-Harrisburg-San Antonio Southern Pacific

Railway. And here lies my first personal con-nection. My mother was born in Marfa in 1919 during a period when her father worked for the Southern Pacific Railway. (Present day Marfa no longer has a railroad operation.) Only two years before, in 1917, the U.S. Army established Camp Marfa (later called Fort D.A. Russell) to pro-tect the borders as fighting during the Mexican Revolution moved into northern Mexico and, as early as 1910, caused refuges to flee to Presidio County. But long before this time, thousands of years ago, Paleo-Indians lived as hunter-gather-ers on the Trans-Pecos. Spanish explorers began traveling through the area as early as 1535 and

were joined by Mexican settlers who established rancheros despite the presence of Apaches.Milton Faver was the first cattle baron west of the Pecos. The three ranches he established

(El Fortin del Cibolo, El Fortin de La Cienega and El Fortin de La Morita) expanded his ranching dynasty. His ranch headquarters at El Cibolo served as a supply station for the U.S. Army quar-termaster division at Ft. Davis, and troops used the ranch as a point of departure for incursions into Indian-occupied regions to the west and the north. Faver began a ranching tradition in the areas surrounding Marfa that endures to this day. At its height in 1930, 70,000 head of cattle were shipped annually from the Marfa Rail Pens alone. By 1970 that number had declined by half. According to an article in the Nov 24, 2010 issue of The Big Bend Sentinel by Tom Haines, Presidio ranchers are flush after autumn shipments reflected a year of good rainfall and high prices due to a global reduction in the supply of cattle. As Haines notes, “In this desert region, a single cow can require 20, 30, or 40 acres and more of grazing land,” a fact that means high costs and narrow profits even in an average year.

The railroad and the military presence that was a vital economic driver in early Marfa history and during WWII are long gone, and the ranching lifestyle faces its own challenges. Recently, Marfa has tried to reinvent itself, with some success, as a mecca for the arts and artists. For more information on those prospects, read on.

A pair of field glasses and case that belonged to my ma-ternal great grandfather, John Briggs, who served as an Indian Scout for the U.S. Cavalry at Ft. Davis circa 1845.

Train station at Alpine

Paisano Hotel, Marfa

Presidio County Courthouse in Marfa, built in 1886

Historic officers quarters, Fort Davis


Big BenD nATionAL PArk

“The physiographic order of the Big Bend is somewhat like the order of a great city built of stone and brick—wrecked by an earthquake. Perhaps order once prevailed there, but some mighty force wrecked the place, shook it down, turned it over, blew it up and set it afire…making the land the fin-est example of earth-wreckage in Texas.” This 1937 description of Big Bend by 20th century historian and author Walter Prescott Webb, noted for his groundbreaking work on the American West, remains timeless.

Covered by seas both deep and shallow, subjected to episodes of mountain building resulting from the force of continental movement and massive compressions, site of a series of volcanic eruptions, exposed to broad periods of uplift, punctuated by upward folding and battered by the constant onslaught of erosion, Big Bend National Park is a land of chaotic geological contrasts.

In addition to its complicated geology, Big Bend boasts an impressive variety of climates across a dramatic range of elevations, from 1850 feet above sea level at Rio Grande Village to 7,825 feet at Emory Peak that pro-vides it with an amazing diversity of plant and animal life. It is the only National Park that contains an entire mountain range (the Chisos) within its borders.

My visit to the park was marred by disappointment not because of the things I saw but because of the things I didn’t see. I had hoped to hike some of the storied trails I had read about, but with only one day dedicated to an exploration of the park, there was barely enough time to drive through it. I have chalked this trip up to a teaser visit, teasing me to return, hopefully sometime soon, with more time to explore this spectacular treasure.

Within the last 2 million years, the Rio Grande has broken through to the Gulf of Mexico, carving the spectacular canyons found in the park. Of these, Santa Elena Canyon is perhaps the most magnificent. At its mouth, walls tower 1,500 feet. The left wall is part of the Mexican State of Chihuahua, while the right wall is part of Texas.

Above right: Big Bend offers a lodge with dining facilities, nestled beneath Casa Grande Peak in the Chisos Mountains. Accommodations include an assortment of rooms and also a limited number of historic stone cabins built by the civil Conservation Corps in the 1930’s. Campgrounds that accom-modate both RVs and tents are available in Rio Grande Village and Castolon. Rates are very reason-able and consequently rooms are booked far in advance. Call 432.477.2291 for more information.

The expansive patio at the Chisos Mountain Lodge overlooks “The Windows.”

Pictured here is the home of Gilberto Luna, a pioneer Mexican farmer who, with a very large family (estimated at 14 children), lived in this structure on the edge of Alamo Wash in an area that was part of the Comanche War Trail. Luna successfully established peaceful relations with the Comanche warriors and with various groups of Apaches who also lived in the area. He farmed the dry Alamo Creek drainage, using a technique known as floodplain farming. His “jacal” is a prime example of a primitive house-shelter typical of earliest pioneer settlement. He was widely respected by Park officials and died in 1947 at the age of 108.


Crown JeweLS AnD CeLeSTiAL TreASureS

Bill Sontag’s article in the 4th quarter issue of the magazine Cenizo Journal, “Reverential Art in a Land of Spirits and Panthers,” led me to visit the website of SHUMLA Archeological Research and Education Center. There I watched an astonishing QuickTime panorama of the rock art at Panther Cave. I felt a sense of awe for these powerful, primitive images painted on limestone and wondered what worship traditions inspired their creation. A rich legacy of rock art adorns the canyon walls of the Rio Grande, Devils and Pecos Rivers, painted there by Middle and Late Archaic peoples between 4,200 and 2,950 BP (before present). A quote on the SHUMLA website by Dr. Jean Clottes, President of the International Federation of Rock Art states, “…it is my considered opinion, after having seen rock art on all the continents, that the Pecos River rock art is second to none and ranks among the top bodies of rock art anywhere.” The Big Bend region also has its own rock art. Entirely different groups of vanished peoples (primarily Indian) carved and painted them in a more recent time period. This art demonstrates great variety but is generally considered less complex than the Pecos River rock art. The late Dallas artist Forrest Kirkland created meticulous watercolor copies of some of this art. The book, Rock Art of Texas Indians, included his illustrations.

It is not surprising that the haunting setting and otherworldly landscapes of the Big Bend have attracted the inter-est of artists in current times. The most prominent of these was Donald Judd, an influential leader in the minimal art movement in the 1960s who purchased a 45,000-acre ranch overlooking the Rio Grande in the early 1970s and acquired a number of buildings in and around Marfa, including the barracks, hangars and the gymnasium of the abandoned army base, Fort D.A. Russell. Judd trans-formed them into massive art galleries to house his art and that of others. These buildings are now part of Judd’s dream child, the Chinati Foundation, a nonprof-it contemporary art museum he founded with initial assistance from the Dia Art Foundation that houses both permanent and temporary exhibits.

Precious metals provide the material for the art of European-trained gold and silversmith David Busey at Mi Tesoro Gallery on Holland Street in Alpine that features original pieces and collectible vintage and contemporary Taxco silver.

Photo by Jean Clottes. © SHUMLA Archeological Research and Education Center 2010.

© Bonnie Wunderlich



One can only imagine what the prehistoric peo-ples who painted on walls in the Pecos-Rio Grande Canyonlands would have thought of the stark series of 15 concrete boxes Judd built along Hwy 67, just south of Marfa.

The remoteness and beauty of the Big Bend have attracted many resident artists to live and work in the area. One whose work I fell in love with while wandering through galleries in Alpine is Bonnie Wunderlich. Peter Wunderlich, Bonnie’s great, great grandfather, immigrated to Klein,

Texas from Westfalen, Germany in 1852 while her maternal grandparents came to the same area from Hungary. Bonnie studied at the University of Houston and UT Austin where she received a BFA in painting and pottery. She now lives in Terlingua where the sun drenched landscapes and saturated pigments of the Big Bend inspire her work as an artist. To view more of her work, visit www.terlinguagallery.com

There is no doubt that a master artist created Big Bend National Park, clearly the visual crown jewel in this West Texas corner of earth. The work on nature’s artistic canvas has two dimensions: the first is visible in the landscapes seen by daylight, and the second appears only when the sun goes down and the majestic dark skies are bejeweled by a thick faux finish of an unimaginable number of stars. Most city dwellers rarely see the wonders of a dark sky as most urban environments suffer from endemic light pollution. In an article for Texas Co-op Power magazine titled, “Starstruck…The Quest to Save West Texas’ Dark Night Skies,” author Camille Wheeler chronicles the growing movement of dark-sky advocates and efforts in the Big Bend area to protect the celestial treasure of extraordinary darkness.

Adobe ruins at Terlingua Ghost Town

Terlingua




T his year, the Austin Boat Show combined forces with the Central Texas Hunting and Fishing Show to offer the 2011 Austin Boat, Sport and Outdoor Show. So boat dealerships shared space with recreation-

al vehicle dealerships and other sport and fishing enthusiasts.Traffic was heavy on the Saturday I attended, and the atmosphere was fes-

tive. The show provides the opportunity to look at all the bells and whistles on new product and to compare prices across a range of offerings.

Two things captured my attention! The “Dark Night” on his BatJet and Austin Canoe and Kayak’s spunky Hobie Sport Kayak, complete with pedals and a small sail! I’m IN!

2011 Austin Boat, Sport and Outdoor Show

story and Photos by Cathie Parssinen

Caroline Gilmore, Morgan Black, Melissa Treviño

Jeff Parker and Martin Boyer from Austin Boats & Motors

Austin and Carson Ganong enjoy with LCRA jet ski simulation and

safety message

“The Dark Knight” on his BatJet!

Thomas Sheffield with Kristina Jakstas and Dan Lowry at the Colin’s Hope Booth

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A llyn Johnson took a simple boat detail company he started fourteen years ago and transformed it into a flourishing yacht management company providing three levels of service: annual boat management, yacht management and an elite level of

concierge services for the discriminating boat owner. Today, Boatworks Yacht Management employs an experienced staff at 13 local marinas and Yacht clubs. We service a variety of boats that range in size from 18’ runabouts to 100 foot yachts and everything in between! Our clien-tele includes those local to Austin and those from the Dallas, Houston and San Antonio areas. Additionally, we have gained many clients from outside Texas representing those who leave their boat permanently on Lake Travis or Lake Austin, as part of their second home. Boating provides Allyn’s customers with the ultimate escape, an unparalleled sanctuary for relaxation. “What they desire is a trouble-free transition to the pleasures of the lake. And that’s precisely what Boatworks Yacht Management delivers to them,” explains Allyn. Our proactive approach based on exceeding our customers’ needs has served us well during the recent downturn in the economy. Our customers deserve value, and we continue to deliver a high level of personalized service that maintains a very valuable asset and assures that our customers continue to enjoy the level of lifestyle that remains very important to them.

Boatworks Yacht Management starts with the basics: washing and detailing the boat, checking levels of fluids and dock lines, and making sure the boat is charged and ready to be enjoyed by the owners. Beyond the basics, yachts today are routinely equipped with a series of very complex systems, from audio-visual equipment, navigational systems, to sensitive secu-rity systems and climate control units, along with power plants. Allyn and his team assume responsibility for making sure that these systems operate flawlessly and, when they don’t, he arranges for all necessary service requirements.

In addition, Boatworks offers a variety of concierge services, including stocking the boat with wine, beer, sodas and snacks. Allyn occasionally will serve as captain, driving the boat if the owner wants to be completely free to entertain guests!

Boatworks Yacht Management also has relationships with several boat dealerships, includ-ing Sail & Ski and Eriksen Marine. Boatworks Yacht Management is charged with cleaning and checking systems in conjunction with dealership technicians and often provides a seamless transition for the owners and their new boats.

Allyn raced sailboats competitively throughout the five-state area, including off-shore rac-ing for the last 20 years, so his business builds on his own love of boating as well as that of his sons, AJ and Robert. We are proud of our unparalleled service as the longest operating Yacht Management company in the state of Texas. “I am fortunate to work in a business that allows me to share my passion for the water and boats with my customers each and every day.”

Allyn Johnson, President, Boatworks Yacht Management 512.294.9084

story by Cathie Parssinen Photos by yuri teshler

512.294.9084 [email protected]


L ush salon and aPriCot lane at the Hill Country Galleria teamed up to present a fashion show to benefit the Mayberry Memorial, a nonprofit that raises monies to fund critical lung cancer research at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Like so

many lung cancer victims, Bob Mayberry never smoked, and he gave his disease a run for the money. In her tenacious struggle to help her husband, her research led Diane Judah Mayberry to Dr. Edward Kim at M.D. Anderson. Kim placed Bob on an innovative new drug, Tarceva. Bob responded well, and the drug extended his life by two and a half years, without the devastating side effects that routinely accompany chemotherapy. Bob’s memory is beloved by so many he touched in our community, and his fight to bring hope to other lung cancer victims lives on through the Mayberry Memorial.

Mark your calendars! The Lakeway Resort and Spa will host the Mayberry Memorial Annual Gala on April 2, 2011. Visit www.mayberrymemorial.org to reserve tickets.

Fashions compliments of Apricot Lane. Hair by Lush, makeup by Nisa Nicole.

Mayberry Memorial Fashion Show


Apricot Lane Owner, Kathleen Ibanez Stephens

Cheryl Gilbert, Amber Hart

Susan Somners, Rosemary Jennings, Niece Laws

Kathleen Ibanez Stephens, Hannah Stone, Hana Darwin, Jennifer Resnick, Amber Hart back: Wanda Prall, Miranda Ramirez, Becca Finley, Jessica Brechot, Stephanie Plauman, Cheryl Gilbert, Leslie Stevenson front middle: Holli Young, Lauren Stone

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W aterways Coverage of the first Austin Children’s Shelter Gala dates back to September 22, 2001, just 12 days after the horrors of 9/11. As Gina Van Osselaur, then Executive Director of ACS, shared

with the audience, “Those of us who planned this event came together and had some very thoughtful and soul-searching discussions as to whether to continue with our plans in light of last week’s tragedies . . . Unfortunately, child abuse and neglect don’t take a vacation just because our world is in crisis. In fact, in some cases, they increase . . . So tonight, we decided to follow the example of the children we serve—in not letting tragic events dictate the course of life but rather to let the positive spirit of life dictate the course of events.”

Waterways has provided coverage for the Austin Children’s Shelter and its major fundraising benefit for 10 years, a decade that has witnessed incredible achievements for the nonprofit, including the establishment last year of a new 13-acre residential campus. As Chief Executive Director Kelly White completes her first year at the helm of ACS, she and her staff partner with a generous community that provides 70% of

the funds that support the Shelter’s work. A look at Waterways archived issue from October 2001 shows many of the same faces of sponsors, board members and volunteers that were at the November 2010 gala. This remarkable fact says volumes about a giving population that doesn’t play charity musical chairs but has assumed a long-term commitment to ACS. Many new faces have joined this first group of veterans in the ongoing effort to support in Shelter as it works tirelessly to provide emergency shelter, high quality care and hope for the future to the aban-doned, abused and neglected children of our community.

Austin Children’s Shelter Gala

“Gig” Sponsors Bill and Pat Munday

“Warm-Up” Sponsors Hub and Kathryn Bechtol

“Set” Sponsor Ronda Gray, Andrea Valko, Gala Co-Chair and “Rehearsal” Sponsor

“Warm-Up” Sponsors Sara and Dick Rathgeber

Gala Committee, Sylvia Griego

Bill McLellan, ACS Chief Executive Officer Kelly White, Masters of Ceremony Crystal Cotti and Representative Mark Strama

Pauline Lewis, Karen Peoples

David and Mandy Andrews, Liz and Sean Busch

Robert and Dana Bives

A SeASon oF Song


T en austin leaders with distinctive records as entrepreneurs, professionals, philanthropists and community volunteers took to the floor with their pro dance partners at the 4th Annual Dancing With The Stars Austin. Presented by Lexus

of Austin, the event benefited the Center for Child Protection, a nationally accredited cen-ter that serves children of Travis County.

The assembled guests, spoiled by three previous DWTSA, arrived with serious expecta-tions for an evening of high entertainment and glittering performances. They were not disap-pointed. Local luminaries, Michael Barnes (Austin American Statesman Social Columnist), Ed Clements (Talk Show Host for KLBJ-AM) and Turk Pipkin (Writer, Filmmaker and Founder of the Nobelity Project) offered hilarious commentary, steamed up by some show-stopping dancing and seductive costuming. All in good fun…and for a great cause.

The Center is the only nonprofit in Travis County involved with the investiga-tion of crimes against children.

story by Cathie Parssinen Photos by eriC hegwer and Cathie Parssinen

4th Annual Dancing With The Stars AustinJoe Ross with Jessica Nail

Dance Director and Emcee, Sabrina Barker-Truscott

Co-Chair Mary Herr Tally, Center for Child Protec-tion CEO Sandra Martin, Co-Chair Maria Groten “We are so grateful to our co-chairs Maria Gro-ten and Mary Tally for making DWTSA so suc-cessful,” said Center CEO Sandra Martin. The event raised more than $900,000 for the Center.

Dr. John Hogg with Klair Van Slyke

James Armstrong with Honorary Chairs Eloise and John Paul DeJoria

Amy Rudy with David Kloss

Dr. Dave Haney, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, Diane Haney

Eric and Maria Groten (Co-Chair)

Kristie Dennis with Denis Generalov Charmaine Denius McGill with Curtis Prevost

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Living Large, Outdoorsstory by Cathie Parssinen

Photo ComPliments of Padma’s Plantation

C entral texans exult in the pleasures of a climate that allows the celebra-tion of outdoor living at its best, in almost every season. The care we take to beau-tify outdoor space is not only a smart investment that improves the resale value

of any home but it also offers another dimension that enlarges possibilities for living and entertaining. The “furnishings” of outdoor space can be elaborate and include garden design and an assortment of hardscapes such as the outdoor kitchen, pools and spas, patios and pergolas, trellises and arbors, fountains and fire pits and interesting rock work.

But what about the “throne” from which we survey the glory of our gardens? Today, most homeowners would consider the presence of a plastic table and a set of plastic chairs in their outdoor living retreat an egregious insult. From sun up to sun down, nature presents a grand play, and when we visit this outdoor “theater,” we expect luxury seating. Stunning examples of some of the finest collections of outdoor furniture are available at PARMIDA HOME, a 10,000 sq. ft. showroom that recently opened at the Hill Country Galleria. Store Manager, Leslie Archer, notes that often many customers cannot believe that the furniture that fills every room of the store is actually outdoor furniture. In fact, these collections are so versatile and present such outstanding quality, that they can be used inside or outside.

How green iS Your gArDen?Padma’s Plantation, a collection showcased at PARMIDA HOME, creates designs that evoke the ambiance of the tropics and the island lifestyle. The company is a founding member of the Sustainable Furniture Council and is proud to present furniture and accessories that are made from materials, such as bamboo, abaca and rattan, that are not only beautiful but also

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replenish quickly and thus have no negative ecological impact on the environment. “Every chair’s seagrass weave, every rattan curve in a table is an echo of nature.” This is truly furni-ture whose intent is clearly to offer rest and relation in the midst of a sumptuous outdoor setting.

Experimenting with different flowering plants, amending the soil, design-ing the compositions of the beds and yes, just digging in the dirt, is a source of great pleasure for so many. If something doesn’t do well in one spot, or if you are dissatisfied with the overall result, you can always rip it up and start over, at little expense or inconvenience.

Superb outdoor space, like a great recipe, plays off the combination of different ingredients and textures. Flowering plants gain interest when com-bined with hardscapes and water features. For the design of these elements, such as the construction of a pool or outdoor kitchen, using an expert can eliminate the chance of costly errors. Patt Daugherty is one such expert. Read more about his work in our Business Profile on his company Liquid Dreams Custom Pools on page 40.

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The Recession-Proof Wedding Guide For Royalty

W hen i heard that Kate Middleton and Prince William got engaged, I was ecstatic.

All of my friends (CNN) are saying how tacky it would be to have an overly lavish affair when the rest of England is in the economic shit-can. And I concur.

Fortunately for the lovebirds, I am willing to offer up my budget event-planning advice gratis.

So Kate, listen up. I am about to tell you what your wedding planners won’t. Remember that.

Let’s talk themes. I think The Commoner Motif would go over like bangers and mash! Kate, it’s time to own your lowly roots. Money can be saved, for instance, by having the rehearsal dinner in the back room of a pub. Your adoring public would eat that shit up. The media would go crazy! They’re one of us, people would cry! Your dad would give a drunken, teary toast! Chuck would make out with Camilla! Love! Cheers! Awkward greetings of the alcoholic earl on Diana’s side of the family!

I’m also loving The Something Borrowed Theme. I know the Queen Mum has been a bit cold toward you, Kate, most likely because of her deep suspicion that every time her grandson comes around, your London Bridge comes down. With the royal family’s castles and jewels and a hat collection that rivals Madame Tussaud’s wax museum, it’s time to put to work what the kings of the past plundered so ruthlessly for. If you want to wear the ruby tiara that rightfully belongs to Austria, then sit the QE II down and ask it.

Let’s talk day-of. Avoid walking in your dead future mother-in-law’s footsteps and say no to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Go for Westminster Abby—despite its astronomical hourly rate—and schedule it for half the amount

of time. “But it takes forever to walk down the mile-long aisle!” you wail. Which is why you should start working now on the Royal Sashay.

It’s 25% skip, 25% gallop, and 100% sassy! Be mindful of tripping.The alternative option is for you to be raised through a trap door in the

floor to your place at the alter. The music would start, the lights would dim, maybe there would be some pyrotechnics, and then BAM! Kate is standing next to Prince Charming. Very modern. Very rock star. And if it worked for Jon Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet Tour, it’ll work here.

Regarding the ceremony, might I recommend having a friend perform it? You can save quite a few quid here.

Regarding vendors, it’s best to follow the Rule of Patriotism During Economic Hardship. Stick to British goods. Bring in the coal from Newcastle, the cheese from Stilton or wherever the hell that stinky stuff is made. Also, is there a Costco in London? Look into that. It could save you bundles.

For reception entertainment, Snooki and the Situation will make an appearance anywhere for a very reasonable fee. Which I bet could be bargained down even more with promises of spray tan coupons and bottles of airplane vodka.

I must admit to having already bought your gift. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but there might be a new star in the galaxy named Widdleton. (I’ll mail you the official certificate as soon as I have a moment.)

After the reception, I have no doubt that there will be an after-party. I have taken the liberty of con-tacting Whites’ Gentleman’s Club and booked the entire space. I have

also taken the liberty of ordering matching velour tracksuits with “Mrs. HRH” and “Mr. HRH” printed on the butt. You’re welcome.

But Kate, I do have one very important question for you: do you know your future husband’s last name? Because I think it’s “of Wales.” In which case, will you be Middleton-of-Wales? Or dropping the Middleton altogether?

The suffragettes in America want to know.

THe ToDDLer CHroniCLeS

Our author, the creator of The Flying Chalupa blog, is just an ordinary gal who navigates motherhood and struggles to maintain her sanity. Look for more of The Flying Chalupa’s Toddler Chronicles in the next issue of Waterways Magazine. Can’t wait for the next issue? The chaos awaits you anytime at www.theflyingchalupa.com.


M oreland Properties recently hosted an illuminating anal-ysis of economic trends presented by Mission Mortgage at the Lakeway Activity Center. Noted market expert Mark Sprague,

Director of Business Development for Mission Mortgage, covered economic obstacles, concerns and potential at the national, state and local level, with a special focus on trends for Lake Travis. Sprague illustrated data upon which he based his findings with a dizzying array of charts and graphs that revealed the statistical basis for his analyses. Detailed below are some of the major points he shared with the audience.

How we goT HereThe recent dismal history of woes in the national housing market was marked by boom and speculation, caused by easy credit and a profusion of buyers who overspent and overborrowed, creating an unsustainable relationship between supply and demand. Interestingly enough, according to Sprague, “Austin and the metroplexes never saw the speculation other states had. Texas had the least appreciation of any state during the boom years (according to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, the agency that is over Fannie Mae, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and government loans).” Sprague believes that the pain Texas experienced in the late ‘80s, with the collapse of oil and real estate, may have protected Texas from some of this recent excess, as Texas banks and builders followed a more conservative strategy.

ForeCLoSureSThis conservative strategy is evident in the low foreclosure rate in Austin. “We never saw the rapid appreciation that other markets saw, and therefore we did not see the same overleveraging of assets. Out of 358 metro markets, Austin had the fewest foreclosures, less than .001% of the units in our mar-ket. (Realtytrac)”

HouSing DeMAnD AnD JoB CreATionSprague confirms that job creation is the major factor driving demand for homes in any real estate market. He emphasizes the remarkable strength of the Austin market. “Unemployment figures are at 9.7% nationally, 8.3% for Texas, while Austin holds steady at 6.7%. Out of the top 50 metros, the U.S. Conference of Mayors rated Austin number one on projected job growth, and Austin also had the top job growth of any metropolitan area in the U.S. in 2010.” Sprague continued, “Austin’s population will be 1.8 million by 2012. New jobs are being created at a quickened pace, feeding the desire for people to move here. Rentals (single family as well as multifamily) have tightened up dramatically over the last 12 months. Rents have been stable, but concessions have begun to disappear. With employment growth bright, Realtors® and homebuilders wait for the increase in demand, currently depressed as homebuyers continue to rent given the levels of uncertainty in the national economy.” Migration from other states also has a positive impact on housing demand. The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that 25 mil-lion people will move to Texas by 2030, and Austin will get its fair share of them. And within Austin, Lake Travis should also grow.

LAke TrAviS AnD greATer LAkewAY“In the Lake Travis and Lakeway areas, builders continue to pull back on activity in 2011 in response the lack of sales activity. Although it is lower than in previous years, the current housing absorption rate is more indica-tive of true demand in the Lakeway area. New and resale home inventories have remained stable but are above equilibrium at 8.7 months, with equi-librium at 6 months. So it is still considered a buyer’s market, but not by much,” according to Sprague.

“The announcement of an employment center such as the Lakeway Regional Medical Clinic is helpful, with the potential of 3000+ jobs in just the first phase. However, Lakeway has traditionally not had the lower priced hous-ing values that the majority of these employees will be looking for. The cost of land and utilities present major hurdles to keeping values below $300K.”

“Despite the slow down,” Sprague says, “Lake Travis has a lot going for it. There are four pillars that support demand in real estate: location, school dis-trict, product and financing. Although the Lake Travis area has all four work-ing for it, the strength of its location and of the school district make it a strong contender in the housing market. Lake front property is a dwindling asset, especially property that is close to Austin and to jobs, and outstanding schools sell homes. Even with the overabundance of developed lots in this area, the consumer eagerly awaits Rough Hollow’s and Sweetwater’s offerings.”

Mark Sprague’s thirty+ years of experience span a multitude of posi-tions in three different industries. While he was a partner at Residential Strategies Inc./Austin-San Antonio, he established a reputation of preemi-nence in Real Estate economic forecasting, successfully predicting several market trends that escaped other market experts.

2011 Lake Travis Area Economic Forecast

MArk SPrAgue

ComPiled by Cathie Parssinen

Mission Mortgage is a local company that has provided professional lending services for over 25 years. www.missionmortgage.com http://missionmortgage.wordpress.com

Moreland Properties has successfully taken care of the Lake Travis area real estate needs for over 20 years. www.moreland.com

Dan Brouillette (LRMC), Michael Ikeya (Marketing Coordinator, Mission Mortgage), Mark Sprague (Director of Business Development, Mission Mortgage) Donna Mahlum (Moreland Properties) Cindy Fenley (Senior

Loan Officer, Mission Mortgage) Julie Kuntz (Moreland Properties)

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T wenty-five years ago a small group of volunteers in the Lake Travis area saw

a need to support, promote and unite local businesses. Today the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce is near-ing the 450-member mark in an area that’s continuing to grow. Our Board of Directors consists of local busi-ness owners and leaders who work as volunteers year round in support of Chamber members. They interact with law enforcement, elected officials, fire and rescue, the LTISD, city staffers and

numerous charitable organizations in the community on behalf of commu-nity businesses.

In addition to supporting local companies, the Chamber also provides many opportunities to network and meet people in the area. In January, we offered our first annual Lake Travis Economic Forecast. Over 280 people attended to hear our subject matter experts tell us what most of us already know, “We are continuing to grow.” The lifestyle that we all enjoy, combined with an “exemplary school district,” an excellent business climate and the Lakeway Regional Medical Center make the Lake Travis area more desirable than ever. Each month the Chamber will host a “themed lunch” designed to inform, educate and entertain our members. Topics such as Marketing, Customer Service, Networking, Political Updates, Non Profit initiatives and others are on the schedule.

The Chamber also organizes and plans several major events each year. The annual awards banquet recognizes business and civic leaders in the area for their achievements throughout the year. The last Saturday in April, the Chamber hosts SpringFest, a main street festival featuring local vendors who line the streets of the Hill Country Galleria to show their wares. Drawing over 8,000 people to the event last year, the full day of fun also includes a KidZone, Boat Expo, live music and a bar-b-que cook-off. Other events include a golf tournament and fishing tournament, and work has begun for our very own Lake Travis Octoberfest. In addition to the networking and business oppor-tunities that these events provide, they also raise additional funds to help the Chamber fulfill its mission.

I have served in many volunteer capacities throughout the years, most recently as President of the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin. Never before have I had this much fun working to make things better for an organization’s members. Everyone seems to be on the same page, and they always have a great attitude. If your company is not yet a member of the Lake Travis Chamber, call us up and get on board. It’s going to be busy year in our special corner of the world and we wake up every day feeling lucky to be here.

For more information about the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce visit www.LakeTravisChamber.com or contact the office at [email protected] or (512) 263-5833.

story by steve Zbranek, Chairman

Getting to Know the Lake Travis Chamber

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Tommy Cain Tom ChildersCheryl FowlkesPeggy Duran Stephanie Forkel

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Entrepreneurial Spirit Thrives in Lake Travis

N ew mediCal PraCtiCes, retail shops and restaurants proliferate. Old-timers may look around and ask themselves, “Who ARE these people?” Periodically Waterways tries to answer that question by featuring local businesses, some new and some restructured, in our Business Profile feature. Below we unveil the people behind the DBA’s in our neighborhood. Read on to learn more about where they came from, how

they got here and what they do!

story by Cathie Parssinen

LuXe…A BouTiQue SALon

Nina Grossman established LUXE (which, by the way, is not a franchise) specifically to satisfy the yearnings of lake area residents who love the feel and the vibe of a downtown salon experience but dread both the commute downtown and downtown pricing. Brick accents and sleek white interiors testify that Luxe has achieved its goal. An accomplished stylist for 14 years, Nina earned awards and accolades for her achievements in Las Vegas, a Mecca in the industry that offers extravagant salon and spa indulgences for tourists who expect nothing but the best.

Luxe offers complete hair care for men, women and children, as well as extensive skin care services, including facials, waxing, peels and microdermabra-sion. While every stylist, fresh out of beauty school, has to start somewhere, he or she won’t find that start at Luxe. Stylists at Luxe must have a minimum of five years experience and a proven record of achievement. Her aesthetician also has an established résumé. According to Nina, who balanc-es her roles as wife, mother and business owner, establishing Luxe represents a dream come true.

Luxe is also a boutique, offering women’s clothing, jewelry and accessories. She offers the following guarantee to all prospective clients: “Come give us a try…you won’t be disappointed!”

Luxe offers top-of-the-line products for hair and skin care. Hair care products include Pureology™, Aquage™ and Davines™ while lines from Eminence Organic Skin Care and the exclusive La Bella Donna Minerals, carried by Bergdorf Goodman, offer premium cosmetic skin care solutions.

Nina and Todd Grossman moved to Lakeway three years ago. Their two children, Alec & Abrianna, attend Lakeway Elementary…and “they’re lovin’ it!”

Nina and Todd Grossman with Abrianna and Alec

LiQuiD DreAMS CuSToM PooLS

Patt Daugherty established Liquid Dreams Custom Pools in February 2004. His company grew steadily and established a strong presence in the Austin metro area and also in Lake Travis, specifically in Steiner Ranch, Lakeway and Bee Cave. In the midst of this success, Patt nearly lost everything, as he faced a series of obstacles, including a personal struggle with addiction. Eventually, with sobriety came a new focus on doing the right thing and a determination to turn his life around, one step at a time. And he has. His company has blossomed, and today he is busier than ever.

According to Patt, “I absolutely love what I do, especially the creative aspect of pool design.” Patt embraces the latest innovative technologies for automated fire features, outdoor lighting, water purification and sound systems. “I believe I bring a unique sense of design to every pool. I can recreate anything you may have seen or imagined and, with the excep-tion of landscaping and sprinkler systems, Liquid Dreams Custom Pools can attend to all your outdoor living requirements, including the outdoor kitchen.” Patt never uses pre-fabricated pieces but builds all structures from scratch. He guarantees that rock used for one component will seam-lessly match that of others he builds. This is particularly important for the homeowner who is adding outdoor features to an existing home. “When we are finished with a custom project, you can’t tell that it wasn’t part of the original construction.”

Liquid Dreams Custom Pools prides itself on its competitive pricing structure and credits its affordable pricing to in-house ownership of its own concrete finish company and a masonry company. He invites you to call him for details about his “Swim in 30 Days” guarantee!

Patt Daugherty, the owner of Liquid Dreams Custom Pools, is pictured with friends and customers Kaye Blount and April Womack. Within

the past four years, Patt Daugherty has built three pools for the Blount

and Womack families, and they are excited to give Patt and his company

their enthusiastic endorsement.


TeXAS TougH ToPS

Popular demand inspired Seth Thompson to start Texas Tough Tops, a business specializing in superior showroom garage floors and industrial flooring. It all

began when he moved to Aus-tin several years ago as a young professional. Eager to make home improvements to his new condo, he decided to paint his garage floor with an inferior paint from a large home im-provement box store. “It looked pretty decent,” he admitted, “although it didn’t have the shine, thickness or durability I had envisioned.” Nevertheless, that same week an impressed neighbor asked Seth to treat her garage floor. Thompson agreed because “I enjoyed it.” Thompson quickly realized that a market existed for this service. He began to experiment with various top-end epoxies and concrete preparation methods

in order to develop a high quality product that would deliver a thick coating with a lustrous, high-gloss shine that didn’t peel under hot tires. After completing a formal business plan and earning a certification in floor coatings from a leading epoxy manufacturer, Texas Tough Top launched its mission to provide high- end garage floors and industrial floors at an affordable price point.

Texas Tough Tops floors have a unique, superior showroom finish, are easy to clean, and simply look fascinating. Homeowners can use a cloth to wipe up oil, battery acid, and other contaminants on the garage floor. A showroom garage floor is especially attractive to those who are organized and love a tidy garage, and a clean garage floor means less dirt and grime is tracked into the home, a plus for the discerning homeowner. As Thompson notes, “The garage is one of the biggest spaces in the home, and it shelters some of our most valu-able possessions…our cars. Why not make this room an appropriate home for the cars we treasure.” Many local Austin Parade of Homes™ Builders and countless central Texans have used Texas Tough Tops to beautify their garages.

ToDD groSSMAn, reALTor®

Local Lakeway Realtor® Todd Grossman’s meteoric rise to the top defied the difficulties of our market. After moving here from Las Vegas in 2007, and restarting his Real Estate career in 2008, Grossman completed 66 transac-tions, totaling more than $25.1 million in his first two years. “When I moved here, local agents were worried about the market, not sure what to do. For me, having just moved here from Las Vegas, I saw nothing but opportunity,” he adds. The Austin Business Journal recognized Todd as the #3 Residential

Realtor® in the Austin area for 2009, plac-ing him in the highest ranks of the 8,500 real estate agents in Austin, while Gracy Title inducted him as an Elite 25 Member in rec-ognition of his accom-plishments. The Elite 25 represents an exclu-sive network of agents who have distinguished themselves with levels of productivity and achievement that place them among the top in their industry.

Todd credits his success to impeccable customer service and

tireless prospecting. “First of all, I am religious about following up with my customers. My philosophy is always to listen carefully, take notes and respond thoughtfully.”

Todd Grossman relocated to the Hills of Lakeway with his wife, Nina, and their two children from Las Vegas, Nevada where he was the third top-producing agent in the area. He joined Realty Austin, a local firm with a dynamic web presence, and quickly became a top-producer in the Austin real estate market. Todd has found his niche selling luxury homes and waterfront properties from Lake Travis to Westlake and has negotiated sales for several of Austin’s finest addresses along the waterfront.

Seth Thompson

Todd Grossman

wink MeDiCAL AeSTHeTiCS

Dr. Gregg Wood and Michele Wood, Licensed Aesthetician, opened Wink Medical Aesthetics at the Lakeway Town Center II in December. Wink is proud to provide an extensive range of the most cutting-edge, anti-aging procedures. The intimate boutique setting is inviting and close to home, and their staff is highly trained, professional and friendly.

Clients will find the latest innovations in Laser Skin Rejuvenation and Laser Hair Removal, as well as Sublative Rejuvenation. Sublative is the latest and greatest in laser techniques, using fractional bi-polar radio frequency technology to bring about significant dermal impacts, including improving wrinkles, scars, textural irregularities and tone, with minimal downtime. The treatment is completely non-invasive and effective for all skin types. Wink is also pleased to present the VelaShape II body shaping system, the only FDA-cleared device that effectively and safely contours, shapes and slims the body by reducing cellulite and firming problem areas. Wink also offers physician-administered injectables, such as Botox™ and Juvederm™ Ultra Plus.

In addition to advanced medical technologies, Wink offers comprehensive skin care, featuring facials, microderms and peels. Wink’s signature skin care lines include SkinMedica™, a physician-dispensed product line developed from two decades of skin care research and clinical experience that resulted in breakthrough, medical-grade, anti-aging topical skin care products. Eminence Organic Skin Care™, the

award-winning providers of the most effective skin care products in the natural and organic skin care industry, further complements Wink’s offerings.Michele and Gregg have lived in Lakeway for nearly a decade, and they have two children who attend LTISD schools. They invite you to drop by for a

complimentary consultation and let them introduce you to beautiful possibilities.

Michele and Dr. Gregg Wood


W hen niCk moles, a 1999 graduate of Lake Travis High School, spent a semester studying abroad in Prague while at the University of Texas, he did what most foreign students did—travel, drink beer, make new friends, and very occasionally, study. It

was a nice change of pace for the finance major, who’d spent his time in Austin hitting the books hard and working at APS Financial in Westlake.

“I think what I enjoyed most was the change,” Moles says. “At UT I was focused on my school and work. Prague was a huge lifestyle change - I was thrown together with people from all sorts of countries and backgrounds, with not much else to do other than have fun. Brewery trips, 80s nights, country-themed parties at the dormitories, we did it all.”

He also spent his time abroad pursuing a longtime passion for history.“I’d always been interested in history, especially European history. I took the European History

Advanced Placement test in high school and watched some late-night History channel marathons on World War II. But having the opportunity to fly down to Rome for a week on my own, to have the tactile sensation of touching the Coliseum reminded me that this was what I was really interested in.”

After finishing the semester, Moles returned to Austin to complete his studies at UT, but Prague stayed with him. He graduated in December 2003, and when his Czech friend, Michal, invited him to visit, Moles’

parents bought him as a graduation gift a ticket back to the Czech Republic. In January, he returned to a snowy Prague, and over the next few months, he applied for permanent work but didn’t get any bites. He considered teaching English. In March, he traveled around Poland, depressed by the long winter and his uncertain future.

“I didn’t know what I was doing. I had a plane ticket that I could extend, but I wasn’t sure what I was staying for. I decided that if I didn’t find a job by May I would go home.”

But then the fates intervened, at 80s night in an old music hall. Moles met his future wife, Jana Kotenova, and suddenly, he had a very good rea-son to stay. “I can’t explain why, but I knew she was something special. Unfortunately she didn’t see the same in me - she wouldn’t dance with me and I didn’t manage to get her number. Luckily I ran into her at the same club a few weeks later, and we were off.”

story by keiJa Parssinen Photos Courtesy of niCk moles

1999 LTHS Graduate Nick Moles

wHere Are THeY now?

Jana and Nick at the harbor at Rovinj, Croatia

Traveling through Romania with fellow LT grad, Kyle Sonnenstine

Jana and Nick in Split, Croatia

Nick and Jana with Baby Sofia

“For No Good Reason” Slovenia

Unfortunately, little changed on the job front. He earned some inter-views but nothing more, and in June, with his funds running precari-ously low, he flew back to Lakeway.

“Jana was concerned, but I wasn’t; I knew something would work out. And work out it did. The morning after I arrived back in Lakeway, I received an email from Honeywell that they wanted to interview me. In August I flew up to Connecticut for a couple months of training, and in October, I finally made it back to Prague.”

Finally, his profes-sional life caught up to his personal life, and he

enjoyed the rewards of that newfound balance. At Honeywell, he was promot-ed to Financial Analysis and Planning, working with a team of people from more than 30 countries. At home, life was equally fulfilling. “Jana and I did what we like to do: a lot of traveling—Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, and more, plus some hiking, biking, and a lot of beer and wine drinking with our friends at the numerous pubs of Prague.”

In April 2009, he proposed to Jana. Though they had planned to marry the following summer, happy news of Jana’s pregnancy accelerated the plan-ning, and the couple married in March 2010. “We had our wedding at an old 13th-century church. I had nine people come over from the US - my parents, my aunt and uncle, my sister Amanda and her boy-friend, and three of my friends from Lake Travis. A fourth friend from Lake Travis, Jory McCuskey, lives just down the road in Bratislava and came up as well. My wife’s family is from a town called Nove Mesto na Morave, which is a small town in the Czech Highlands, about 2 hours outside of the city, and they all came to Prague for the wedding as well. We went for our honeymoon to Rome with our American visitors and had a great time.”

On June 26, 2010, Sofia Zuzana Moles was born and quickly swaddled in burnt orange. Though they regularly visit Texas, they have no immediate plans to leave Prague. And who would want to leave a city that has given them so much, a place where you can say your wedding vows in a church that has sheltered vow-takers for almost a thousand years, a place where one’s destiny can change to the pounding nightclub sounds of Billy Idol and the Cure? Gratuluji, Nick, Jana and Sofia. Congratulations on a beautiful life.

Jana and Nick on their wedding day

Nick enjoying a beer in Munich

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H oliday songs follow us all our lives, from childhood to old age, and, like snowballs rolling down a hill, memo-ries add to their weight with each passing year. That is

why we never get tired of those timeless songs of the season, especially since we hear them only once a year. Although the well-loved classics never fail to rekindle the old magic, the Sing Alongs, like Santa himself, reach deep into a musical bag of tricks of such diversity that their presentations are always fresh and interesting. In fact, the 2020 show introduced me to sev-eral songs I had never heard before, like “The Pretty Little Dolly,” “If It Doesn’t Snow on Christmas,” and

‘Zat You, Sing Alongs?story and Photos by Cathie Parssinen

“Christmas Island” Carol Crowe, Pat Hydanus, Barbara Helmueller

“Toyland: Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” Jeanne Ann Klein, Judy Donahue

“Still A Bach Christmas” Carol Roettinger, Gigi McKeever

“The Pretty Little Dolly” Melanie Morrison

“The Pretty Little Dolly” Judy Walker, Kathy Wilson

“’Zat’ You, Santa Claus?” Bill Walker

Martha Kubala (Producer & Director), Wilson Smith

“Santa Claus Express” Betty Ann Courtney, Jerry Hietpas

“Christmas in Dixie” Donna Ferrie

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“’Zat You, Santa Claus.” Have I been living on another planet that I some-how missed these great songs all these years? In any case, as a first-time listener, I found the lyrics wonderfully clever, and the cast performances were hilarious, as usual. As Sing Along Chairman Joann Anderson noted, “We are a bunch of hams!”

The 2010 Sing Along Show, sponsored by the Women’s Club of Greater Lakeway and the City of Lakeway Activity Center, benefits the Hudson Bend Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary Green Santa Program. Wilson and Pat Smith took their duties as officiating emcees extremely seriously, as one can see from the photo bottom right! Martha Kubala, who has gra-

ciously produced and directed the show with such talent for so many years, will retire from the heavy responsibilities she has shouldered, and Gigi McKeever will step forward to carry the Sing Along’s holiday torch in 2011. We are once again grateful to the cast and to the doz-ens of volunteers who work behind the scenes to help put together this annual community treasure!

“I’d Still Like To Go To Grandma’s House for Christmas” Joann Anderson (Sing Along Chairman), Tim Doucet

“Turkey Gobbler (I Will Survive)” Julianne DeBower, Joyce Dickinson, Karen Klaus

“Drifters’ White Christmas” Rick Wilsey, Jim Sommer

Masters of Ceremony Pat and Wilson Smith

“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” Nancy Bain

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T exarts started the New Year off right with a celebration at The Hills Country Club on December 31. Local talent Selena Rosanbalm performed with her jazz trio, and Austin favorite

Matt Wilson brought the house down with his band, ushering in 2011 with style.

TexARTS is kicking off the year with a new outlook, some new faces and a handful of new shows. First up is the next installment in our Off-Broadway Series, Ain’t Misbehavin’, April 1–17. The rousing tunes of the great American jazz pianist and composer Fats Waller come to life in this powerhouse, rip-roarin’ musical extravaganza. From the title song to other hits of the day such as “Honeysuckle Rose” and “I’m

Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,” TexARTS will set your spring soaring and your toes tapping. Featuring local talent never before seen on the TexARTS’ stage, this show promises to be anything but ordinary. Don’t miss this terrific American musical hit!

Next is our youth production of Disney’s The Aristocats, April 30 and May 1! When a jealous butler cat-naps Duchess and her Aristokittens, a bunch

TeXArTS

2010 Curtain Call & Curtains Up for 2011

Gil Boyd, Janet Wright, Gretchen Nearburg, Mickey Wright

Linda Parker, Anne Hilbert

Charles and Chrie Harris

Sally Nafziger, TexARTS Co-Founder Todd Dellinger, Bridget Daehler

Sue Alt, Linda Rayburn, Charles Richter, Ann Oliverio

Patrick and Maureen Gunderson

TexARTS Producing Artistic Director, Robert Armitage with TexARTS Instructor, Keenah Armitage

Lanell and Charles Edwards

Paula Tye, Sanjeev and Donna Kumar Nancy Clayton, Rick Wilsey, Mary Ann Funk

story by selena rosanbalm | Photos ComPliments of miChael sullivan


of rag-tag alley cats come to their rescue! This feline adventure is sure to get your paws patting with favorites such as “The Aristocats” and “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat.”

Third on the lineup is TexARTS’ Youth Ballet Theatre production of Journey to Oz. Based on the popular American tale The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, this ballet adaptation will take you on a trip down the yellow brick road as our whirlwind school year ends with a story of tornadoes, witches and a little dog, too!

This summer, east meets west in the timeless story of The King and I, June 24–26! Based on the real life adventures of English widow Anna Leonowens, The King and I follows the stubborn, autocratic King of Siam and a determined govern-ess on a mission to tutor the King’s many children and wives. A fascinating tale about a clash of customs set in Bangkok in the 1860s, this Tony Award® winning musi-cal features a dazzling score by Rodgers and Hammerstein and thrilling choreography that will captivate audiences young and old!

There’s always something new happen-ing at TexARTS. Classes, showcases, pro-ductions—there’s something for everyone. Visit www.tex-arts.org or call 512-852-9079 for more information.

Gil Boyd, Janet Wright, Gretchen Nearburg, Mickey Wright

Nick Renneker, Chairman, TexARTS Board of Directors Philip Brown

Richard and Marie Drury

Annette Brown, Tom and Anne Hilbert

Jackie Lloyd, Co-Founder Robin Lewis

Selena Rosenbaum, Juliette LeBlanc

Linda and Dave DeOme

Herb and Verna Eddy, Verna and Andre Montgomery, Chris Giaraffa, Gary Eddy

Jackie Lloyd, Bubba and Diane Breazeale

Janet and Mickey Wright

2011.1.Issue

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Transcript of 2011.1.Issue