MAYOR GETS THE YOUTH VOTE

Mtn Living MagJuly/August 2016

Written by Gail G. Collins


From candy and cocktails to tin signs and television, the retro revival continues to charm us. Does it provide the comfort of simpler times or simply offer a giddy glimpse of yesteryear? Either way, donning rose-colored glasses—like the late, great Beatle John Lennon—helps us imagine things in a better light. The escape to another place and time seems to relieve us of today’s stress even as it breathes fresh perspective into timeworn classics. Continue reading “MAYOR GETS THE YOUTH VOTE”

Racing Sisters

Cy Springs High School alumni Erica Enders-Stevens and Courtney Enders Lambert are burning up the track in the world of professional racing

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endersCy-Fair sisters Erica and Courtney Enders grew up around the track watching their dad drive. Pro Stock champion Erica Enders-Stevens started Junior Drag Racing when she was 8 years old, a class of racing originally geared for 8 to 17-year-olds. Now, 25 years later, she has made a career out of it. Three years after Erica, younger sister, Courtney, joined the race team. “I fell in love with racing watching Erica, and I was her little crew chief and biggest fan,” she says. “I still am.” Continue reading “Racing Sisters”

5 QUICK FITNESS TIPS From Cy-Fair Area Fitness Professionals

Getting in shape and staying that way is a lifestyle commitment. It involves two simple elements: a desire to change and plan to achieve it.

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fitnesstipsWith so many Texans having sedentary jobs and supersized portions, it’s no wonder our waistlines are wider than ever. Here are a few expert recommendations for getting those extra pounds off.

  1. Get an Assessment

An honest assessment of capabilities, which you can receive from trainers at most gyms, will determine whether to begin with a gentle stroll, a jog, or use of an elliptical, depending on past injuries. “Try not to make dramatic changes, especially in routine or diet. Take small steps and know your boundaries, especially physical limitations,” says Matt Lofland, head trainer at Orange Theory Fitness. Continue reading “5 QUICK FITNESS TIPS From Cy-Fair Area Fitness Professionals”

A FLAGSTAFF FAVORITE WINE BAR UPGRADES WITH FOOD AND STYLE

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Written by Gail G. Collins

A good wine bar serves as an introduction to distant lands via the glass. A
 sip can conjure images of an indulgent trip, a happy celebration or even initiate a new relationship … with a fine wine. The wine bar’s choice of bottles reflects expertise about varietals, value and va-voom. It recognizes that ambience—or time and place—matter in finding delight in a swallow of sunshine or something berry wonderful. And inevitably, as we linger, we long for an equitable nosh. So, what qualities turn a good wine bar into a great wine bar? Continue reading “A FLAGSTAFF FAVORITE WINE BAR UPGRADES WITH FOOD AND STYLE”

The Art of the Sandwich

Local Restaurants like Toasted Owl Café Upping the Lunch Ante

Mtn Living Mag March/April 2016

Toasted OwlAs children, many of us toted a lunch box that held the vital means for lasting an entire school day: the sandwich. Mom understood our favorites and how the right ratio of mayo to mustard mattered. Later, in midnight raids of the fridge, we mastered the exotic use of leftovers, and on the day after Thanksgiving, we constructed the best sandwich of the year. Slow-roasted meat and gourmet relish buttressed by homemade bread embodies the art of the sandwich.

And art it is to assemble a veritable feast between crusts of bread. Bread is the canvas. It is also where art becomes architecture. Whether one prefers Mediterranean flatbread, rustic ciabatta or a granary wedge, the bread should be substantial, not sloppy—a foundation upon which to build. Spreading a condiment over the bread acts as a barrier to mushiness or adds moisture. Next, cheese imparts strength as well as sharp, nutty or velvety appeal. Meat often showcases the perfect sandwich, and greens cap it off. The British Sandwich Association—now, there’s an organization worth its salt and pepper—actually crowns a champion sandwich maker annually. The ingredients need not be elaborate. A recent winner utilized homemade fruit bread, quality butter, soft Lancashire cheese and an artisan pickle. Continue reading “The Art of the Sandwich”

From Four Months to 20 Years: Meet Kim Hessel

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Story & Photography by Gail G. Collins

Kim HesselWhere were you when the Berlin Wall came down on November 10, 1989? The concrete block barrier, topped by barbed wire and secured by armed guards, segmented the population within the German capital city. It was the last vestige of the Cold War, and ordinary people, pushing for freedom, literally tore it down. With its crumbling, families and lives were rebuilt. Memories of that exhilarating period flashed in Kim Hessel’s eyes as he remembered his part in it. Continue reading “From Four Months to 20 Years: Meet Kim Hessel”

Beyond Bunaken: Touring the Minahasa Highlands

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Story & Photography by Gail G. Collins

Divers dig the underwater magic of Bunaken’s world class reef. The biodiversity is unmatched, but even divers needs 24 hours of decompression before flying out. Many wonders lie above the water line in the countryside surrounding North Sulawesi’s provincial capital, Manado. The city itself hosts a public museum—filled with traditional costumes, weapons, ceramic ware and independence history—plus a broad range of hotels and restaurants. Still, nothing can beat the lofty views three volcanoes provide of the old city and sapphire sea. Only an hour’s drive from the dock, the cooler climes of outlying villages offer diversions ranging from kit wooden houses to a Buddhist temple to fresh fish dinners on the lake, and of course, markets filled with local goods. The warm, welcoming Minahasa people create an inviting place to lose oneself or to breakaway and linger longer. Continue reading “Beyond Bunaken: Touring the Minahasa Highlands”

Chinese New Year Extravaganza

The gateway city to China commands a stunning harbour skyline, urban greenspaces, unmatched shopping, a fusion of Chinese, British and contemporary cultures, plus the contrast of ancient customs in a cosmopolitan metropolis.

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Story & Photography by Gail G. Collins

Hong Kong’s origins as a fishing village in the 1800s are hard to imagine against the backdrop of today’s spectacular skyscrapers. The main island’s name is believed to have come from twin port villages, now known as Aberdeen. It harboured thousands of sampans and junks, which debuted as scenery for James Bond and Bruce Lee movies in the 60s and 70s, and now, hosts the marine amusement, Ocean Park. Continue reading “Chinese New Year Extravaganza”

KISS and TELL

The Concept of “Keep It Simple Sweetheart” on the Upswing with Local Eats and Beyond

Mtn Living Mag January/February 2016

Tourit Home Urban Market 1In a complicated, crowded world, it is easy to see why KISS—or Keep It Simple Sweetheart—is an ascending principle and a darn good way to start off the New Year. After seasonal trimmings, January offers the opportunity to strip away the unnecessary. Many people de-clutter or simplify aspects of their lives. Whether it is cleaning out closets or losing weight, the idea of getting back to basics or KISS, is attractive indeed.

Perhaps, it is the less-is-more seduction, like the practicality of a little, black dress or the sleek lines of a sports car. Either way, simplicity sells. This ideal is also finding tasty traction in the food industry. Clear labeling informs, instead of confuses consumers; clean eating unplugs confounding nutritional concepts and dietary restrictions; and a short list of ingredients makes shopping and kitchen prep more inviting—and probable. Unadorned or natural foods, perceived as authentic and unpretentious, are welcoming. A siren call to simpler times and unsophisticated food with fewer and familiar fixings. Continue reading “KISS and TELL”

A Lifetime of Service

Katyite Steve Pierson takes pride in serving the community and finds rewards in his years of volunteerism

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Whether he was taking a bite out of crime with mascot McGruff, ceremonially cutting a ribbon, aiding the Red Cross, volunteering with a community choir, selling programs for the Booster Club, hosting a cable television program, chairing the YMCA, sitting on the City Council or walking a little dog named Scoobie, Steve Pierson has dedicated his life to serving the Katy community. Over the last three decades, he has been deeply invested in bettering local life in every possible, active way. “My service in the community has been very rewarding, and I look forward to continuing,” he says. Continue reading “A Lifetime of Service”