volume VOLUME 64ISSUE 5 | March 2013 | |theVIPmag.com 2 issue | NovemBeR 2009 theVIPmag.

com

Meet Marc McDonald Leather as home decor Themed bedrooms Grandma Suites Building a home bar 2013s hottest home trends

lounge looks
Fashion head to toe AND floor to ceiling
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vip magazine
c o n t e n t s

06 vip adviser 09 vip home

0f The top SE Texas home trends of 2013

inside march

dconstantine@thevipmag.com

Editorial Editor DAVID CONSTANTINE Contributing Writers CATHLEEN COLE AmANDA COrbELL mEg gArDNEr LArENA HEAD grACE mATHIS jANE mCbrIDE HOLLI pETErSEN CHEryL rOSE Editorial Assistant LAurEN mCgEE

09 Front doors: The soul to your home 14 Hot bedroom themes

18 vipersonality 22 vip worthy

18 Real estate agent Marc McDonald 22 Grandma suites 24 Urban farmers and backyard chickens 29 Leather as home decor 31 Lounge looks for you and your home 34 SE Texas events 39 Recipe: Doughnuts 40 Everything you need to create a home bar

29

Photography Contributing Photographers SCOTT ESLINgEr LACIE grANT rEN SHEppArD LEE E. STINSON Graphic Designer DAVID CONSTANTINE Advertising To advertise in VIP, 409.880.0700 Contact Us VIP of Southeast Texas 380 main Street beaumont, TX 77701
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29 vip style

34 vip spotlight 39 food&drink

18 09 39
on the cover
Model Jillian Green of Orange conjured her inner Bohemian in clothing provided by Splash of Karma in Nederland and shot on location at Urban Habitat in Beaumont. This is one of several home furnishing-inspired looks captured by new VIP photographer Lacie Grant on pages 31-33. Photography: Lacie Grant; Styling: Grace Mathis and Larena Head; Hair and makeup: Grace Mathis, Beauty with Grace

43 vip leisure

43 5 great dates this month 44 Calendar 45 Crossword puzzle 46 Living amidst a home renovation

46 vip voices

A division of hearst newspapers Publisher bILL OffILL

jOIN uS ON fACEbOOK! www.facebook.com/thevipmag

4 March 2013

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vip adviser
h o m e t r e n d s

HOME
What the fashionable Southeast Texas home is showing this year

TRENDS

2013
T
text by Cheryl roSe
hough rising fuel costs and environmental options are on the minds of many homeowners, they arent ready to trade the cost of these efficiencies at the expense of their desired amenities. Some are considering smaller square footage in order to invest in nicer upgrades. What are these hot features? Here is a list of some of the most desirable custom-home styles and materials in our area.

Outd Outdoor Kitchens

The hottest trend is outdoor fireplaces, firepits and fully-stocked kitchens with stainless steel appliances, grills and granite or quartz composite countertops.

Ta Tankless Water Heaters

An efficient supply of instantaneous hot water that takes up less space and can be placed on the exterior of the house.

Te Texture
Te Texture is big, from the ceilings to the furnishings. Exterior facades are using textured slurries or stuccoes to create visual focal points. Walls are dressed in Venetian plaster and faux finishes.

Ce Ceilings
The ceiling is now the fifth wall and is rarely white or low. Trays, coffers, stomped patterns, beams and stacked wood trims all accent and texturize the ceilings.

Qu Quartz Composite
Granite is being replaced by maintenance-free quartz composite. Sinks are also being replaced with quartz composite and with one big one, not two or divided

Travertine Tiles Tr
Tile is the top flooring of choice for Ti foyers in Southeast Texas with the large 18 to 20 size travertine tiles in a variety of styles and layouts the most popular selection.
6 March 2013 |
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Co Composite Mosaics
The sparkle and variety of handglazed or glass tiles are lighting up kitchen backsplashes. Mixtures and composites of glass/stone/tile mosaics add visual interest and texture.

Un Under-cabinet LED
Though expensive, it adds a layer of task lighting that never needs a new bulb.

Contributors to this article: Brad Downs, B&B Plumbing; Clara Downs, Just Construction & Nickolinas Interiors; Taryn Hebert, REMAX/Beaumont; Summer Lydick, The Painted Wall; James Rippeon, Classic Homes; Jeremy Schmitt, Alyson Jon Interiors; Douglas Winfrey, Douglas Winfrey Custom Homes; Jeannette Winfrey, American Real Estate

Wi Wireless and Mounted

Large flat-panel televisions are front and center on walls with hidden wires. Homeowners want wireless networking throughout for all electronics, including televisions.

Cu Custom Range Hood

Designs in stainless steel, copper, brass and painted, glazed and stained woods customize a kitchen style.

In Integrated Sound
Surround sound and integrated sound systems support home theaters and gaming.

Ca Cabinet Finishes
Painting, glazing and glass fronts are in vogue.

Pa Paint Colors
The trend for SE Texas is more colorful neutrals; not beige, but tan, not white, but gray. Most are choosing soft colors from nature, not bold colors. Grays and greens are on the rise, with purples and eggplants next.

Bi Big and Open Family Room

Large, open spaces that transition smoothly between functional spaces.

Ea Easy Upholstery
Homeowners desire a high-end look with easy cleaning. Sunbrella fabrics, originally for outdoor furniture, are making their way indoors for the simplicity of care and pattern options.

Hot Hotel-like Suites

Master bedrooms are expansive, almost a home-within-a-home. Can include a sitting area and spaces for coffee machines, mini-fridges, exercise equipment, fireplaces and TVs.

Spe Specialty Closets

His-and-her closets with special features including chests of drawers, shoe bins, sitting space, shelves, multi-height racks, jewelry drawers and even hidden cabinets.

Ve Vessel Sinks
Raised bowls in glass, metals, ceramics and stone are stunning.

To Toto Toilets
High efficiency flushing power that maximizes water conservation while eliminating the need for plungers. One variety is wall-mounted with a hidden tank.

Ca Calacatta Marble
For bathrooms, Calacatta is whiter with bolder, more dramatic veining than Carrara.

Wa Warming Room
Revisiting an old concept, families are requesting this cozy nook or den space off the kitchen instead of formal living rooms, often with a fireplace.

En Entertainment Space
From man caves to extended patio kitchens, giant TVs to fitness equipment, people are staying home more for entertainment. Game and multipurpose rooms are required.

Wa Walk-in Showers
Generous size, with glass/stone tiles.

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March 2013 7

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vip home text by Jane McBride

f r o n t d o o r s

beating

have them

a path
to your

ouve done everything you can to make your home warm and beautiful, choosing the perfect wall colors, seating, lighting, art and accessories that reflect your interests.
Inside, all is well. But what about the most important factor for the outside? Even an expensive home in a desirable neighborhood can fall short with a lackluster front door and entryway. Its called point of destination, which brings your eye to one point as you enter a designated area, then see another point that draws you into the space, said Rette Browning, owner of Rette Browning Architectural Landscape Design. With >>

door

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March 2013 9

any entrance, you want to make it appealing. You want to see whats behind it. In addition to balance and proportion, front entries should begin with a walkway that clearly establishes the path to the front door. As a rule, curved paths are visually more appealing than those with straight lines or right angles. The doorway should be well-lit and beautifully maintained.

The Ritters
During her 20 years as coowner of American Real Estate, Yvonne Ritter walked through too many front doors to count. What she saw influenced the design of her home in Oakleigh. Any first impression is critical, and curb appeal is one of the most important enhancements to any home. That entry gives the first impression that our family and friends have. When we custom built our home, there was no part of it more important to me than the front. I told my builder I wanted an inviting entry. Yvonne and Ken designed a 12-foot-wide porch reminiscent of her country home upbringing. She added six large columns and a 12foot door with custom leaded beveled glass, flanked by the dramatic, flickering gas lights that were on Kens must-have list. The pairing was perfect for their colonial home, Yvonne said. I dont think the glass would be nearly as interesting if it didnt have those lights. The porch is as functional as it is beautiful. The Ritters have hosted parties that seat 30 people comfortably on the porchs wide, deep expanse. Two large concrete lions flank the front steps, backed with giant liriope that reflects the restrained and elegant green palate of the landscaping.

The Wadills
The entry focal points of Russ and Elizabeth Wadills Calder Place home perfectly reflect their personalities and lifestyle. When they bought the Federal-style house 12 years ago, Elizabeth painted the brick a soft yellow that provides the backdrop for the greenery and seasonal color that always is on display. A small porch of Pennsylvania bluestone leads to an olive green front door accented by a custom-designed iron grille that complements balcony ironwork original to the house. A carriage light suspended from the beadboard porch ceiling helps light the
10 March 2013 |
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The Ritter home

photography by ren sheppard

way. The eyes are drawn to two cherished concrete urns that Elizabeth inherited from her mother. Elizabeth changes out the flowers periodically to add seasonal color and interest. Right now, rose impatients add a pop of color. We want our entryways to be relaxed and welcoming. We love our friends and family so much

and have people over as much as possible. We like to laugh and have fun. Nothing pretentious or formal, but casual elegance that is warm and inviting. Much to her delight, many of her friends are drawn to a large swing in one of the ancient oaks that has become the go-to setting for fun, casual portraits.

To one side of the porch, a stained wooden fence and gate crowned with ironwork designed by Alfonsos Extreme Metal Works to match the balcony and front door grilles provide a second point of entry. The privacy-inducing gate opens to a small courtyard paved with blue slate and a garden that reflects Elizabeths love of

color and diversity in plantings.

Architectural details
Both homes have chosen to accent entryways with architectural pieces, something Rette Browning views as highly desirable. With design, we look for old statuary or broken pieces. Perhaps a beautiful piece of ironwork, a grand old cast iron piece, old column or capital base. Old architectural pieces provide more interest in a garden or home. They are beautiful ruins that can be appreciated. Those accents are what actress

The Wadill home

Mary Astor referred to in Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte as ruined finery, which reflect a grand old era of elegance now past. With an entry point, such pieces let you know what is still to come. You wear your jewelry for others, not for yourself, Rette said. It reflects your lifestyle and the level of care you give to the place where you live. Dont forget the donts. Instead of fake flowers or cutesy plastic signs, choose natural materials like clay, cast limestone or good quality cement urns or statuary. VIP

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March 2013 11

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12 March 2013

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March 2013 13

vip homes
b e d r o o m s

rest easy or trendy

Themed bedrooms but much more subtle
text by MaRgaRet gaRdneR
heme bedrooms were big for a while, a while back. Housewives wanted to rekindle the flames of desire in their marriage by turning their boudoirs into passion pits; and workaholics sought that vacation I dont have time to take feel by bringing a breezy, relaxed ambience to their sleeping quarters. But bedroom themes, per se heavy-handed, uber-conceptualized treatments like the Jungle Room or Seaside Cottage, for example arent so hot anymore. The trend now is more toward simply creating an individualized space that fulfills the owners need for comfort, slumber and retreat. And if it also plays to his or her sense of whimsy or tradition or exotic tastes, well, all the better. Its more about personal space. I guess you could call that a theme, said Latisha Sodolak, owner of Nickolinas, 1257 W. Lucas Drive in Beaumont. Its just more individualized. Much more
14 March 2013 |
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Retro Vintage

odolak admits that as far as home-dcor trends go, Southeast Texas tends to trail behind the pack. So if you want to go against the grain and create one of the hottest looks in bedrooms this year, think retro with a twist on the vintage look. According to Sodolak, fabrics should be woven, quilted or patchwork but with bolder colors than in a traditionally vintage motif. Skip the faded, muted colors and go for pops of the hot-right-now colors. Orange was the hot color last year, so were seeing a lot of that in this area this year because people here tend to get stuck in what they know, Sodolak said. But coming onto the scene as the hot color is emerald green.

photography by Lee e. StinSon

customized. And more about function. Designs are changing based more on function and what people are actually using the bedroom for. That might manifest itself in higher bedside lamps to accommodate sitting up in bed to work or read, for example, and lower bureaus to accommodate flat-screen, wall-mounted TVs. And as peoples schedules get more crowded, what that means more and more is a place to work that is also comfortable, personal and way different from where one normally works (the office, whether at home or in the workplace). So, one design trend people are looking into is incorporating a separate workspace or sitting area in their bedrooms no matter how large or small they are. Lifestyles are changing, Sodolak said. Most people are bringing work home, bringing their computer into the bedroom. They dont want to sit in bed or at some little table. They want to be more comfortable. By creating a special sitting area (whether it be for working, reading or just putting on your shoes), you can combine functionality with comfort. To accomplish that, fit the area with a comfortable chair, a desk (if space allows) or nice table, perhaps a footstool. Lighting is also important and can range anywhere from a chandelier to a cool, new hanging drum lamp (hanging is better than a table lamp, as it frees up tabletop space, especially in small areas) as long is it separates the space from the rest of the room. Area rugs can also help create the sense of a separate space. Redoing your bedroom can be a big investment. But it doesnt have to be. The key, according to Sodolak, is to start small and look for inexpensive ways to create the feel youre going for. Before you invest in painting the walls or buying new window treatments, experiment with throw pillows and area rugs, for example. These things can give you that wow look, that big impression, without making a big change, she said. Gradually, you can draw from that and then start looking at window treatments. Start with little accents and ease your way into it.

or a traditionally romantic bedroom, Sodolak said the look is gauzy, lots of lighter-weight fabrics, including washable silks. Instead of a quilt, comforter or duvet on the bed, this look calls for a bedspread with ruffled edges that hang all the way to the floor. Bed crowns with fabric draped over them and cascading around the bed also contribute to the romantic feel. As for colors, stick with subtle tones greys and ivories accented with hues of rose and steel blue. Lighting, of course, calls for a chandelier. For a sexier take on the romantic bedroom, stick with lots of layers, but go a little heavier on the colors and fabrics. The idea is the same, but pull in more dramatic colors like dark reds, purples, and instead of gauzy linens, pull in silks and brocades, Sodolak said.

Classical Romance

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March 2013 15

ts pretty easy to decorate a room for kids, but once they get a little older it can become more of a challenge. The feel has to stay playful, but the pastels probably should go. Pre-teens like blasts of bold colors, as well as layers and a variety of fabrics. They dont want a simple, puffy quilt, Sodolak said. They want layers, with pieces that work together, like blending in prints, for example, or offsetting small prints with big, bold artwork. The key is letting them grow up and out of their kiddie rooms but not hurry them along to something romantic or grown-up trendy. Stick with bright, youthful colors. As for lighting, there are lots of fun options. Just be sure to include a well-lighted area for study and reading. Get rid of stuffy bedside lamps and consider funky chandeliers that come in a variety of styles, even metallic, sequined or fur-covered.

The Tween Room

16 March 2013

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vipersonality
m a r c m c d o n a l d

Maison dEtre
A house renovation led Marc McDonald to a new career
ife took a U-turn for Marc McDonald when he fell in love with a house. It was a big, dilapidated, old house with ceilings fallen in. However, it also had a grand staircase and 4-foot wide front doors with leaded glass sidelights. Plus, it was designed by Henry Conrad Mauer, the same architect who built the McFaddin-Ward house. McDonalds future RE/MAX Beaumont colleague, Sally Bundy, took him to see the house in Beaumonts Old Town. Then a flight attendant for Continental Airlines, McDonald at first thought he
18 March 2013 |
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Finding His

text by ChEryl rosE

photography by sCott EslingEr and DAvE ryAn

hen McDonald started in rea l estate in Beaumont in the 90s, he was the only man in residential real estate, a field predominantly led by women. That has changed, and so has nearly everything else exc ept the core goal of matching the people to the house. The Internet has changed real estate totally, McDona ld said. I used to have someone com e in and I would show them 15 houses and multiple neighborhoods . Now, people have looked onli ne, seen pictures of the insides, and have narrowed it down to may be five houses. I have mixed emotion s about it. Its good they kno w what they want and it takes less time, but you can cut a house out that just has a bad picture. With the national economic downturn, the real estate bus iness has been slow. In 2011, we had a 12-month inventory of houses for sale, he said. Now we are down to nine months of residential inventory. Its been much har der to get someone a loan bec ause of the mortgage meltdown, but we are seeing a bit of loosening. I think this year is going to be a great yea r.

2013 Promising

couldnt afford the old house, but once he walked through the door, there was no question. He had to buy it. After 10 years with the airlines, McDonald had seen the world, but he didnt know much about fixing up broken-down houses. With his partner, Vic Reyna, the two banded together with a few other hardy souls that had recently purchased crumbling architectural beauties in the area and learned house restoration together. Then this small group of motivated residents petitioned the city to create the Oaks Historic District in 1993. One of McDonalds new neighbors was Barbara Carville, a real estate agent who owned Old Town Realty. She encouraged McDonald to take the real estate exam. McDonald passed the exam in December 1994, beginning work as a real estate agent in January 1995. In my first week and half, I sold four houses, McDonald remembered. I thought, This is easy and fun. I do enjoy it. If you do something you enjoy, you are usually good at it.

A smooth landing in real estate

Born in Orange to travel-agent parents, McDonald spent some of his youth in Houston and some in Beaumont. McDonald started with Continental Airlines in 1982, flying around the United States and to London and Paris. He was tapped to work in the airlines training program, leading an intense course with strong peopleevaluation skills. That was an invaluable experience, he said. I cant say enough about what I learned. However, after three airline mergers and constant corporate change, 18 years of service was enough. The only thing I miss about the airlines is my friends and my layovers, he added. I dont miss those airplanes. He had already embarked on his real estate career before he left Continental. Though he started with Old Town Realty, he soon moved to his current home of RE/MAX Beaumont. In 2010, he was chosen as the Beaumont Board of Realtors Salesperson of the Year and he also received his Lifetime Achievement award from RE/MAX, one the highest honors available through the company. Currently a member of the Beaumont Board of Realtors, he serves on the MLS committee and is also a board member of the Oaks Historic District Neighborhood Association, though he no longer lives in the district. Having worked in real estate for 18 years now, McDonald describes the industry as having the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Its also an industry where experience matters. The longer youre in it is invaluable, he said. You can problem-solve on your feet. You learn so much. Its ever-changing, which makes it interesting. Its not an 8-to-5, tied-to-a-desk job. Being self-employed, >>
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March 2013 19

your average agent works 60 hours a week, but if you enjoy it, it doesnt seem like work.

RE/MAX by the pool

When your phone is always on, you have to learn to incorporate business with pleasure. For McDonald, relaxing on his float in his swimming pool with his cell phone at the ready on his chest is one compromise. His colleagues teasingly call his office RE/MAX by the pool. My friends tell me to turn my phone off, but its hard to do that when working a deal because people have to do their personal business after work and on weekends, he said. So you do it when you have to, and your friends and family just have to be understanding. In addition to his family of three dogs, McDonald has a strong social network of longtime friends who pop in and out of his home and plan occasions and vacations. McDonald still enjoys traveling and prefers relaxing, relatively unscheduled vacations. I like to rent a house in the old part of Puerto Vallarta with other friends, the kind of house that comes with

a staff to cook for you and theres a pool and you do whatever you feel like each day, he said. On ordinary days back in Beaumont, he might read a biography or watch an episode of Downton Abbey, Antiques Roadshow or one of his reality TV addictions. He occasionally goes antiquing with his stepbrother, Barry Behannon, and his wife, Carla. Often, hes working on his current home, which always needs paint, fix-ups or yard work, he said. But one of his favorite pastimes is driving around town, looking at houses. Ive always been interested in houses and history, he explained. I still ride around a lot on the weekends, looking at old houses to see whats there and who built it. Over in Old Town, I can go almost block for block and tell you who lived there and who lives there now. Ive been in 90 percent of the houses. Though it hasnt been as easy as that first week on the job, McDonald still enjoys his chosen profession, getting a strong feeling of satisfaction in finding people a house they really love. I love to sell a house, he said. VIP

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vip worthy
g r a n d m a s u i t e s

HOME

SUITE

HOME
Eschewing assisted-living residences, some adult children choose to keep aging parents at home with them

(for grandma)

text by CATHLEEN COLE

or some people, moving elderly or ill parents into a nursing home is not an option for financial or emotional reasons, or both. Instead, they choose to move their aging parents into their own homes to provide the care they need.

Ronnie Anderson of Anderson Homes in his flex suite (guest now, could be mother-in-law suite later).
22 March 2013 |
theVIPmag.com

Thats just what Helen Landry did about 24 years ago. Her father, W.I. Bryan, had Alzheimers Disease and Parkinsons Disease. It was killing my mother trying to take care of my father by herself, Landry said of her mother, Lois Bryan. Landry offered to help and took turns with her mother caring for him. Landrys mother had no intention of putting him in a nursing home. We just did it ourselves, she remembered. But the time at her parents house took time away from Landrys own family and household. After discussing the situation with her husband, Jim, she finally told her mother that it would be easier if her parents moved into the Landry house in Groves. They eventually built a bigger house with more room to accommodate Landrys parents. It was about family, she explained. It was never about finances. We never even thought about not taking care of our family. When Landrys father died about 10 years ago, her mother said it was time to move out. You cant

leave! Landry fretted. I cant live without you! So the Landrys sold their big house in Groves and moved to Beaumont while their new smaller house is being built in the Crescent subdivision off Walden Road. At 91, Bryans health is good and she gets around pretty well. Right now shes very mobile, Landry said. Jimmy Rippeon of Classic Homes in Beaumont is building the Landrys 2,200-squarefoot house with a large bedroom and a full bathroom in the back for Landrys mother. There will be wide doorways and hallways with room enough for wheelchairs and walkers. Tile flooring will be laid throughout the home, which will make using wheelchairs and walkers easier should they someday be needed. Grab bars will be everywhere in the bathroom, including in the walk-in shower. For new construction, the average cost of including a suite with a bedroom, full bathroom, kitchenette and living area under the same roof is in the $50,000 range if you kept it simple, Rippeon noted. The builder believes adding a specially designed area in a home is a good way of taking care of elderly parents without the cost of putting them in an assisted-living facility. I think our country has an issue with long-term care, he said, adding that people are living longer, medical costs are higher and these are tough economic times for many. Ronnie Anderson of Anderson Homes in Beaumont agrees. He builds suites in both new construction and as additions to existing homes. With some of his new-construction projects, about five clients have asked for two master bedrooms, one for themselves upstairs and one for an aging parent or parents downstairs. Hes talking with a customer now to design a 3,000-square-foot, one-story house with one regular bedroom and two master bedrooms with full bathrooms in anticipation of his mother coming to live with him. In his own home, Anderson built a guest suite attached to the main house through a breezeway and off the garage. It has a sitting area, bedroom, full bathroom and a coffee bar with a refrigerator. He built it as a flex area, he said. For now, its a guest suite. But with its wide doorways and walk-in shower with no curb to stop a wheelchair from entering, it could easily be made into a mother-in-law suite. Besides adding extra space for an elderly parent, some middle-aged and older people who are having homes built are asking for design details including wheelchair-accessible entries, wider hallways and hard-surface flooring such as tile or wood for easier maneuverability with wheelchairs and walkers. In the bathrooms, they want lots of grab bars and big walk-in showers that can accommodate bench seats and include handheld showerheads. We get baby boomers who want to design the whole house like that, Anderson said. Every year, baby boomers become a bigger part of the market share. For Landry, having her mother in the same house gives her peace of mind. Its worked out wonderfully for us, she said. VIP

photography by ren sheppard

theVIPmag.com

March 2013 23

vip worthy
y a r d c h i c k e n s

city chicks
D
text by CATHLEEN COLE photography by sCOTT EsLiNgEr
ogs, cats and kids romp around the fencedin backyard of the home in Beaumonts West End. What seems like a childs playhouse lies behind the swing set, but a closer look reveals the abodes actual residents chickens.

Local urban farmers welcome chickens into their backyards

Dawn Henson-Farley
24 March 2013 |
theVIPmag.com

Dawn Henson-Farley and her husband, Jeff, have five kids plus assorted pets including a white German shepherd named Kaiser whom they rescued. Kaiser had numerous health problems including heartworms and a broken foot. To help pay for his extensive vet bills, Henson-Farley came up with the idea of making and selling

organic dog treats and called them Cookies for Kaiser. The entrepreneur soon discovered that using organic applesauce as a binding ingredient was expensive. She thought of organic eggs, but theyre relatively expensive too, so she decided to get a few backyard chickens. At the end of 2011, HensonFarley ordered six chicks from MyPetChicken.com. It was more expensive than picking up some chicks at a local feed store or farm because they are checked for diseases and only healthy ones are shipped. Using this source also ensured that she got only females. The total cost was about $85. When the chicks arrived, the animal lover kept them in a plastic kiddie pool in the house until they were old enough for their coop, which is why they still think they are house pets and sneak in whenever someone forgets to shut the back door. The micro flock currently consists of four bantams a variety of chicken that is about half the size of a standard chicken breed. Big Bertha, Squishy and Lucy are buff Brahma bantams while Lady Gaga is a black frizzle bantam. Its a girls-only group since Beaumonts ordinance regarding backyard chickens prohibits roosters due to their crowing. City chicken owners dont need a permit but must follow noise and odor regulations to make sure the neighbors arent bothered by the small backyard farms. The hens are quiet, according to HensonFarley, and sound like little birds. She keeps them in the henhouse at night, but during the day they wander through the grass and shrubbery searching for insects.

Chickens like to scratch. Hows that working out for her yard? I have a Great Dane, she explained. The dogs more destructive than the hens. The Beaumont urban farmer ordered plans for her coop and built it to be very sturdy and visually pleasing. She estimates she spent about $1,000 on the 9-foot by 5-foot henhouse that has sand as bedding that can be scooped like cat litter. The hens are easy keepers and are fed an organic pellet feed and the familys leftover fruits and vegetables. They also help themselves to all the bugs in the yard they can eat. Henson-Farley spends about $3 a month for chicken feed. Its the initial expense thats high, she observed. Although the hens were purchased for the fresh eggs they produce about three a day from the flock the family thinks of them as pets. When the dogs come in the house, the chickens want to come in too. And like the dogs, they come when they are called. Theyre hilarious,
theVIPmag.com

March 2013 25

Henson-Farley said. Theyre the coolest chickens. And they are very friendly. Once Henson-Farley looked out the window to the backyard and saw one of her daughters gently swaying on a swing with a chicken in her lap. They dont realize theyre chickens, she said. Theyre very sweet chickens. Thats the same sentiment Kim Wesberry has for her chickens. Theyre pets, the Lamar University graduate student said of her flock that she keeps in her familys backyard in Buna. They all have names and she can pick them up and pet them. Wesberry bought her first chickens as chicks about two years ago from a local farmer and was soon enjoying fresh eggs. Fresh yard eggs taste much better than store-bought eggs, she noted. According to BackyardChickens.com, most hens start to lay around 4 months to 6 months old. However, for various reasons including the time of year and temperature, they may wait until the next spring to start laying eggs. Like Henson-Farley, Wesberry says the main cost associated with keeping chickens is the initial expense of building a coop and a

Eggstra
For more information on backyard chickens, visit BackyardChickens.com and MyPetChicken.com. Check your citys code of ordinances for regulations regarding backyard chickens. To see more photos of Dawn Henson-Farleys hens or to ask her a chicken question, go to www.facebook.com/CookiesforKaiser.

pen and buying supplies. After that, the cost is chicken feed. Her two roosters and 13 hens mostly bantams go through a $15 bag of corn in a month and a $13 sack of chicken feed in about two weeks. A large bag of shavings that she uses as bedding costs about $10 and lasts several weeks. The

main cost is getting started, she emphasized. If any of Wesberrys chickens look sick, she researches the symptoms online and administers a suggested remedy. One of her roosters once developed a funnysounding crow. She gave him garlic and cayenne pepper in his

feed, which cleared up his throat problem and got his correct cocka-doodle-doo back. Its really not that hard to take care of chickens, she believes. The student-farmer recommends starting with a small flock, advising, Start with a few chickens and work up from there. VIP

Invites You To Join Us For

Easter Sunday Services March 31, 2013 8:15 am and 10:30 am

Childcare Provided

3430 Harrison at 19th Street Beaumont, TX 77706

www.trinitybmt.org www.facebook.com/trinityumcbeaumont
26 March 2013 |
theVIPmag.com

409-892-8121

Pleasure Island is a place of beauty. It is more than a home, its a lifestyle! This resort home has the finest amenities.Throughout you will notice the superior craftsmanship & top of the line appliances in both kitchens! If you love to entertain, there is a beautiful temperature controlled sunroom, 1 large deck upstairs and an entertainment area outside with bar area on the bottom floor. Too tired to climb the stairs after a round of golf or catching all the redfish you can reel in? No worries! Take your private elevator up to the main floor where you can walk out to your private deck, & lounge in your favorite chair while listening to your personal sound system throughout the home and exterior. Come home to Pleasure Island! $850,000 MLS# 158028 Denise Leger (409) 651-1043

Fabulous home with oversized lot on Oakmont! Grand entrance leads to formal dining & wonderful open living room with fireplace & many built-ins. Beautiful wood floors throughout. Perfect kitchen with granite & custom cabinetry, double ovens & island with cooktop! Big master suite with sitting area & double sided fireplace that can be enjoyed while in the master bath, large oversized closet with built-ins, double sinks & jetted tub. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3 car garage. Home also has a nice gameroom upstairs & beautiful pool in the backyard. $433,000 MLS# 158050 Dayna Simmons (409) 673-8288

Pleasure Island Delight! 3/3/3 on Palm Tree shaded lot that overlooks water. Open floor plan, custom built, Lots of extras - including an elevator! 6 Panel Doors, Custom Cabinets, French Doors, Many BuiltIns, Walk-in Closets, Wet Bar, Whirlpool, Electric Dryer Hook up, Gas Dryer Hookup, Laundry on Main Level, Pantry, Security System, Bedroom(s) are on: Lower Level, Main Level, Upper Level. This home is a must see! $529,000

MLS# 156481 Holly Hinds (409) 728-6206

Awesome executive home that is simply stunning. Open floor plan, both formals, study, mudroom & game room above garage. Master bedroom suite has on suite sitting room, lavish master bath & large walk-in closet. Gourmet kitchen with dual ovens, gas cooktop & center work island.Wet bar & separate icemaker off the formal dining room. Gorgeous pool/hot tub and lush landscaped backyard. Move in ready. $574,900 MLS# 156798 Ann Scoggin (409) 673-7301

Spectacular! This one takes your breath away! It is so beautiful.Open floor plan,both formals,study,gameroom, exercise room & spacious bathrooms! All bedrooms with private baths. Kitchen is fabulous dual refrigerator/ freezers, dual ovens, dual dishwashers, 6 burner gas cooktop, butler pantry, & wet bar. Dual fireplaces one in living room & one in den. Also dual patios, one on the east & one on the west. Gorgeous pool with rock waterfall views from living, dining, master & study. $649,000 MLS# 154218 Ann Scoggin (409) 673-7301

Get Away in Style! Enjoy entertaining family, friends, and neighbors in this spacious home with spectacular views of the Gulf on Crystal Beach. The beautiful granite and stainless kitchen overlooks a family room with soaring ceiling, fireplace and many large windows. This home will accommodate several guests comfortably with 6 bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths, 2 living areas and an efficiency kitchen on 3rd floor. $625,000 MLS# 155600 Lorie Lewis (409) 719-6250

Drive thru the lighted brick columns to this exquisite Mediterranean style home that sits on approx 2.6 acres & backs up to a beautiful serene stocked pond. Custom built home includes open gourmet kitchen with granite & commercial grade appliances. Master bath features hydro-therapy jetted tub with walk-thru shower. Tinted glass sunroom overlooks the fountain, gazebo & pier/ boat dock. Custom millwork with lighting accentuates the tall mansard ceilings. Upstairs theater room with a 23 speaker sound system and a projection screen. Gas fireplace inside & out. Climate controlled greenhouse w/air circulation fan & heater & workshop partially acd with full bath. Exterior features include Bradford Pear & Pecan trees & mosquito spray system. $539,900 MLS#156849 Amy Hawthorne (409) 673-9633

Prestigious Presentations
www.cbsouthernhomes.com

409-866-2392

Truly a masterpiece with attention to detail in Lumberton. Designer owned home has everything a luxury home owner could want. Four oversized bedrooms, formal dining, study/library with built-ins and custom iron gate entry. Large room upstairs could be a gameroom or office. Custom Jenn-Aire kitchen, six burner gas range, wine cooler, deluxe cabinets, bar area and much more. Custom chandeliers and draperies though out. Private backyard park includes salt water pool, water fountains, gazebo, benches and pathways which makes this the perfect retreat after a long day. Three car garage includes work area with granite and custom cabinets. $520,000 MLS# 157558 Jennifer Williams (409) 781-8833

AMY HAWTHORNE

ANN SCOGGIN

DAYNA SIMMONS

DENISE LEGER

HOLLY HINDS

JENNIFER WILLIAMS

LORIE LEWIS

theVIPmag.com

March 2013 27

Kizmet Studio. The one-stop Shop with a taste for anything and everything. From delicious lunch specials and gourmet coffee to photography, to unique fashions and trends-Kizmet has it all. Check us out!

For over 25 years, Fine Touch has been restoring furniture for South East Texas residents. From antique heirlooms, to mid century pieces, to new creations.... we give your furniture new life. Refinishing/Repairs Upholstery Furniture Stripping Water & Fire Damage Restoration Pick-up and Delivery

At Burns Antik Haus, you will find stunning hand-selected items from all over Europe. You wont find better value or more beautiful pieces anywhere. Tues-Thurs 10am-5pm Fri-Sat 10am-3pm 409.835.3080

www.burnsankhaus.com
Southeast Texas highest ranking Black Belt, 9th degree Grand Master Fred A. Simon, is now offering classes in his studio in Phelan Plaza. Study martial arts under a Texas Legends Hall of Fame and Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame Member. Call now to reserve a spot for you or your child! Classes are conveniently offered at noon and at night. *Member of the BBB

Kizmet Studio 4343 Lincoln Ave, Suite B, Groves (409) 962-9300 www.kizmetphoto.com

fabulous nds
Retailers we love and their merchandise we love to have!
409.212.9669

Fred A. Simons Tae Kwon Do 3965 Phelan Plaza, Suite 107 Beaumont, TX

Fine Touch Furniture Restoration 835-3535 1347 Park St. Beaumont finetouchfr.com

Cat5 is available to check out every Thursday Thursaday in the Beaumont Enterprise and it is distributed to the top locations in the Golden Triangle.

The best spot to find out what is going on with the latest trends in dining, night life, music, art, events, and fashion in the Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana areas. thecat5.com

Meet Mature, Quality Singles

Criminal & Civil Background Checks Psychological & Compatibility Testing

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Call today! 409.347.7298
28 March 2013 |
theVIPmag.com

vip style
l e a t h e r

up
saddle
text by Mary Beth Breckenridge
ove the look of leather? Leather is charging into home dcor going beyond couches, chairs and table tops. Its upholstering walls and covering floors, and manufactured materials made from recycled leather are broadening the design possibilities even further. Imagine a door covered in faux crocodile, a bathroom vanity with a cowhide insert or a closet with leather-wrapped shelves. Leather produces a sophisticated look suitable for contemporary, rustic or club-like settings, but not your traditional Colonial home, said Christian Nadeau, president of EcoDomo, a Quebec manufacturer of leather surfacing materials. He said he often sees leather flooring used in media rooms to give a feel of richness and intimacy, but some types can be tough enough for a kitchen or a well-traveled staircase. Nadeau said leather surfaces have become more popular as interest in natural materials has grown. Leather is just one more product that goes in that direction to put nature back in homes, he said. Leather on surfaces is hardly mainstream, and genuine leather is a home-decorating luxury. But technology is bringing prices down and making this high-end look accessible to customers with bigger design aspirations than budgets. Thats true even with real leather, an option that until now has been prohibitively pricey for most consumers. Kaleen Leathers in Westchester, Ill., for example, is developing genuine-leather panels that manager Frank Mullen said will reduce the cost of leather walls and floors by making them easier and cheaper to install. >>
theVIPmag.com

Leather pushes the decorative envelope

March 2013 29

The die-cut panels are applied to a rubber backing and then adhered to a wall or floor with a releasable adhesive, much like carpet squares, Mullen said. The backing and the precise die cuts simplify installation, he said, and the low-tack adhesive means you can even take the panels with you if you move. A 12-by-12-inch panel in an averagerange leather might cost $25 to $30, he said not exactly bargain-basement stuff, but reasonable in comparison to leather-tile prices that can approach or even exceed $100 a square foot. Finer leathers would cost considerably more, he said. So would larger panels, because they produce less yield from a hide. Where design inroads really are being made, though, is in surfacing products using recycled or bonded leather, a manufactured product made from leather scraps. Remnants from the manufacture of leather goods are pulverized, and the resulting fibers are mixed with other materials and pressed into sheets that are colored and textured to look like genuine leather. A coating protects the product. Bonded leather can go wherever wood can even below grade, in some instances. Its not recommended for wet environments such as full bathrooms. Flooring company Torlys uses a proprietary protective coating that gives its bonded leather floors a life span of 25 to 30 years with normal wear, said E.C. Bill Dearing, its national manager of market development. Torlys flooring is

made from a thin layer of bonded leather applied to high-density fiberboard and backed by cork, so Dearing said its comfortable underfoot but not spongy. Its a feel much like walking on a wood floor, he said. EcoDomos floors have a 25-year residential warranty, and Nadeau said the company has put them in kitchens, on staircases, in hotel lobbies and in other high-traffic areas. Maintenance is the same as a wood

floor vacuum without a beater bar to remove dust and damp mop using a floor cleaner, Dearing said. But people dont buy it for its wear, honestly, he said. More often, consumers fall in love first with the look, he said, and then durability becomes the deciding factor. Torlys bonded leather flooring sells for $10 to $13 a square foot; EcoDomos, for about $12 to $14. Those prices dont include installation. EcoDomo also makes 4-by-8-foot sheets of bonded leather for the wood industry, for applications such as a veneer on kitchen cabinets, Nadeau said. One of his favorite uses for bonded leather is in stitched walls, custom fitted to a room. Leather panels are cut to fit around doors, switches and other features, and panels are top-stitched for a finished look. It looks like your wall was sewn in place, he said. EcoDomo also makes floor tiles from genuine leather from the tough leather from the necks of cattle in order to stand up to foot traffic. The process produces a lot of waste, so the product is expensive around $80 a square foot, he said. Nadeau sees almost limitless possibilities for leather in the home. Hes seen leather-wrapped chandeliers and leathercovered bathroom vanities, and his company has even wrapped toilet seats in leather for yachts and hotels. Its always a conversation piece for the homeowner, he said. MCT

30 March 2013

theVIPmag.com

vip style
h o m e f a s h i o n

text and styling by Larena Head and Grace MatHis photography by Lacie Grant hair and makeup by Grace MatHis,
Beauty witH Grace model JiLLian Green

of Orange

lounge looks
T
rue style is reflected not only in what you wear but in how you furnish your home. This month, VIP paired with three home furnishing stores to prove individual aesthetic is head to toe AND floor to ceiling.
Shot at Nickolinas: Leather and chenille armchair, $789; Indoor/ outdoor artwork, $239; Italian voile throw, $89; Antler candlestick set, $299; Copper planter, $109; Floor lamp, $379; Accent pillow, $39. From Simply Chic, Nederland: Crme button-up, $58; Black metallic TOMS, $69; Geode ring, $10. From Splash of Karma, Nederland: Long striped cardigan, $68; Amber drop earrings, $17. From Vintage Republic, Port Arthur: Ruched khaki legging, $103
theVIPmag.com

March 2013 31

pdate your inner Bohemian in beautiful, soothing tones and a variety of fabrics. Stay true to your eclectic vision by creating a harmonious flow among elements that projects a calming sense of warmth.
Shot at Urban Habitat: Linen covered wingback chair, $350; Burlap pillow, $65; Kilm pillow, $45; Velveteen prayer bench, $65; Garden statue, $60; Silver teapot, $20; Italian sconce, $400; Music cabinet, $140; Twig basket, $40. From Splash of Karma, Nederland: Ruffle-trimmed slip, $54; Sheer polka dot tunic, $84; Striped flats, $34; Gold hammered choker, $20; Crystal and turquoise necklace, $198; Copper pendant necklace, $40; Rhinestone bow bracelet, $11; Animal print bracelet, $23; Beaded Buddha bracelet, $15; Braided chain bracelet, $22; Metal coin bracelet, $110; Beaded rhinestone bracelet, 4 shown at $21 each; Wooden ring, $8; Handmade flower pin, $53.

32 March 2013

theVIPmag.com

dramatic silhouette with luxurious sheen makes a bold statement. Elegance is ensured when looks are uniquely refined.
Shot at McManus & Co.: Gold pewter emperor-style armchair, 2 shown at $1,535 each From Two & Co., Port Arthur: 2-piece taffeta, Black leather ankle boots (prices available upon request)
theVIPmag.com

March 2013 33

vip spotlight
s e t x e v e n t s

Symphony League Ball

Tonya and Charles Moses Judge Thad Heartfield, Stuart Yoes Kristen Batte, Samantha Penning, Theresa Figari, Makenzie Rising

Lizzie Baldo and Dani Moses

Val and Dicky Rayzor

Dr. Shawn and Stephanie Figari Pedro and Lucia Dallstella,Miriam and Isabela Anawate

Jan Hayes and Beth Yoes

Bill and Becky Yoes, Mattie Yoes, Dianne and Haywood Walker

Kimberly McAtee, Craig and Celia Messer

Daniel Sherar and Jordan Frank Suzanne Werner, Kris McLemore and Lori Duplissey 34 March 2013 |
theVIPmag.com

Kelli, Anne Katherine and Paul Trevino

ren sheppard

La Soiree Gala

Eliot and Bethany New, Kyle and Laural Peterson

Dr. Gene and Dawn Isabell

Dan and Liz Karnicki

Lana Cosby, Austin Williams, Patrice Seelke

Pam Caldwell, Jaylene Carr, Laci Giroir, Deborah Smith and Rhonda Rubel

Debbie and Steve Verret

Health & Beauty

Gayle Pugh P.A.

from the Inside out....

Dr. Darrella Cooper, Latania Bill

Tom and Becky Henry

Chris and Stephanie Garsea

scott eslinger

Dr. Scott and Crystal Peplinski, Wyatt and Scarlett Snider

Buna Skin Center (409) 994-9323

theVIPmag.com

Botox/Collagen Fillers Laser Skin Rejuvenation Weight Management Hormone/Age Intervention Hair Salon/Massage Therapy Hormona Replacement Therapy

March 2013 35

Port Arthur Chamber Banquet

Bill and Nellie McCoy Callie Summerlin, Bart Bragg Roosevelt Jr. and Marlene Petry Tanya Lewis, Andrea Parker, Marlene Petry

Beverly and Carl A. Parker

Becky and Mike Tschirhart

lacie grant

Regina Rogers and Carl A. Parker

Mitch Osborne, Barbara Phillips and Dan Duncan

Ken Moncla, Nigel Tranter

The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Beaumont Plaza

Experience the resort feeling without the price!

Let us share in planning your next event! Contact our professional sales department.
3950 I 10 South @ Walden Road Beaumont, TX 77705 Phone: (409) 842-5995 Fax: (409) 842-7810 www.holidayinn.com/beaumont-plaza
36 March 2013 |
theVIPmag.com

Compro Gala
Saturday, April 13, 2013 Adventure Kingdom 2952 Highway 69 S Lumberton, TX Registration 8:00 AM Walk begins 9:00 AM
For more information, call 409-898-4005 Pledge forms available at www.hope-clinic.com
Etta Young and Dianne Taylor Kindrie Everfield, Lakisha Doucette, Latasha Nero

Joyce Perry, Vicki Green and Dolores Fulton

Patricia and Joe Brown

Lanis McWilliams, Sjolander Holder and Eleanor Johnson

Carla Bassett and Linda Valyan

Ralpheal and Wayne Guilbeau

Chinita Seastrunk and Margie Mays

Unique Furniture For The Beach, Lake Or Your Home, With Accents For Every Room And Every Setting

148 S. Dowlen 4700 Hwy. 365, A 88 N. LHS Mid-County Beaumont Lumberton 724-0474 866-4643 755-6245 Visit our Beaumont showroom!
Johnnie McDaniel
ren sheppard

Erma Thomas, Glenn and Debra Holmes

theVIPmag.com

March 2013 37

Bridal Traditions Show

Nel Barry, Linda Leday Elena Fontenot, Danese Fondren Samantha Cardenas, Korri Norwood, Bayleigh Shelton, Joette Jeanise

Leanna and Holly Stringer, Colleen Campbell Kendal Simmons, Annie Schaeffer

Kim and Lindsay Begnaud, Stephanie Bowman

Tyson Hidalgo, Tricia Clement

lacie grant

Adrienne Grantland, Ginny Dotson

Connie Berry, Kay and Mary Jansens, Sarah Morrison

Misti and Danielle Jacobs

Hot Hearts Conference

Rachel Ferguson, Victoria Brackin Madison Sowell, Karie Hutchinson, Sarah Ebert

Shelby McMillan, Olivia Day and Tiara Kelley Clara DeHoog, Brooklyn Gau

Brandon Day, Tanner Tullos, Ryan Casey, Canyon Casidy

Tori Drake, Crystal Sonnier, Sean Griffin 38 March 2013 |

theVIPmag.com

Laney Tullos, Jasmine Ybanez, Bristyn Willey and Kaylee Kaufman

Mindy Conway, Elizabeth and Cody Lain Amanda Kilgore, Kindra Armagh
scott eslinger

food dining
r e c i p e s

homemade Cake Doughnuts

text by Lauren Chattman
few months into 2013, and my New Years resolution to eat oatmeal every morning has already gone out the window. But since my other resolution is to live without regrets, Im certainly not going to punish myself for frying up a delicious batch of cardamom-spiced cake doughnuts over the weekend. Although Ill never turn down a yeastraised doughnut, I prefer doughnuts leavened with baking powder and baking soda. Cake doughnuts are dense, sweet and a little bit crumbly just like cake. It doesnt hurt that cake doughnuts can be made on impulse and cooked off right away, while yeast-raised doughnuts can take hours to rise. What real doughnuts, whether yeast-raised or cake-style, have in common: Theyre always deep-fried, never baked. Making cake doughnut dough is as simple as mixing dry and wet ingredients. For a tender result, take care not to overmix the dough, and roll it out quickly and gently. To shape cake doughnuts, youll need a doughnut cutter, which you can find near the cookie cutters at a housewares shop. Youll also need a deep pot and the courage to fry. Choose a bland vegetable oil with a high smoking point, the temperature at which oil begins to break down. Safflower and canola oil are both good picks. For safetys sake, make sure your pot is no more than halfway full of oil. Lower the doughnuts carefully with tongs or a slotted spoon to avoid spattering.

teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted cup sour cream, room temperature 2 tablespoons milk 1 large egg, room temperature 1 cup confectioners sugar (optional) Directions 1. Pour 2 to 3 inches of oil into a deep pot or large Dutch oven. The oil shouldnt fill more than half of the pot. Attach a thermometer to the side of the pan so it dips into the oil. Heat over medium until it reaches 375 degrees. Set wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Place two layers of paper towels on top of rack. 2. While the oil heats, combine the flour, sugar, cardamom, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and mix on low with an electric mixer until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add sour cream, milk and egg, and mix until a dough forms. 3. Roll dough to -inch thickness. Use doughnut cutter to cut into 12 doughnuts and 12 doughnut holes. Fry doughnuts in oil, 3 or 4 at a time, turning once, until golden on both sides. Transfer cooked doughnuts to rack to drain and cool. Repeat with remaining doughnuts and holes, monitoring oil carefully and adjusting heat to maintain a cooking temperature of 360 degrees. 4. Place confectioners sugar in a brown paper bag. Add 2 doughnuts, shake gently and transfer to a platter. Repeat with remaining doughnuts and doughnut holes. MCT
theVIPmag.com

Cook only a few at a time, checking the oil temperature during cooking and before you add a new batch, and adjusting the flame as necessary. Finishing your cake doughnuts is a matter of preference. Nothing is more delicious than a naked doughnut fresh from the fryer (wait 5 minutes). If you like some crunchy sweetness, coat your doughnuts in sugar while they are still warm, let them cool, then coat them again. Or, glaze doughnuts (use 1 cup of confectioners sugar mixed with 2 tablespoons milk) only after they have come to room temperature.

Cardamom-spiced Sour Cream Cake Doughnuts

Ingredients Vegetable oil for frying 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour cup sugar 1 teaspoons ground cardamom 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder teaspoon baking soda

March 2013 39

food dining
h o m e b a r s

the bar

raise

dding a bar to your home can provide a space to entertain guests or to have a fun place in your own home built around relaxation. It can add an element of extravagance to the most boring of spaces and can be an investment in the value of your home. However, without the right accessories, it can also be just another piece of furniture collecting dust. Choosing the right home bar accessories can be almost as intimidating as choosing the right liquor. There are countless items you can buy to make your bar whatever you want it to be. But since the bar, itself, is the key item, lets start with that. If you decide you want to add a bar to your home, there are a number of options for types of bars, but picking the right space should be first and foremost. Do you want a bar inside your home or in a covered space outdoors? If indoors, would you like it as an add-on to the kitchen or in a game room, or even build a new nook for the bar space?

A
Build or buy?

text by AmAndA Corbell

Outdoor entertaiment area with bar built by James Rippeon of Classic Homes. photography by Chris roACh
40 March 2013 |
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According to James Rippeon, owner of Classic Homes in Beaumont, the type of bar or entertainment area built basically boils down to the budget for the project. For some, having a bar built into a new construction home is a nobrainer, but it can also be easily incorporated for those who live in a previously-owned home. New bar areas can range from as low as a few thousand dollars, to more than ten thousand dollars. I recently converted an existing garage into a game room and bar area, said Rippeon, and the bar portion of the add-on was about $15,000. Adding a bar into an existing home may be easy, but sometimes challenges arise such as plumbing for sinks and electrical circuits, things that most of us forget to take into consideration. Rippeon says having to work around these issues or add electricity or plumbing can more than double the price because other areas have to be torn

out to add these items. However, he says the most important thing for home owners to consider when planning a bar installation is the type of drinks they will be storing. Storing cold beer, wine or hard liquor all require various storage methods because of the different temperature environment the drinks require, said Rippeon. For wine to be stored properly, it has to be chilled at approximately 52 degrees, and beer is best at about 34 degrees, so two separate refrigerators will be required which takes up more room. Refrigerators

and coolers can be built free standing or can be built into the cabinets or wall space, but it will affect the overall price of the installation. When it comes to building home bars, Rippeon says the best ones are built in rooms dedicated to serving as a place to gather and have access to cooking, television and drinks. The bar may not be the focal point, but is part of a larger entertainment area or game room. And that way, guests (or you!) do not have to leave the room for refills. I recently built an outdoor entertainment area

Home bar and man cave built by Richard and Benjamin Guseman of Guseman Enterprises.

photography by Lee e. StinSon

behind a home that was about 1,000 square feet in size and has a large fireplace, full cooking kitchen, bar area with a storage pantry, pizza oven and seating for up to 30 people, said Rippeon. The complete project was $125,000 and was built to match the existing homes architectural features, colors and style. Basically, he says he gets fewer requests to simply just add a bar area, and instead gets requests to add an area that serves as a media room or space, with a bar area Bar guide incorporated into the design. helpful w s can be incredibly hen If youre reading this and you to ma entertaining, allow ke ing thinking theres no way you that you h drinks to order (giv en ave all of could add on a room to your the neces ingredien sary home to accommodate a bar ts guide will ). An up-to-date ba atmosphere at this time, youre ha r shots and ve recipes for pop not alone. And that is why it is ular mixed dri nks, rather easy to find a portable the classic as well as bar at any furniture store for s. as low as $500 to $800. You can bring the bar to your home, in any room you would like and can even move it when not using it. Of course, refrigeration, cooling and such would be up to you and not the bar, but it is an option.

Its all about the drinks

Regardless of what type of bar you decide on, you still need the right tools to get it started, including the right spirits for serving. Liquor stores such as Specs carry all of the items you would need to get a home bar up and running. Whether you want to entertain a group of guests, or just have enough on hand for a relaxing evening for two, you can easily buy anything you would need to make for a good time. Jim Francis, a liquor specialist >>
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Trying to create a bar from scratch? Specs in Beaumont recommends starting with a higher grade (for sipping) and a lower grade (for mixing) of tequila, vodka, gin, rum, bourbons and Scotch. Add your favorite wine, mixers and some basic bar tools and you are on your way. at Specs in Beaumont, says you can begin with the basics when starting up a home bar. He says every bar has a standard list of needed ingredients, including your basic liquors, but the brand name is left up to you. Begin with your preferences of tequila, vodka, gin, rum, bourbons, Scotch, and mixers. When setting up your home bar it is always wise to have two different kinds of liquor, said Francis. You want a liquor of higher grade or age for sipping, and a liquor of standards for mixing and blending. This way, he says, you also ensure that you have enough on hand to accommodate at least two more guests. Mixers include everything from orange juice for Screwdrivers, to Bloody Mary mixes, tonic water or ginger ale, to grenadine and even sodas. Garnishes can be a fun way to dress up a drink, especially when hosting a social gathering. Examples include sugar and salt for the rims of glasses, fruit or vegetables for decoration (like celery or a lemon twist) for certain recipes, or even whipped cream.

Dont forget the tools

If youre a wine fan, you need to make sure you have things like a wine aerator to allow the darker wines to breathe, as well as an efficient wine opener. The days of opening wine bottles with an old-school corkscrew are over. Purchase an automatic wine opener, complete with foil cutter, and save your nails, teeth and a headache. If your wine is required to be chilled and you have no refrigeration at your bar, purchase a one-bottle wine cooler to
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keep it the perfect temperature for you. Of course, glasses, shakers and mixing sticks to mix ingredients to perfection, are all equally important when enjoying any drink, and can be purchased for cheap. Other tools home bar owners should consider owning include a strainer for drinks like martinis, a muddler for perfected mojitos, and a bar guide. A blender is most certainly a necessity, especially for summer days and nights, to mix your favorite frozen drinks. If beer

is mainly whats going to be on tap, then just ensure you have plenty of ice to keep things cold and a set of pilsner glasses or large mugs to serve it in. Every home bar has one thing in common, and thats that it is custom built to its owners taste and preference. Make it your own, and dont be afraid to ask questions when shopping at places like Specs. Their expertise can help you find just the right liquor or tool you need to run a successful bar. VIP

great dates in march

Le Grand Bal: Cardinal Express
March 23
7 p.m.-midnight, at the Dishman Art Museum and the Montagne Center at Lamar University, Beaumont. The black-tie event includes a reception and silent art auction, 7-9 p.m. at the Dishman Art Museum, with a gourmet buffet, entertainment and dancing to the music of the Night and Day Orchestra, 8 p.m.-midnight in the Montagne Center. Tickets $150 per person; $300 per couple; underwriting opportunities available. For reservations, call (409) 880-8137 or go to fineartscomm.lamar.edu

South Texas State Fair

The biggest event of the Southeast Texas festival season is here! With a rodeo, livestock show, carnival, live entertainment and more food than you could possibly eat, the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park promises to be another must-attend event. For complete event schedules visit www.ymbl.org.

March 21-31

Art in the Park

Area and regional artists gather in Stark Park to display, demonstrate and sell their artwork. Listen to light jazz and blues music as you stroll through the park. Kids Alley will have hands-on activities for all the children. This fun-filled festival has something everyone can enjoy. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Stark Park, Orange. (409) 883-1011 or (409) 883-1010.

March 16

Blowout 2013 with Jeb Bush

March 21
The former governor of Florida will speak at Blowout 2013, the Texas Energy Museums annual fund raising dinner, at 6:30 p.m., Beaumont Civic Center, Beaumont. Seating available by reservation only. Individual seats $100. Table contribution levels are $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. For reservations, call (409) 833-5100.

Gusher Marathon
March 9
Whether youre a runner or just enjoy cheering on the masses, you dont want to miss the fourth annual Gusher Marathon/half marathon/5K race. Race starts at 7:30 a.m. at Lamar University in Beaumont. Marathon $95; half marathon $85; 5K $35. (409) 781-2932 or thegushermarathon. com. Full details and map of course at thegushermarathon.com

Do you have an event you would like to promote? Do it with VIP for FREE! Please send us detailsdates, times, location, contact phone, web address and a brief descriptionto dconstantine@thevipmag.com. Information should arrive at least 60 days in advance of the event.
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Event Submissions

March 2013 43

{ March }
MARCH 1
Biloxi Blues
7:30 p.m., Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts, Orange. Tickets $20-$35. (409) 886-5535 or www. lutcher.org.

p.m., Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Nederland. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Tickets $20. (409) 722-1609. Hair show and battle, 6-9 p.m., L.L. Melton Family Life Center, Beaumont. Guest performers are gospel rapper Christclear, ANBC Steppers leader Keith Harris and special guest Russel Chew. (409) 553-9341. Annual Kirby-Hill House Murder Mystery Dinner Theater by the KirbyHill House Players, 7 p.m. March 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23, Kirby-Hill House Museum, Kountze. Tickets $55 plus tax per person. (409) 246-8000 or email info@kirbyhillhouse.com. Reception 7-9 p.m. in the Brown Gallery at the Beaumont Art League, Beaumont. Free. (409) 833-4179 or www.beaumontartleague.org.

www.beaumontcommunityplayers. com.

MARCH 18
One Night of Queen
Featuring Gary Mullen and the Works, 7:30 p.m., Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts, Orange. Tickets $40-$55. (409) 886-5535 or www. lutcher.org.

Curling for the Community

MARCH 8
George Lopez
8 p.m., Julie Rogers Theatre, Beaumont. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets $39.50 and $59.50. (800) 7453000 or www.ticketmaster.com

MARCH 1-2
The Importance of Being Earnest
7:30 p.m. March 1 and March 7-9, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. March 2, Betty Greenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beaumont. Tickets $10, $16 and $18. For reservations, call (409) 833-4664 or www. beaumontcommunityplayers.com.

A Party to Murder

MARCH 8-10
Sesame Street Live!
10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. March 8; 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 9; and 2 p.m. March 10, Ford Park Arena, Beaumont. (800) 745-3000, (409) 951-5400 or www.ticketmaster.com

MARCH 22-23
Cinderella
7:30 p.m. March 22, 6 p.m. March 23, Julie Rogers Theater, Beaumont. Tickets at Ticketmaster outlets including H-E-B, 3025 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, the Beaumont Civic Center Box Office, 701 Main St., online at www.ticketmaster.com or call (800) 745-3000.

Beaumont Art League Portrait Show

MARCH 9
Billy Currington
Special guest Walker Hayes, Nutty Jerrys, Winnie. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets $35, $55, $65. (877) 643-7508 or www.nuttyjerrys.com.

MARCH 1-3
7:30 p.m. March 1-2, and 2:30 p.m. March 3, Port Arthur Little Theatre Playhouse, Port Arthur. Adults $12, seniors $10, students or PALT members $6. For reservations, call (409) 727-7258 or www.palt.org. 1 and 7:30 p.m. March 1, 7:30 p.m. March 2, and 2 p.m. March 3, University Theatre at Lamar University, Beaumont. General admission $15, seniors, students and LU faculty/staff $10, Lamar University students $7. For reservations, call (409) 880-2250. www.lamar.edu/ theatre.

Liberty Jubilee
Noon-midnight March 22; 9 a.m.6 p.m. March 23, Liberty County Courthouse and City Hall, Liberty. (936) 336-3684.

9 to 5: The Musical

MARCH 3
The Beaumont Civic Ballet presents Spring into Dance
Graduation Ball and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 5 p.m., Julie Rogers Theatre, Beaumont. Tickets at the Beaumont Civic Center Box Office or online at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000.

Texas Country Music Show

7:30 p.m., Palace Theater, Kirbyville. Adults $7, children 7-12 $3, free for children younger than 6. (409) 4233319.

MARCH 23
Taste of Gumbo
11 a.m.-2 p.m., Robert A. Bob Bowers Civic Center, Port Arthur. The event a sampling of gumbo and other foods from area restaurants, a silent auction, door prizes and more. Tickets $8, children younger than 5 free. Proceeds benefit local charitable organizations.

Macbeth

MARCH 12-17
Nederland Heritage Festival
Boston Avenue and 17th Street, Nederland. Carnival hours: 4-11 p.m. March 12; 5-11 p.m. March 13-15; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. March 16; and noon-6 p.m. March 17. (409) 724-2269 or www.nederlandhf.org.

MARCH 7
6:30 p.m., Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. The event features dinner and cocktails for two along with one entry into the drawing for a chance to win $10,000 in gold. Tickets $100. (409) 832-3432 or www. amset.org.

Go for the Gold Party

MARCH 23
Cinderellas Wedding Feast
4 p.m., Julie Rogers Theater, Beaumont. Tickets $10. (409) 8920169.

Lagniappe Film and Music Festival

Concerts and film screenings at various locations, downtown Beaumont. Tickets range from $25 for students to $45 for all-venues access and may be purchased in advance at www.thelagniappefestival.com. (409) 422-3378.

MARCH 15
Goodwill 40th Anniversary Gala
Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Beaumont. Cocktails and silent auction, 6 p.m., dinner and program at 7 p.m.

First Thursdays on Calder Avenue

MARCH 29
Dreamgirls
7:30 p.m., Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts, Orange. Tickets $40-$65. (409) 886-5535 or www. lutcher.org.

5-9 p.m., Mildred Building, downtown Beaumont.

MARCH 2
Standing Ovation
Retiring Lamar University President Jimmy Simmons and his wife, Susan, will be honored during the Lamar Cardinals basketball game, 6 p.m., Montagne Center at Lamar University, Beaumont. Golden Eagles of Oral Roberts University. Guests are asked to wear rubber-soled shoes to the post-game reception. Admission will be by season tickets or single-game tickets for March 2 only, available for $1 on a first-come, first-served basis at LamarCardinals.com or (409) 880-1715.

7:30 p.m., Julie Rogers Theatre, Beaumont. Part of the Lamarissimo! concert series. Adults $18, students $12. (409) 880-8144 or www.lamar. edu/music/

The Lamar University Wind Ensemble and Concert Band

MARCH 16
Firefighter Memorial Golf Tournament
Four-man scramble sponsored by the Beaumont Professional Firefighters Local 399, at Bayou Din Golf Club, Beaumont. Registration 7 a.m., shotgun start 8 a.m. www. firemuseumoftexas.org

Matthew Neil Gehring: Brilliant Corners

Reception 7 p.m., Dishman Art Museum at Lamar University, Beaumont. Free. (409) 880-8959 or www.lamar.edu/dishman.

MARCH 7-9
Buna Redbud Festival
Buna High School, Buna. Carnival hours 5-10 p.m. March 7-8, and 10 a.m.-midnight March 9. (409) 9945586.

Big Thicket Bike Tour

Family-oriented bicycle ride with five routes of varying distances, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. March 16 at the Big Thicket National Preserve, Kountze. (409) 781-5872.

MARCH 29-30
Rabbit Hole
7:30 p.m., Betty Greenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beaumont. Tickets $10, $16 and $18. For reservations, call (409) 833-4664 or www.beaumontcommunityplayers. com.

The Importance of Being Earnest

7:30 p.m., Betty Greenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beaumont. Tickets $10, $16 and $18. For reservations, call (409) 833-4664 or

Azalea Festival
9 a.m.-4 p.m., Jasper County Courthouse Square, Jasper. (409) 384-2762.

Guys, Dolls and Spicy Meatballs

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vip magazine
c r o s s w o r d

Across
1 5 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 19 21 22 23 25 26 American Idol host Event presenter Former Mrs. Trump Legendary golfer, Tiger She played Sharpay Evans in High School Musical 3, Ashley _____ Hair arrangement Singer, ____ Streisand Predator star, first name Lane, for short South America, for short Nickname for David Beckhams wife Actress who played Latika in Slumdog Millionaire, Freida ____ Sweetie Red Dragon star, ___ Norton Honey-boo___

Down
1 2 3 4 6 7 11 13 15 16 17 19 20 23 24 Country star and SNL host, Taylor _____ Singer, Bryan ____ Legible Finns friend I Walk the Line singer, Johnny ____ Bulls great basketball player, Michael ____ Young guy Alternative word Golden Glove winner in each of the Orioles 3 consecutive World Series seasons: Paul ____ Criminal singer, Fiona ____ Live at the BBQs singer Relaxation center QB who dated Jessica Simpson A famous Pepper? Environmental activist, Begley

Find answers on page 4

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AU TH EN TI C

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vip voices
g u e s t c o l u m n

Honey, I Shrunk the Savings Account

f youve ever wondered what its like to live in a hell of your own creation, then I suggest you find a room in your house to renovate. It can be any room, really a small bathroom, maybe a bedroom or, if you really want to jump in with both feet, go for the kitchen. Oh sure, its fun at first. You can browse Pinterest for hours, cataloging fantastically creative and efficient ideas. You can spend your afternoons at the hardware store, painstakingly considering a world of options. Feel free to consult with any number of contractors who will promise speedy-quick timelines with infinitesimal budgets. Or, if you are feeling particularly adventurous, then why not save a buck and do it yourself? After all, pretty much anything you need to know can be found on the Internet. Yes, you can start out with the best of intentions, but fair warning at some point youre probably going to lose your mind. The strangest of phenomenon will begin occurring. Youll begin thinking you hear power tools in the middle of the night. The incessant buzzing and hammering in your head never seems to subside. Youll neurotically start viewing the world in terms of paint colors. What particular hue is the moss on that rock? Or, how can I coerce that stranger into standing still while I match paint samples to their perfectly petal pink sweater? Eventually, youll discover that the evidence of your labors will follow you everywhere, haunting reminders of the ever-looming project left at your home. Theres the cabinet stain that just wont wash off your cuticles. And, is that dandruff in your hair or just another layer of the same sheetrock dust that covers every square inch of every... single... thing in your entire house!? Your life will feel arrested somehow. Your original goal dampened by an increasing desire to just return to normal. And, thats about when the real problems start. There will be the weeks upon weeks of rain that seems to halt all progress. Then a

text by Holli Petersen

pipe will burst, flooding everything in sight. Maybe youll unearth some unexpected termite damage or accidentally demolish a load-bearing wall. And, undoubtedly that imported tile you ordered will be the wrong size and the wrong color altogether. Trust me. Ive been there. At some point, you will suspect your spouse is plotting against you and randomly start sobbing like its the end of the world. The renovation process may make you question your own innate preferences. After all, whos to say that blue gingham wallpaper and yellow shag carpet arent your own, unique style aesthetic? Did your home really even need updating? Somehow, youll find the strength to press forward because, lets be honest, you have to if you want ever want to cook in your kitchen or use the spare bathroom, again. Somehow, youll find a way to scrounge up a few more dollars for the budget and muster up the intestinal fortitude required to finish the job. Yes, maybe you will have to cut a few corners, make a few compromises. Maybe the final project wont meet your initial expectations. But, its amazing how a few hellacious months of renovating will alter what you will and will not settle for. Youll rip off the last of that painters tape and pack up those tools, vowing to never, ever repeat the same mistake again. But, thats the weird part. Home renovation is a little like childbirth in the way that, over the years, painful memories fade into false recollections of it really not being so very bad. And, then youll see one of those falsely endearing Home Depot commercials (likely produced by the same folks that advertise Pampers) and youll start thinking you might want to give it one last shot. I mean, how difficult would it be to just freshen up the paint in the hallway? A little crown molding would certainly add some sophistication. Oh, and youve always wanted wood flooring in the entryway. Thats how it starts just the smallest of ideas and the next thing you know, youre knee deep in sheetrock and creating your own curse words because the old ones have become too pedestrian. But, if you naively enter in the turbulent waters of renovation, or even if you find yourself already drowning in the whirlpool, I can impart the only bit of wisdom that ever got me through the same woeful experience. Repeat after me. This, too, shall pass. And, when its all over, dont be surprised if you decide it was actually all worth it. VIP

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March is... National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Over 50? Family history? Get screened!

For more information on colorectal screening, education, or our team of Board-Certified specialists, call us at 409.981.5510 or visit us online at www.AltusHMS.com

Joseph Kong, MD, FACR Board Certified Radiation Oncology

Ernest Hymel, MD, PhD Board Certified Radiation Oncology

Danny Chow, MD Board Certified Radiation Oncology

Peter Morgan, MD Board Certified Radiation Oncology

Micah Monaghan, MD Board Certified Radiation Oncology

Harry Smith, MD Board Certified Medical Oncology

310 North 11th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77702 Telephone: 409.981.5510 Fax: 409.981.5511 www.AltusHMS.com Email: info@AltusHMS.com