St. Croix, Virgin Islands

by Andrea R. Stroh June 2005
St. Croix
Jet away to the Virgin Islands’ St. Croix

You might not know it, but paradise is only 2,103 miles from Houston. We found it on the beautiful island of St. Croix while staying at The Hotel Caravelle in the quaint town of Christiansted. Part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is the perfect long weekend getaway for Houstonians that are scared of foreign travel and calculating exchange rates, since the local currency is the U.S. dollar – and you can be there in about four hours. In fact, St. Croix is the perfect getaway for just about anyone.

Out and about
Our first day on the island, we went on a safari organized by the hotel staff. The safari was a day-long tour of the island with stops at various watering holes and beautiful beaches and included terrific commentary about the island’s history. We headed first along the north shore with stellar views of the surf and sand. We took a brief stop at Christopher Columbus’ landing site, where he landed on the island in 1493 and met some resistance from the local Carib and Arawak Indians. Next, we headed into the rainforest, located in the center of the island, and stopped for a little “mama wanna,” the locally made moonshine we found at the Mt. Pellier Hut Domino Club. The exotic libations aren’t the only attraction at Mt. Pellier’s, where we also encountered several enormous hogs that enjoy drinking nonalcoholic beer straight from the can. Turns out, we weren’t the only thirsty travelers in the area.

We stopped for lunch in Frederiksted, the only other town of note on the island, before heading on to the 300-year-old Cruzan Rum Distillery. (Many of you may be familiar with Cruzan Rum from their sponsorship of Kenny Chesney’s current tour.) I got to know the distillery and appreciate its wide variety of flavored rums, such as raspberry, banana, pineapple, citrus and coconut, that we sampled at the end of the tour. Another advantage to St. Croix’s relationship with the United States is the added benefit of being able to bring home six bottles of liquor per person, instead of the usual single bottle restriction. (So you can help your friends taste a little of the tropics upon your arrival home.)

Our final stop was at the historic Whim Plantation and Greathouse, a 16th century Danish sugar plantation that hosts tours of the restored stable, kitchen and main house, along with a tour of the exhibits describing harvesting of sugar cane.

True calling
One of the greatest draws to St. Croix is the exceptional and plentiful SCUBA diving opportunities. We spent the day with S.C.U.B.A. (St. Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventures) and its staff, Rodale’s Scuba Diving magazine’s No. 1-rated dive staff in the world for 2003. Along the coast of the island runs a 13,000 foot wall boasting the largest living reef of any Caribbean island and more than 30 fantastic dive spots.

On our two dives we saw stingrays, Caribbean spiny lobsters, barracuda, moray eels and a tremendous array of fish, coral and sea life. Equally impressive was the day we spent boating and snorkeling around Buck Island Reef National Monument, a 19,000-acre national park dedicated by President John F. Kennedy. The park is another island of 176 acres with a pristine beach, hiking and nature trails, and 4,554 acres of a surrounding reef system.

We spotted several baby black tip sharks while walking along the north side of the island and then were paid a visit by Sammy the Stingray, a park resident that loves to have his back scratched by swimmers. On the opposite side of the island, accessible only by boat, is the protected reef, set up by the park service with an underwater trail for snorkelers to follow with signs identifying various coral formations and sea life.

Festivities
We visited at a particularly opportune time as the Taste of St. Croix food and wine event was being held to benefit the St. Croix Foundation, an organization designed to help restore St. Croix physically, economically and socially. One ticket for a worthy cause gained you access to a beachside feeding frenzy of more than 40 restaurants from St. Croix (and even a few from St. Thomas). With unlimited samples of the best fare the island has to offer, we savored the gigantic scallops sauteéd in butter and truffle oil from Rumrunner’s, the People Choice winner three of the last four years. We were also able to pair the food with tastings of more than 30 wines offered by several different sponsors. This was the fifth annual event and is certainly worth planning your trip around.

Local talent
For those of you that want more than gorgeous beaches, unparalleled diving and snorkeling, exquisite cuisine, and historical significance, St. Croix is also host to countless local artisans. Jan Mitchell’s glass ornaments have hung on the White House Peace Tree for the last 10 years, and Whealan Masicott’s IB design studio features original handcrafted jewelry, like the Crucian Infinity bracelet we couldn’t snatch up fast enough.

Perfect place
The Hotel Caravelle is the perfect spot from which to launch all your island adventures. Located right on the water in historical downtown Christiansted, this small European-style hotel has a terrific staff that is thrilled to arrange any activity available on the island, including deep sea fishing and sea kayaking, along with all those we enjoyed while we were there. If you don’t want to take my word for it that they’ve found a little piece of paradise in St. Croix, just check out the live Christiansted web cam located at www.gotostcroix.com and see for yourself. But be careful, you may go straight from that site to booking your airfare. H

Essentials
– The Hotel Caravelle, 44A Queen Cross St., (800) 524-0410, www.hotelcaravelle.com – Cruzan Rum Distillery, #3 and 3A Estate Diamond, www.cruzanrum.com – Whim Plantation and Greathouse, St. Croix Landmarks Society, (340) 772-0598, www.stcroixlandmarks.com – S.C.U.B.A., #14 Caravelle Arade, (877) 567-1367, www.stcroixscuba.com

Sit and Sip in Sugar Land

Did you know there is a winery in Sugar Land? It’s news to a lot of people, but those in the know take advantage of this gem whenever possible. After visiting for a tour and wine tasting at Circle S, many become regulars at this elegant establishment, frequently stopping by to enjoy a glass or pick up a bottle.

With four generations of winemakers in his family, owner Dave Stacy holds a strong pride in his profession. His award-winning wines are the result of winemaking secrets passed down from father to son in the Stacy family. In fact, Stacy possesses a handwritten note from his great grandfather’s grandfather, illustrating the seasons of wine using the cycles of the moon.

Originally located in Centerville, Texas, Stacy moved the Circle S winery to Sugar Land a couple of years ago. Although the grapes are grown elsewhere – Centerville, Texas; Tuscany, Italy; and beyond – the vats, barrels and, most importantly, tastings are located just 20 miles south of Houston. Circle S wines are heaped with awards and accolades for their many varieties, including reds, whites and seasonal blends. (They’ve garnered seven gold medals for their selections.) Despite the acclaim, Dave Stacy and his wife, Helen, prefer to keep the winery a casual, yet distinguished place for regulars to relax and enjoy themselves. Combining fine art, soft lights, comfy sofas, superb wine and great friends, Circle S has made Sugar Land a little bit sweeter. H

Xtreme Entrepreneurs

With reality shows like “The Apprentice,” “American Idol” and “Survivor,” we’ve become accustomed to the weakest (and sometimes the strongest) link being removed from the competition. The strongest candidate may have been extricated from the program because of the threat he/she posed, and many of the mediocre contestants are the ones that take the cake.

I often wonder how much a contest could have grown had he/she had the opportunity to finish the program. Usually, we never know.

This is no longer the situation with the pilot reality series “Xtreme Entrepreneurs,” based right here in Houston. A win-win program that embraces the entrepreneurial spirit of Space City, USA, “Xtreme Entrepreneurs” offers participants interested in expert advice the opportunity to make their dreams of a successful business a reality.

Truly giving the American public a positive viewing experience, Creator Stuart Weinstein is focusing on the success stories rather than the waning economy. The candidates work together, as a team with the Houston experts, to find solutions for their business problems. And, no one is voted off — everyone has the same opportunities to learn and change together.
Now, isn’t that a refreshing change? Through hard work, perseverance and a true entrepreneurial spirit, the viewing public will be given the chance to not only watch, but also learn along with the participants.
Truly, a win-win situation.

Infertility Matters

Infertility Matters
Aspiring parents have an array of options at their disposal

According to the Centers for Disease Control, infertility is described as a couple’s inability to become pregnant after one year of trying to conceive without the use of any contraception. Although some young couples may actually become pregnant into their second year of trying, women in their late 30s and older have a more difficult time trying to conceive.

With a constant growth in medical technologies, fertility treatments around the world have increased as well. Most recently, a Romanian woman, Adriana Illiescu, age 67, gave birth to a baby girl. She went through several fertility treatments and even used egg and sperm donors to facilitate the birth.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the estimated number of women ages 15-44 with an impaired ability to have children was 6.1 million in 1995. An average woman’s egg supply decreases after her late 30s and into her 40s. Sadly, the risk of miscarriage also increases at this time. Luckily for men, although their sperm count decreases, virility overall is not affected much with age.

Possible causes
Causes of infertility can vary greatly from one person to the next and can occur in both men and women. The leading causes for both sexes include substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases (specifically gonorrhea and chlamydia) and hormonal issues.

For women, 40 percent of infertility problems are during ovulation. Other issues include blocked fallopian tubes or problems with the uterine lining, which can result from endometriosis, a condition which can cause severe pain and discomfort.

As for men, the most common problems related to infertility are varicoceles, similar to varicose veins but in the testicles, which produces low sperm count. While varicoceles can be treated as an outpatient procedure, the sperm might also be misshapen, which can hinder their ability to penetrate the egg and form an embryo. Although not as common as female infertility problems, men also have to take several factors into consideration if they hope to have children. Hormonal problems and severe injury to the reproductive organs can also cause problems when trying to conceive, but treatment can be administered if detected early.

With all of these factors weighing against a couple, both should be tested for problems to maximize the chances of success. Recently, there has been a trend in the number of couples that seek professional help for fertility. Although some couples may not immediately require the assistance, as people are waiting longer to have children, many feel they need the help. However, according to the American Fertility Association, couples should determine their ideal time to try and conceive rather than immediately jump into infertility treatments. This results in less cost for the couple and less invasive procedures for both as well.

Prevention
Unfortunately, infertility has no physical indications. There are, however, a few things they can control in order to maximize their chances of reproductive success.

One of the first things any person can control is tobacco and substance abuse. Both can reduce sperm count and female fertility, as well as a host of other issues. Intense exercise for long periods of time can also adversely affect a man’s sperm count as well as a female’s ovulation.

For a couple trying to get pregnant, the pair can start in the home by figuring out when ovulation begins, based on menstruation. By doing this, a woman can best determine when an egg is being released to offer the highest likelihood of becoming pregnant.

She can also measure her basal body temperature (BBT). The BBT is the lowest possible body temperature that a healthy, fit person can be during a day. This temperature actually rises shortly after ovulation, and if monitored for the full cycle, a woman can roughly determine her ovulation schedule for the greatest chance of becoming pregnant. Additionally, home ovulation kits are available to calculate fertility levels by measuring the amount of hormones present in a small urine sample and can be found at your local drugstore.

Doctor, doctor
Nearly 9 million women who visited their doctor to receive some sort of infertility service in 1995. As the numbers continue to rise, a couple should only seriously consider seeing a doctor if they have been unable to conceive after trying for over a year without the use of any contraception. Also, a woman over the age of 35, or a woman who has had three or more miscarriages should certainly see a doctor about methods to help create and prolong a pregnancy. Infertility testing through the physician can also determine the obstacles the couple will have to clear before becoming pregnant. However, these tests can be painful and expensive. They can also create more stress for the couple rather than relieve tension and may also lead to counseling down the road. It is often a good idea to speak with a mental health professional when infertility issues continue to arise in a relationship. It can not only create a strain on the couple, but can also lead to breaks in the relationship.

A couple must discuss in earnest how far they would both like to pursue the testing and possible treatments. Since most insurance companies do not cover the costs of infertility treatments, alternatives to the treatments are also something to consider. The American Fertility Association suggests starting with in-home treatments before consulting with a doctor on surgical treatments.

Treatment options
There are myriad treatments available to try and find a way around infertility, ranging from drug treatments to surgical operations. Many couples simply need a little help in their quest to have a child, while others may require more medical intervention.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) involves combining the egg and sperm outside of the body and later inserting the fertilized egg directly into the female’s uterus. This can be an important treatment option for women with damaged or absent fallopian tubes. It can work well if the uterine lining, the endometrium, is receptive to the egg and is creating enough hormones to support it.

Care must be taken, however, because multiple eggs are generally placed into the uterus to create a greater chance of pregnancy, which can sometimes result in multiple births. Since the advent of IVF, chances of having twins and triplets with the procedure has increased. Couples should be prepared for this before going in for the treatment. Artificial insemination is a different procedure that places sperm directly into the cervix or uterus. Also known as intrauterine insemination, it is done while a woman is ovulating. The procedure aids the sperm in traveling through the fallopian tubes to fertilize the egg as it drops into the uterus.

For women who have had to undergo a hysterectomy or have had problems carrying a baby to term, surrogacy is an option to consider. This involves implanting an embryo inside the uterus of a woman who is capable of sustaining the baby. The process of choosing or deciding on surrogacy can be a difficult procedure, and is also something to discuss with the physician if other options for treatment have already been ruled out.

Risks involved There are some risks involved with fertility treatments just as with any surgical procedure. Birth defects increase with IVF, as do lower birth weights, but a direct reason for these effects has not yet been determined.

Another important risk is depression for one or both partners. Speaking to a counselor about problems associated during the treatments is a good idea for the couple. This can be especially helpful when the couple is having a difficult time conceiving and the stress levels reach their highest.

Adoption
Adopting a child is a great option for any couple. Adoption may be one of the last options to consider, but it should be given some thought during the fertility treatments. Although adopting a child can also take time and money, the end result can be the family a couple dreamed of having. H

Makeover Update

A smile is worth a thousand words, so that’s where we decided to start for the Ultimate Makeover for Kathy. The 35 year old has been drinking coffee since she was eight and says the habit had left her teeth less than pearly white. “My grandmother would give me a half a cup of coffee when I was young,” she says, “and I’ve been drinking it all my life.” Her teeth were already straight, so with the help of MaryKaren Matt, D.D.S., many years of yellow coffee stains were instantly erased in one hour through a Zoom! In-Office Whitening System procedure, leaving Kathy with a perfect smile.

Kathy arrived at 10 a.m. for the treatment and was led to the dentist’s chair. Typically, she says she is daunted by the dentist’s office; however, Dr. Matt and her staff made her feel comfortable and at ease. “Before they did anything, Dr. Matt held a porcelain tooth next to my mouth that matched my teeth,” she says. “When everything was over, she held the same tooth up again to show me the difference of my [now whitened] teeth, and it didn’t match at all.”

Through the Zoom! In-Office Whitening System the clinician first isolated Kathy’s lips and gums. Zoom! Whitening Gel was then applied to her teeth and was activated by a specially designed light, which removes deep stains and discoloration. A five-minute fluoride treatment was applied as a finishing touch, and by lunchtime, Kathy was ready to go. With her teeth now shades whiter, Kathy says she will only drink coffee through a straw because she wants to make her bright smile last. The precaution, however, might be unnecessary because the treatment usually lasts at least a year, so keep on smiling Kathy!

Look for Kathy’s new fashionable eyewear in an upcoming issue, courtesy of Marc Sanders, M.D., F.A.C.S. H

Sugar Land: Home Sweet Home

Houston is a sprawling, diverse city with suburbs on all sides. One of the most prominent is the city of Sugar Land.

Within arms reach
Today, the city of Sugar Land has refined itself into a beautiful suburb with a population of 70,758. Located roughly 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston off of U.S. 59 South, the residents of Sugar Land have created a feeling of family and community away from the big city. However, they remain close enough to Houston to enjoy the luxury of driving into it and coming back home whenever city life becomes overwhelming. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Houston recently established a Park & Ride system at the University of Houston Sugar Land campus with a Trek Express service to Greenway Plaza, thus making travel into the city even more accessible.

History 101
The area where Sugar Land stands today was established in the 1820s when Samuel M. Williams was issued a land grant from Stephen F. Austin. His two brothers, Nathaniel and Matthew Williams, initially purchased the land from him and began to cultivate the land with cotton, corn and sugar cane. They initially named the land Oakland Plantation, but were not able to keep the land long after the death of Samuel.

Following Samuel Williams’ death in 1853, the land was sold to Benjamin Terry and William Kyle after they had amassed a great fortune during the California gold rush. They were instrumental in first bringing the railroad to the area and laying concrete plans to run the railway through Sugar Land to increase commerce. As time progressed, the land exchanged hands several times and was eventually transformed from its oligarchic beginnings to a proper democracy with the election of its first mayor, T.E. Harmon, in 1959.

There is no equal
Sugar Land owes its name to Imperial Sugar Company. The company began its early roots with the start of the first sugar mill in 1843. It evolved through the late 1880s and into the early 1900s by changing owners and developing into its own large corporation in 1924. By 1997, the Imperial Company had acquired so many other refineries that it was the largest producer of sugar in the United States. In May 2003, the refinery was closed down, and all of its previous acquisitions were sold. The south Houston establishment continues to house its corporate headquarters on the old site of the factory, but the actual production of the sugar has been moved elsewhere. The people can still see the effects of the company by looking at the side posts along U.S. 59 South. Many are decorated with the Imperial Sugar crown surrounded by the ‘lone star’ of Texas.

Come one and all The newly opened Sugar Land Town Square has become the place to see and be seen. Not only has it given the residents of Sugar Land a place to call ‘downtown,’ but has also opened the area to more commerce and residential life. It is a family-friendly area comprised of commercial and retail venues like Starbucks and Ben and Jerry’s. Baker Street Pub has also opened, finally giving partygoers an actual bar rather than the restaurant varieties at Café Adobe or Chili’s. Big business has also taken notice of the booming growth in Sugar Land. Companies like the Fluor Corporation, Schlumberger, Aetna Healthcare, Unocal and Ondeo Nalco all make their home here.

Thousands of families have made Sugar Land their home over the years. One of the incentives is living in one of the master-planned communities Sugar Land has to offer. New Territory, Avalon, Sugar Creek and Greatwood are only a few of the many communities located in the city. People enjoy the strong sense of community they get from the safe streets, great school system and added benefits like parks, lakes and community centers. For couples with small children, Sugar Land has become the ideal place to raise their new family.

School days The city of Sugar Land is located in Fort Bend Independent School District. It is the ninth largest school district within the state of Texas, encompassing more than 62,000 students from all around the world. The district emphasizes its dedication to student “achievement and development,” which is evident in the 61 National Merit Finalists in 2004. Two of the middle schools in Fort Bend have also been recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools, meaning that the United States Department of Education has acknowledged these schools for demonstrating significant achievement in the education of its students through the No Child Left Behind policy. Fort Bend ISD also takes pride in stressing its diversity. There is a strong belief that emphasis in diversity brings people closer together here, rather than create divisions. Sugar Land students are from China, Turkey, Portugal and all around Africa, as well as Houston, Michigan and California. This diversity and room for growth also has encouraged the students to be better prepared for the “real world.”

Power to the people
Over the years, the government of Sugar Land has brought the city accolades from all around the United States. Something that may surprise outsiders is that Sugar Land is run by a council-manager plan of government. Unlike its neighbor Houston, Sugar Land has a city council that appoints a manager who acts as a chief executive officer for the government. Although the city still has a mayor, he is a member of the city council and holds equal power among the other members of the council. In this manner, they are all giving their own political leadership while still implementing strong managerial skills for the city through its manger. Sugar Land residents enjoy everything the city has to offer, without the hustle and bustle that goes with it. Everything a person could want is here – an award-winning education system, master-planned communities, an ever-expanding economy, limitless shopping and entertainment for all ages. H

Beauty Talk

It’s fun to spice up your look with a couple of summer beauty trends. The key to looking fabulous this summer is color, color, color. Don’t be shy — colors like coral, bronze and rose perfectly complement this season’s fresh look.

Tips:
1. Always wear sunblock! (The minimum you can get away with is SPF 15.)
2. Instead of blush this summer, brush on a bit of bronzer for a healthy, sun-kissed look.
3. Dewy, moist makeup is the way to go. (Don’t pick matte colors!)
4. Go light. With Houston heat, ease up on the amount of makeup you apply — you don’t want to melt in the summer sun.
5. Remember, add a little color — lip gloss, bronzer and eye shadows are perfect ways to brighten any day.

St. Croix

You might not know it, but paradise is only 2,103 miles from Houston. We found it on the beautiful island of St. Croix while staying at The Hotel Caravelle in the quaint town of Christiansted. Part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is the perfect long weekend getaway for Houstonians that are scared of foreign travel and calculating exchange rates, since the local currency is the U.S. dollar – and you can be there in about four hours. In fact, St. Croix is the perfect getaway for just about anyone.

Out and about
Our first day on the island, we went on a safari organized by the hotel staff. The safari was a day-long tour of the island with stops at various watering holes and beautiful beaches and included terrific commentary about the island’s history. We headed first along the north shore with stellar views of the surf and sand. We took a brief stop at Christopher Columbus’ landing site, where he landed on the island in 1493 and met some resistance from the local Carib and Arawak Indians. Next, we headed into the rainforest, located in the center of the island, and stopped for a little “mama wanna,” the locally made moonshine we found at the Mt. Pellier Hut Domino Club. The exotic libations aren’t the only attraction at Mt. Pellier’s, where we also encountered several enormous hogs that enjoy drinking nonalcoholic beer straight from the can. Turns out, we weren’t the only thirsty travelers in the area.

We stopped for lunch in Frederiksted, the only other town of note on the island, before heading on to the 300-year-old Cruzan Rum Distillery. (Many of you may be familiar with Cruzan Rum from their sponsorship of Kenny Chesney’s current tour.) I got to know the distillery and appreciate its wide variety of flavored rums, such as raspberry, banana, pineapple, citrus and coconut, that we sampled at the end of the tour. Another advantage to St. Croix’s relationship with the United States is the added benefit of being able to bring home six bottles of liquor per person, instead of the usual single bottle restriction. (So you can help your friends taste a little of the tropics upon your arrival home.)

Our final stop was at the historic Whim Plantation and Greathouse, a 16th century Danish sugar plantation that hosts tours of the restored stable, kitchen and main house, along with a tour of the exhibits describing harvesting of sugar cane.

True calling
One of the greatest draws to St. Croix is the exceptional and plentiful SCUBA diving opportunities. We spent the day with S.C.U.B.A. (St. Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventures) and its staff, Rodale’s Scuba Diving magazine’s No. 1-rated dive staff in the world for 2003. Along the coast of the island runs a 13,000 foot wall boasting the largest living reef of any Caribbean island and more than 30 fantastic dive spots.

On our two dives we saw stingrays, Caribbean spiny lobsters, barracuda, moray eels and a tremendous array of fish, coral and sea life. Equally impressive was the day we spent boating and snorkeling around Buck Island Reef National Monument, a 19,000-acre national park dedicated by President John F. Kennedy. The park is another island of 176 acres with a pristine beach, hiking and nature trails, and 4,554 acres of a surrounding reef system.

We spotted several baby black tip sharks while walking along the north side of the island and then were paid a visit by Sammy the Stingray, a park resident that loves to have his back scratched by swimmers. On the opposite side of the island, accessible only by boat, is the protected reef, set up by the park service with an underwater trail for snorkelers to follow with signs identifying various coral formations and sea life.

Festivities
We visited at a particularly opportune time as the Taste of St. Croix food and wine event was being held to benefit the St. Croix Foundation, an organization designed to help restore St. Croix physically, economically and socially. One ticket for a worthy cause gained you access to a beachside feeding frenzy of more than 40 restaurants from St. Croix (and even a few from St. Thomas). With unlimited samples of the best fare the island has to offer, we savored the gigantic scallops sauteéd in butter and truffle oil from Rumrunner’s, the People Choice winner three of the last four years. We were also able to pair the food with tastings of more than 30 wines offered by several different sponsors. This was the fifth annual event and is certainly worth planning your trip around.

Local talent
For those of you that want more than gorgeous beaches, unparalleled diving and snorkeling, exquisite cuisine, and historical significance, St. Croix is also host to countless local artisans. Jan Mitchell’s glass ornaments have hung on the White House Peace Tree for the last 10 years, and Whealan Masicott’s IB design studio features original handcrafted jewelry, like the Crucian Infinity bracelet we couldn’t snatch up fast enough.

Perfect place
The Hotel Caravelle is the perfect spot from which to launch all your island adventures. Located right on the water in historical downtown Christiansted, this small European-style hotel has a terrific staff that is thrilled to arrange any activity available on the island, including deep sea fishing and sea kayaking, along with all those we enjoyed while we were there. If you don’t want to take my word for it that they’ve found a little piece of paradise in St. Croix, just check out the live Christiansted web cam located at www.gotostcroix.com and see for yourself. But be careful, you may go straight from that site to booking your airfare. H

Essentials
– The Hotel Caravelle, 44A Queen Cross St., (800) 524-0410, www.hotelcaravelle.com – Cruzan Rum Distillery, #3 and 3A Estate Diamond, www.cruzanrum.com – Whim Plantation and Greathouse, St. Croix Landmarks Society, (340) 772-0598, www.stcroixlandmarks.com – S.C.U.B.A., #14 Caravelle Arade, (877) 567-1367, www.stcroixscuba.com

Houston, We Have a Winner

Even though Houston is the fourth-largest city in the country, its image on a national stage is usually colored by either oil, space or Enron. Attempts at building a better image for the city have met with limited success.

Thankfully, that all changed on the evening of May 10. Two Houstonians competing in a reality television program showed the world what Houstonians are really like. And they did it in grand fashion.

By finishing first in “The Amazing Race” on CBS, Uchenna and Joyce Agu became the first Houstonians to win a television reality program. Beating out 10 other two-person teams, the Agus were the first across the finish line of a 40,000- miles-plus race that took them to five continents and 25 cities.

In its seventh season on CBS, the Emmy award-winning program has a very simple premise: Teams race around the world completing challenges along the way in order to receive clues to their next destination point. At the conclusion of each leg of the race, the team that finishes last is usually eliminated. However, on certain segments, the last-place team is not eliminated but is instead stripped of all of their money and possessions. This was the situation in which the Agus found themselves going into the home stretch.

Regular viewers of “The Amazing Race” came to know a great deal about Uchenna and Joyce. They were both previously employed by companies that imploded in the wave of accounting scandals (him with Enron, her with WorldCom). They are both active people who enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. And despite their best efforts to the contrary, they had been unsuccessful in their attempts to start a family.

At the outset of the competition, they made it very clear that if they were to win the $1 million grand prize, they would use the money to fund further attempts at in vitro fertilization. During the course of the contest, this desire to be parents became even more apparent, as the couple displayed heartfelt emotions while visiting an orphanage in Africa, teeming with children who needed a good home. During the final leg of the race, the obstacles piled up against them. A flat tire in Jamaica coupled with the humiliation of having to beg for money tried their spirits. But the tide for them turned when they were able to catch a flight from Puerto Rico to Miami which had essentially already left – the doors were closed and the jetway had pulled back.

And finally, with the end of the race and the $1 million payoff within mere feet, the couple found themeselves short of cab fare to pay their driver. Instead of bolting to the finish line, they did the right thing, yet again, they gathered the money to pay the cabbie.

H Texas sat down with Uchenna and Joyce in the most logical of settings – a car racing to the airport. We caught them on a touch-and-go in Houston amid the whirlwind of appearances for CBS. Sitting in the back of a limo headed for Bush Intercontinental Airport, the Agus shared some thoughts on their experience and let us in on a few behind-the-scenes secrets.

H Texas: My big question, of course, is what did you say to that pilot to get him to let you on to that plane?
Uchenna: The ticket agent that had originally told us that there aren’t any flights. [That was] the same ticket agent that ushered [competitors] Rob and Amber onto the plane.
Joyce: But she had obviously told Rob about the flight, and we’re assuming that Rob had probably told them not to tell us.
UA: So, when we figured it out, by looking at the schedule board, we get there, and she’s standing by this closed door. [The television cameras] didn’t catch this part, but I yelled out, “You lied to me!” And then, she’s standing there, and just guilty. [And] we’re begging, and so finally [they] decided to call the pilot. But the pilot is the only one that can make that decision.

H:How far away were these cameras? Did the ticket agent see that you were being followed by cameras?
JA: Oh yeah, I think that might have had something to do with it. Might have. (laughs)
UA: Yeah, they stayed within 25, 30 feet of us. But you can’t [say] what you’re doing. All they know is you may be news, it may be whatever, so she felt pretty guilty. And I actually focused on her, like “You lied when I asked you about it.”
JA: And [Uchenna] asked the other people, “Did she just let a guy through here with a red hat on [Rob]?” [And she said] “Yes.” “Well, OK, so you’ve got to let us on.” That sucks, but they didn’t show that part.
UA: That was a little extra drama there.

H: Were there rules you had to memorize and everybody had to follow?
JA: Yeah, there were basic rules. You know, like don’t break the law.
UA: Drive the speed limit.
JA: One of the laws that we apparently did not read, or overlooked was you can’t beg on American soil. So, after they’d taken our money, our bags, everything else, and we caught up, we make it on the flight and we’re on our way to Puerto Rico, and we stop in Miami. We earn about $100, and then the producers came up to me and said, “You begged for money, didn’t you?” And I said, “Yeah, of course,” and so he said, “We’re going to have to take that back.”

H: And they took the money away?
JA: And they took it again.
UA: And that’s why we didn’t have very much money in Puerto Rico. So we’re like, OK, so we can’t beg money on American soil, but we can beg while we’re in the air, because air space is international. So, the flight attendants got together and raised money for us.

H: And how did you get them to do that because you couldn’t tell them what you were doing?
JA: We just said we’re in a race. We can say we’re in a race or a competition, and they kind of knew because they saw the cameras. And there are those envelopes that say, “Amazing Race,” on the front.

H: So that final thing, you really did have to get all the money for the taxi, but you couldn’t have just run?
UA: Run?

H: Because we’re watching at home going, “Just run!”
JA: You know, we could’ve totally went in and told the guy, look, “We’ll pay you in a minute because if it works out, we may just have a couple dollars.” But, we wanted to do the right thing, and I was like, OK, as long as we have time, and we could see anybody coming in or going out. UA: So, either they were already inside, and it didn’t matter, or they were coming.

H: So if you would’ve seen them pull up?
JA: Absolutely: Bail.
UA: See, the thing is I offered him my ring as payment, and he said, “No.” So we were like OK, we have to pay this guy because the rule is, A. Can’t break the law. And if we run in without him, it’s breaking the law. And at the same time we’re thinking he didn’t come here for a ring, so we went in and decided to do the begging that we could. And the whole thing is that once he agrees upon [an amount], then we can go.
JA: But we also wanted to keep our karma good. We just thought, OK, this guy wants his money, we haven’t seen any cabs coming, let’s just take care of him. So, it worked out. H

Houstonian Hilary Duff Chats with H Texas

Yes, Hilary is a household name.
Not the Hillary that may be running for president, but the superstar that everyone on the planet under the age of 18 knows. To say that her career is booming would be a major understatement. She has not only conquered the television and film industries, but now she is also a recording artist. Last year, her debut album on Hollywood Records, “Metamorphosis,” was No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in the week of its release, and its single “So Yesterday” topped the pop singles chart. “Fly” was recently named No. 30 on America’s Top 40, naming it one of the most played songs for the last 12 months. She has crisscrossed the country, performing to sold-out crowds and has sold millions of records. Her mantle is filled with awards. In fact, she broke the attendance record in March at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo with an audience of 73,800. She’s a genuine star; she’s 17 and has only had her driver’s license for a year. When she flashes a smile at you, you know you’ve been flashed. It’s one of the most beautiful smiles around, and the day we talked, she was just back from the dentist. She had chipped both of her front teeth on microphones. “I’m doing all these performances, dancing and jumping all over the stage,” she says, “and I forget about my microphone hitting my teeth.”

How did all this happen in what seems to be such a short period of time? Hilary Ann Duff was born here in Houston on Sept. 28, 1987, to Robert and Susan Duff. She and her older sister, Haylie, are sixth-generation Texans – and their Texas roots are very important to them.

“I do love Texas … it’s such a special place,” Hilary says. “My sister, mom and dad are my best friends, and family means everything to me. Whatever success I have had is because we work together as a team, and we work hard.

“Haylie is my idol and my best friend,” Hilary continues. “She’s only three years older than me; and when we were growing up, whatever she did I wanted to do. If Haylie danced, then I wanted to dance. If Haylie sang, I wanted to sing. It was Haylie who came home one day and said she wanted to be an actress. At first, I thought that was a stupid idea. Then one day, I went with her to an audition, and I began to find acting challenging and motivating. I was probably 8 or 9 years old.

“When I was 7 years old, in the first grade,” she recalls, “I had a speech impediment. The school suggested that I get speech therapy, and my mom was absolutely opposed to the idea. Instead, without ever telling me why, she started me in voice lessons. That’s when I realized I loved to sing. Within a month my “speech impediment” was gone. Another thing I realized was that while I had always been very shy, when I sang, I wasn’t shy at all.

“I was in Memorial Drive Elementary about a year and a half – I guess I was about 9 when Mom packed us up, and we were off to Los Angeles,” she explains. “I know a lot of people thought we were crazy, and there was even some negative criticism of my family. Home school and tutors is where we landed, and believe it when I tell you we worked hard. My dad stayed in Houston, and we visited there and at the ranch in Bastrop, Texas, as often as we could, and he came out here as much as he could. There may be a chance that he’ll move out here soon.” She is thrilled at the prospect.

Susan Duff handles not only the duties of mother and mentor, but is also the manager for both of her daughters. I first met the family when Haylie starred in “Dreams in the Attic,” which was shot in Galveston. Shelly Duvall starred as the owner of a costume shop, and I played her assistant who changed costumes all day long. Susan was on the set every day, always trying to help everyone in any way possible. The close relationship between mother and daughters and the great respect that they showed each other was obvious.

Hilary appeared in the 1997 women’s western, “True Women,” and in 1998, when she was 10, she starred as the good witch, Wendy, and Casper’s best friend in “Casper Meets Wendy,” also starring Shelly Duvall and Teri Garr. Next was an appearance in “The Soul Collector.” The big break and Hilary’s first major success came in 2001 with the Disney Channel television series “Lizzie McGuire.” The show also marked her singing debut, with “I Can’t Wait” – one of the songs from the platinum, million-selling “Lizzie McGuire” soundtrack. Though the “Lizzie” show has been on hiatus now for almost four years, it is still rated No. 1 in its time slot.

In 2003, Hilary starred in three feature films, “Cheaper by the Dozen” with Steve Martin, the comedy “Agent Cody Banks” with Frankie Muniz and her own starring vehicle “The Lizzie McGuire Movie.” She also filmed “Raise Your Voice,” in which she starred with Rita Wilson and John Corbett. Released last summer was the romantic comedy feature “A Cinderella Story” with Chad Michael Murray.

She recently completed another romantic comedy, “The Perfect Man,” where her character is a teenage girl searching for the perfect partner for her single mom. Another comedy she is filming, “Outward Blonde,” has her playing a character much like Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde.” In it, she’s a teenager from New York who, after failing gym class, is sent to an Outward Bound program.

Her favorite movies thus far have been “Raise Your Voice” and “The Perfect Man.” But I hear the most excitement in her voice when she talks about a movie project she started in April, co-starring sister Haylie, titled “Material Girls.”

Anything pertaining to Hilary Duff is so hot, it has even surprised Hilary. Her fashion line of clothes for young teens, called Stuff by Hilary Duff, is in Target stores around the country. Hilary has a lot of input with the designs and is quick to remind me that these are for much younger teens than herself at this point in her life. There are Hilary Duff fashion dolls – a TV Star doll, Rock Star doll or Movie Star doll.

On any given day, you might flip through the channels or pick up a magazine and find Hilary winning the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress, Hilary and Haylie winning the award for “Best Sister Style” at Us magazine’s celebration for the “Young, Hot Hollywood Style” Awards, Hilary co-hosting the popular television show “The View” for a week, Hilary and Haylie’s national commercials, Hilary hosting MTV award shows, Hilary being interviewed by Jay Leno or David Letterman, or Hilary being ranked No. 72 in “The Celebrity 100” report by Forbes magazine.

Not that a 17-year-old needs to think about it that much, but when asked about a beauty regime, she says, “I think it’s really important to exercise, but I don’t have a specific program. When I can, I like to walk and jog. Generally, I try for a balanced diet, but I do like my junk food. I try to clean the makeup off my face thoroughly and drink lots of water. That’s about all I have time for.”

This is a young woman who has been blessed with the solid foundation of a loving family, a mom and dad who have instilled basic, faith-based values that have produced down-to-earth, grateful and open-hearted daughters who are dedicated to helping others. Hilary and Haylie joined other young performers as charter members of Kids with a Cause to create programs that improve the quality of life for disadvantaged children. Hilary is very active in the group, participating in fund-raising events and visiting children in hospitals around the country. Hilary has designed T-shirts to benefit Kids with a Cause and Ocean of Love. She has also been named the youth ambassador for Return to Freedom, a refuge to preserve the last of America’s wild horses.

I ask if she has a favorite thought or saying that motivated her. She thinks about this for awhile and says, “You know that old saying – about seeing the glass half full instead of half empty? I’m always remembering how lucky I am – thousands know my music. I have a nice house, car, beautiful clothes – the best family in the world. I’m really lucky.

“But recently, I was on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show,” and I’d had a pretty bad morning. Normally, I’m a very positive person, but I was tired, stressed, not at home, not comfortable. I was walking around with a bowl of cereal, dropped it and broke the bowl. Suddenly, I saw a hummingbird on the windowsill and snapped right out of that bad mood. I told the story to Ellen, who told me she had the same kind of morning. Seems Ellen was grumbling and rushing, and suddenly, she saw two ducks land in her back pond. She told me she snapped right out of it. We laughed about it! I try to remember all the time how lucky I am – and I picture the glass half full.”

When I ask Hilary about the toughest part of her job, the response is quick: “Well, the saddest thing for me is sometimes I’m struggling and pushing, and people aren’t happy for me. There’s a lot of negativity out there. And, of course, the lack of privacy – that’s hard to get used to. Also, it’s change, changing the perception of Hilary, the “Lizzie McGuire” character, into the Hilary I am today. It’s not just me, all of us have to change and evolve in life, and sometimes it’s not easy. My singing career has helped me a lot. The “Metamorphosis” album contains many songs that I can really relate to now.”

Quickly she is able to define the best part of her job. “The success,” she says, “and the creativity! And it’s all because of my mom, dad and sister. We did this together. We made it happen. Dreams do come true.” Yes, Hilary Duff is a superstar, she’s 17, and she’s an all-American, girl-next-door, dream of a human being. Maybe this is the Hilary that will run for president one day! H

The Best of H Texas 2005

Wining and dining
Best burger
Christian?s Totem 7340 Washington Ave., (713) 864-9744

Best fries
Tony Mandola’s Gulf Coast Kitchen 1962 W. Gray, (713) 528-3474

Best chips and salsa
Maria Selma 1619 Richmond, (713) 528-4920

Best pasta
Fabio’s 212 Westheimer, (713) 528-4212

Best dessert
Dessert Gallery 3200 Kirby Drive, (713) 522-9999

Best barbecue
Hickory Hollow 101 Heights Blvd., (713) 869-6300

Best pizza
Late Nite Pie 502 Elgin, (713) 529-5522

Best fried chicken
Pollo Campero 5616 Bellaire Blvd., (713) 395-0990

Best comfort food
Blue Plate Bistro 1708 Post Oak Blvd., (713) 439-1537

Best health-conscious menu
Baba Yega 2607 Grant, (713) 522-0042

Best Atkins-friendly menu
Annabelle’s Diner 905 Taft, (713) 523-9958

Best natural foods
The Hobbit Café 2242 Richmond, (713) 526-5460

Best seafood
Denis Seafood 12109 Westheimer, (281) 497-1110

Best steak
Vic & Anthony’s 1510 Texas, (713) 228-1111

Best sushi
Azuma Sushi & Robata Bar 5600 Kirby Drive, (713) 432-9649

Best tacos
El Tiempo Cantina 5602 Washington Ave., (713) 681-3645

Best Italian
Palazzo’s 3215 Westheimer, (713) 522-6777

Best Asian
Mo Mong 1201 Westheimer, (713) 524-5664

Best Greek
Niko Niko’s 2520 Montrose, (713) 528-1308

Best Indian
Ashiana 12610 Briar Forest, (281) 679-5555

Best French
Rouge 812 Westheimer, (713) 520-7955

Best Latin
America’s 1800 Post Oak Blvd., (713) 961-1492

Best 24-hour restaurant
Spanish Flowers 4701 N. Main St., (713) 869-1706

Best breakfast
Daily Grind 4115 Washington Ave., (713) 861-4558

Best brunch
The Remington 1919 Briar Oaks Lane, (713) 403-2631

Best power lunch
La Griglia 2002 W. Gray, (713) 526-4700

Best healthy takeout
Whole Foods Market 2955 Kirby Drive, (713) 520-1937

Most romantic
La Tour d’Argent 2011 Ella Blvd., (713) 864-9864

Most creative menu
Café Annie 1728 Post Oak Blvd., (713) 840-1111

Most exotic menu
Rainbow Lodge 1 Birdsall, (713) 861-8666

Most authentic restaurant
Kanomwan Thai Restaurant 1011 Telephone, (713) 923-4230

Best duplicate of the original
Piatto Ristorante 4925 W. Alabama, (713) 871-9722: original 11693 Westheimer, (281) 759-7500: new

Best surprise dining option
Sam Houston Race Park 7575 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. West, (281) 807-8700

Best patio dining
El Pueblito 1423 Richmond, (713) 520-6635

Best new Montrose hot spot
Senor Rita’s 2409 Montrose, (713) 526-7482

Best bargain dining
Cali Sandwich 3030 Travis, (713) 526-0112

Best family dining
Cleburne Cafeteria 3606 Bissonnet, (713) 667-2386

Best kid’s menu
59 Diner 3801 Farnham, (713) 523-2333

Kid’s favorite
James Coney Island 3607 Shepherd, (713) 524-7400

Best coffee shop
Agora 1712 Westheimer, (713) 526-7212

Best martini
Morton’s – The Steakhouse 5000 Westheimer, (713) 629-1946

Best Bloody Mary
Brennan’s of Houston 3300 Smith, (713) 522-9711

Best frozen screwdriver
The Social 3730 Washington Ave., (713) 426-5585

Best beers on tap
Flying Saucer 705 Main St., (713) 228-7468

Best wine selection
ibiza 2450 Louisiana, (713) 524-0004

Best place to smoke cigars
Sambuca 909 Texas, (713) 224-5299

Place it’s cool to be rude
Star Pizza 2111 Norfolk, (713) 523-0800

Best fish market
Captain Henry’s 1419 Lawrence Road, (281) 334-4034

Entertainment
Most lively restaurant bar
Farrago 318 Gray, (713) 523-6404

Best happy hour
Café Adobe 2111 Westheimer, (713) 528-1468

Best place to unwind on a Friday
Onion Creek 3106 White Oak, (713) 880-0706

Best dive bar
Kay’s Lounge 2324 Bissonnet, (713) 521-0010

Best sports bar
The Tavern 1340 W. Gray, (713) 522-8090

Best neighborhood bar
Jimmie’s Ice House 2803 White Oak Drive, (713) 861-9707

Best bar food
Wet Spot 106 W. Gray, (713) 526-9700

Best icehouse
West Alabama Ice House 1919 W. Alabama, (713) 528-6874

Best live music
The Meridian 1503 Chartres St., (713) 225-1717

Best place for a first date
La Carafe 813 Congress, (713) 229-9399

Best singles spot
M Bar 402 Main St., (713) 222-1022

Best place to go dancing
Escobar 2905 Travis, (281) 701-4248

Hottest spot in the ‘burbs
Amerigo’s Grille 25250 Grogan’s Park Drive, The Woodlands, (281) 362-0808

Best liquor store
Spec’s Liquor Warehouse 2410 Smith, (713) 526-8787

Best view
Skyline Bar & Grill 1600 Lamar, (713) 739-8000

Best wine list
Tony’s 1801 Post Oak Blvd., (713) 622-6778

Most unique wine store
Best Cellars 5000 Westheimer, Ste. 210, (713) 840-9463

Best cigar shop
Jeffrey Stone Ltd. 5000 Westheimer, Ste. 610, (713) 621-2812

Best balcony
The Red Door 2416 Brazos, (713) 526-8181

Most unique place to throw a party
Union Station 501 Crawford St., (713) 259-8800

Best family fun
Children’s Museum of Houston 1500 Binz, (713) 522-1138

Best family outing
Six Flags Astroworld 9001 Kirby Drive, (713) 799-1234

Best children’s educational program
Houston Rodeo 8334 Fannin, (713) 629-3700 tickets

Best family workout
YMCA – The Woodlands 6145 Shadow Bend Place, The Woodlands, (281) 367-9622

Best after-church event
Astros game 501 Crawford, 1(877) 9ASTROS

Best family getaway
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, (281) 367-9797

Best day in the sun
Moody Gardens One Hope Blvd., Galveston, 1 (800) 582-4673

Best city mascot
Clutch of the Houston Rockets 1510 Polk St., (713) 627-DUNK

Best museum
Houston Museum of Natural Science 1 Hermann Circle Drive, (713) 639-4629

Best festival
Greek Festival 3511 Yoakum Blvd., (713) 526-5377

Best parade
Everyones Art Car Parade Allen Pkwy., (713) 926-6368

Best youth group
Second Baptist Church 6400 Woodway, (713) 465-3408

Best New Radio Station
Mega 101, Latino and Proud KLOL, 101.1

Décor
Best décor for a law firm
The West Law Firm 1600 State Hwy. 6, Ste. 450, Sugar Land, (281) 277-1500

Best décor for a doctor’s office
Lucian J. Rivela, M.D., F.A.C.S. 9191 Pinecroft Drive, Ste. 150, The Woodlands, (281) 681-3905

Best contemporary décor
Angie S. Dinh, D.D.S. 3425 S. Shepherd, Ste. 250, (713) 526-0056

Best décor for a restaurant
Café Le Jadeite 1952 W. Gray, (713) 528-4288

Best décor for a boutique
Flounce 1621 Westheimer, (713) 533-9303

Most unique retail location
Harley-Davidson of The Woodlands 25545 I-45 North, (281) 681-0099

Best décor for a hotel
Hotel Icon 220 Main St., (713) 224-4266

Best décor for an architectural firm
Page Southerland Page 1100 Louisiana, Ste. 1, (713) 871-8484

Active Life
Best new gym
Houstonian Lite 711 Louisiana, Ste. 200, (713) 224-5990

Best yoga class
Joy Yoga 1916 W. 18th St., (713) 819-9390

Best pilates
The Good Space 5757 Woodway, Ste. 150, (713) 266-9348

Best kickboxing
Fit 1532 W. Gray, (713) 782-9348

Best public golf course
Memorial Golf Course 6501 Memorial Drive, (713) 862-4033

Best private golf course
Sweetwater Country Club 4400 Palm Royale Blvd., (281) 980-4653

Best skate shop
The Source 2511 Rice Blvd., (713) 520-8980

Best bikes
Bike Barn 6135 F.M. 1960 West, (281) 440-3555

Living
Best lofts
Lofts on Post Oak 1901 Post Oak Blvd., (713) 626-1901

Best new lofts
Alta Lofts One Hermann Park Court, (713) 741-6400

Best condos
Orion Condominiums 8 Asbury Place, (713) 880-1616

Best new apartments
The Calais 3210 Louisiana, (713) 520-8300

Best living outside the loop
Two Waterway Lofts The Woodlands, (281) 528-5638

Best community clubhouse
7575 Kirby 7575 Kirby Drive, (713) 667-7575

Best high-rise
Villa D’Este Houston
1000 Uptown Park Blvd., (713) 877-2000

Most luxurious living
The Royalton at River Oaks 3333 Allen Pkwy., (713) 862-VIEW

Best included amenities
1200 Post Oak 1200 Post Oak Blvd., (713) 622-8080

Best cyber café
Esplanade 1903 Hermann Drive, (713) 807-7777

Most unique in-town builder
HHN Homes 5910 Rose, (713) 526-3060

Best retirement/assisted-living community
Regal Estates 500 Enterprise Ave., League City, (281) 538-5993

Best Suburb
The Woodlands

Best master-planned community
Riverstone

Best new master-planned community
Long Meadow Farms

Best pool in a community
Cinco Ranch

Best marketing campaign
Fall Creek

Best consumer billboard
Trendmaker Homes

Services
Best manicure
Roula’s Nail Spa 3017 Kirby Drive, (713) 528-8500

Best facial
Institute Clarins Saks Fifth Ave., 5115 Westheimer, (713) 623-4893

Best massage
Trellis Spa Houstonian, 111 N. Post Oak Lane, (713) 685-6790

Best new salon
Blu Salon & Spa 3616 Washington Ave., (713) 880-2400

Best caterer
Compleat Cuisine 515 W. Alabama, (713) 524-2788

Best limo service
Everyones Limousine (713) 358-LIMO

Best wedding planner
Sharon Graham, Event Site Inc. 505 Durham, (713) 784-1583

Best place for wedding reception
Crystal Ballroom at the Rice 909 Texas Ave., (713)227-7423

Best florist
Aubrey Sellers 314 Gray, (713) 807-1919

Best music program
Lakewood Church 7317 E. Houston Road, (713) 635-4154

Best place for private/corporate event
Houston Zoo 1513 N. MacGregor, (713) 533-6500

Best corporate retreatM
Del Lago 600 Del Lago Blvd., Montgomery, (936) 582-6100

Best auctioneer
Vikki Vines 10205 Sweetwater Lane, (281) 931-0100

Best interior design firm
Barone Design Group 13831 U.S. 290, Ste. 250, (713) 460-0920

Best architect
BNIM Architects 4203 Yoakum, Ste. 300, (713) 528-4545

Best pool designer
Venetian Pools & Spas 5907 Stirring Winds, (281) 445-0488

Best landscape architect
Exteriordesigns.net 27326 Robinson Road, Ste. 221, (281) 681-8675

Best mortgage company
Memorial Park Mortgage 5900 Memorial Drive, (713) 869-8869

Best picture framers
Dramatika 331 W. 19th St., (713) 868-5050

Best tailor
Duke of Hollywood Tailors (Char Bar) 305 Travis, (713) 222-8177

Best new cleaners
MW Cleaners Multiple locations, 1 (800) 776-SUIT

Best dog trainer
My Dog & Me 2215 Lawrence, (713) 864-3436

Best emergency room
Methodist Hospital 6565 Fannin, (713) 790-3311

Most convenient banking
Amegy Bank Multiple locations, (713) 235-8810 customer service

Best office equipment
Digitec Office Solutions 12503 Exchange Drive, Ste. 540, Stafford, (888) 267-7827

Best way to keep in touch
ev1.net 390 Benmar Drive, Ste. 200, (713) 333-7873

Best wireless carrier
Cingular Multiple locations, 1 (866) CINGULAR

Most upscale drive
Hummer Multiple locations, 1 (800) REAL-4WD

Best car wash
Bubbles Multiple locations, (281) 569-9000

Best lawyer commercial
Christian Hill 1445 N. Loop West, Ste. 900, (713) 862-9990

Best Astros’ promotion
Al’s Formal Wear “Kiss Cam” Multiple locations, 1 (877) 4ALS-TUX

Home and garden
Best accent pieces
Plush Home 2233 Westheimer, (713) 522-5230

Best candles
Olivine 1151 Uptown Park Blvd., (713) 463-7308

Best lamps and light fixtures
Eclectic Home 345 W. 19th St., (713) 869-1414

Best bedding
The Little Cottage 3614 Westheimer, (713) 850-7453

Best pottery
Meli Melo 5617 Morningside, (713) 526-9026

Best vases
Cities 2411 W. Alabama, (713) 528-2662

Best decorative glass
Illuminata Gallery 700 Town and Country Blvd., (713) 467-4494

Best baby cribs
Bellini Baby and Children’s Furniture 1720 Post Oak Blvd., (713) 623-2884

Best children?s furniture
Nest n’ Cot 2542 Amherst, (713) 535-3600

Best aromatherapies
Body, Mind and Soul 4344 Westheimer, (713) 993-0550

Best Texas décor
Courtney and Co. 4950 Terminal, (713) 665-5600

Best Chinese imports
Wind Water Gallery 540 W. 19th St., (713) 426-4885

Best garden tools
Buffalo Hardware 2614 Westheimer, (713) 524-1011

Best outdoor entertaining pieces
Smith & Hawken 3935 San Felipe, (713) 621-9395

Best leather
Urban Leather 6215 Richmond, (713) 432-SOFA

Best patio furniture
Cierra 2418 W. Alabama, (713) 942-9001

Best garden accents
Garden Mystiques 807 W. Gray, (713) 942-0010

Best art
Hanson Galleries 1101 Uptown Park Blvd., (713) 552-1242

Best gallery
Indian Summer Lodge – artgarden 605 Columbia, (713) 869-0444

Best home theater décor
Retro Gallery 1839 W. Alabama, (713) 522-7074

Best antique dealer
Watkins Culver 2308 Bissonnet, (713) 529-0597

Best custom furniture
Azento Home Interiors 701 W. Gray, (713) 528-5498

Women’s fashions
Best jean selection
Get With It 2528 Amherst, (713) 520-8555

Best suit ensembles
BB1 Classic 2001 W. Gray, (713) 942-7565

Best accessory steal
The Noble Lady 2608 Persa, (713) 529-8885

Best evening gowns
Runway Fashion Boutique 1108-08 Uptown Park Blvd., (713) 621-2626

Best aerobic outfits
Lucy 4052 Westheimer, (713) 877-0196

Best handbags
Glo Fashion Accessories 5600 Kirby Drive, (713) 664-6100

Best strappy sandals
Donald J. Pliner 4033 Westheimer, (713) 961-0600

Best maternity clothes
Pickles and Ice Cream 1704 Post Oak Blvd., (713) 623-2229

Best vintage jewelry
Kastafior 3201 Westheimer, (713) 523-6522

Best new boutique
Brown Eyes Blue 2427 Rice Blvd., (713) 520-5577

Best bath products
Indulge 2700 W. Alabama, (713) 888-0181

Best original jewelry
Ann Mac Designs 1807 W. Gray, (713) 529-2280

Best lingerie
La Mode Lingerie 2015 W. Gray, (713) 529-3980

Best tent sales
Miel de Abeja 2815 Westheimer, (713) 522-3025

Children and teenagers
Best infant and toddler clothing
Chase’s Closet 2033 W. Gray, (713) 630-2909

Best girls’ casual wear
Hot to Tot 3733 Westheimer, (713) 599-0003

Best boy’s casual wear
Cotton Tots 2055 Westheimer, (713) 526-8686

Best children’s evening wear
Little Patooties 2608 Westheimer, (713) 520-8686

Best prom dresses
Chick 650 W. Bough Lane, (713) 463-8333

Best toy store
Fundamentally Toys 1963 W. Gray, (713) 524-4400

Best learning toys
Learning Express 2540 Amherst, (713) 529-7498

Men’s fashions
Best suit ensembles
Bill Walker Clothier 1141 Uptown Park Blvd., (713) 871-9811

Best dress shoes
Avventura 5015 Westheimer, (713) 599-0600

Best poker sets
Kuhl-Linscomb 2424 W. Alabama, (713) 520-7691

Best boots
Pinto Ranch 1717 Post Oak Blvd., (713) 333-7900

Best trucker hats Urban Outfitters 2501 University Blvd., (713) 529-3023

Best ties
Norton Ditto 2454 W. Alabama, (713) 688-9800

Best cocktail shirts
M2M Fashion 3400 Montrose, (713) 529-9924

Best briefcases
Unika Deco 4412 Morningside Drive, (713) 522-2216

Best T-shirts
That 70’s Shop 2202 Bissonnet, (713) 874-1970

Best jeans and tennis shoes
Todd’s Place 1151-06 Uptown Park Blvd., (713) 877-8630

Best watch selection
Donoho’s Jewelers 9490 Six Pines Drive, The Woodlands, (281) 367-9050

Gifts
Best edible gifts
The Chocolate Bar 1835 W. Alabama, (713) 520-8599

Best girlfriend gifts
It’s All About You 2016 W. Alabama, (713) 524-3056

Best baby gifts
Doodles 2518 Rice Blvd., (713) 528-2900

Best host gifts
The Wine Bucket Boutique and Bar 2311 W. Alabama, (713) 942-9463

Best invitations
More Than Paper 2055 Westheimer, (713) 526-0824

Best stationery selection
Avalon Stationery and Gifts 2604 Westheimer, (713) 528-0052

Best pet gifts
Sasha’s Suds n’ Duds 2418B Sunset Blvd., (713) 533-1117

Best sporting goods
Academy Sports and Outdoors Multiple locations, 1 (888) 9-ACADEMY

Best gift card
Home Depot Multiple locations, 1 (800) 430-3376

Most unique shopping experience
Market Street 9595 Six Pines Drive, The Woodlands, (281) 419-4774

Best upscale shopping
Uptown Park 1400 Post Oak Blvd., (713) 297-6282

Best mall makeover
Memorial City Mall 303 Memorial City, (713) 464-8640 H

St. Croix Jet away to the Virgin Islands’ St. Croix

You might not know it, but paradise is only 2,103 miles from Houston. We found it on the beautiful island of St. Croix while staying at The Hotel Caravelle in the quaint town of Christiansted. Part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is the perfect long weekend getaway for Houstonians that are scared of foreign travel and calculating exchange rates, since the local currency is the U.S. dollar – and you can be there in about four hours. In fact, St. Croix is the perfect getaway for just about anyone.

Out and about
Our first day on the island, we went on a safari organized by the hotel staff. The safari was a day-long tour of the island with stops at various watering holes and beautiful beaches and included terrific commentary about the island’s history. We headed first along the north shore with stellar views of the surf and sand. We took a brief stop at Christopher Columbus’ landing site, where he landed on the island in 1493 and met some resistance from the local Carib and Arawak Indians. Next, we headed into the rainforest, located in the center of the island, and stopped for a little “mama wanna,” the locally made moonshine we found at the Mt. Pellier Hut Domino Club. The exotic libations aren’t the only attraction at Mt. Pellier’s, where we also encountered several enormous hogs that enjoy drinking nonalcoholic beer straight from the can. Turns out, we weren’t the only thirsty travelers in the area.

We stopped for lunch in Frederiksted, the only other town of note on the island, before heading on to the 300-year-old Cruzan Rum Distillery. (Many of you may be familiar with Cruzan Rum from their sponsorship of Kenny Chesney’s current tour.) I got to know the distillery and appreciate its wide variety of flavored rums, such as raspberry, banana, pineapple, citrus and coconut, that we sampled at the end of the tour. Another advantage to St. Croix’s relationship with the United States is the added benefit of being able to bring home six bottles of liquor per person, instead of the usual single bottle restriction. (So you can help your friends taste a little of the tropics upon your arrival home.)

Our final stop was at the historic Whim Plantation and Greathouse, a 16th century Danish sugar plantation that hosts tours of the restored stable, kitchen and main house, along with a tour of the exhibits describing harvesting of sugar cane.

True calling
One of the greatest draws to St. Croix is the exceptional and plentiful SCUBA diving opportunities. We spent the day with S.C.U.B.A. (St. Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventures) and its staff, Rodale’s Scuba Diving magazine’s No. 1-rated dive staff in the world for 2003. Along the coast of the island runs a 13,000 foot wall boasting the largest living reef of any Caribbean island and more than 30 fantastic dive spots.

On our two dives we saw stingrays, Caribbean spiny lobsters, barracuda, moray eels and a tremendous array of fish, coral and sea life. Equally impressive was the day we spent boating and snorkeling around Buck Island Reef National Monument, a 19,000-acre national park dedicated by President John F. Kennedy. The park is another island of 176 acres with a pristine beach, hiking and nature trails, and 4,554 acres of a surrounding reef system.

We spotted several baby black tip sharks while walking along the north side of the island and then were paid a visit by Sammy the Stingray, a park resident that loves to have his back scratched by swimmers. On the opposite side of the island, accessible only by boat, is the protected reef, set up by the park service with an underwater trail for snorkelers to follow with signs identifying various coral formations and sea life.

Festivities
We visited at a particularly opportune time as the Taste of St. Croix food and wine event was being held to benefit the St. Croix Foundation, an organization designed to help restore St. Croix physically, economically and socially. One ticket for a worthy cause gained you access to a beachside feeding frenzy of more than 40 restaurants from St. Croix (and even a few from St. Thomas). With unlimited samples of the best fare the island has to offer, we savored the gigantic scallops sauteéd in butter and truffle oil from Rumrunner’s, the People Choice winner three of the last four years. We were also able to pair the food with tastings of more than 30 wines offered by several different sponsors. This was the fifth annual event and is certainly worth planning your trip around.

Local talent
For those of you that want more than gorgeous beaches, unparalleled diving and snorkeling, exquisite cuisine, and historical significance, St. Croix is also host to countless local artisans. Jan Mitchell’s glass ornaments have hung on the White House Peace Tree for the last 10 years, and Whealan Masicott’s IB design studio features original handcrafted jewelry, like the Crucian Infinity bracelet we couldn’t snatch up fast enough.

Perfect place
The Hotel Caravelle is the perfect spot from which to launch all your island adventures. Located right on the water in historical downtown Christiansted, this small European-style hotel has a terrific staff that is thrilled to arrange any activity available on the island, including deep sea fishing and sea kayaking, along with all those we enjoyed while we were there. If you don’t want to take my word for it that they’ve found a little piece of paradise in St. Croix, just check out the live Christiansted web cam located at www.gotostcroix.com and see for yourself. But be careful, you may go straight from that site to booking your airfare. H

Essentials
– The Hotel Caravelle, 44A Queen Cross St., (800) 524-0410, www.hotelcaravelle.com – Cruzan Rum Distillery, #3 and 3A Estate Diamond, www.cruzanrum.com – Whim Plantation and Greathouse, St. Croix Landmarks Society, (340) 772-0598, www.stcroixlandmarks.com – S.C.U.B.A., #14 Caravelle Arade, (877) 567-1367, www.stcroixscuba.com