There goes the neighborhood Un-developers see great potential for the Bayou City

When I read a new group, Houstonians for Responsible Growth, was formed to pressure City Hall to get out of the way, I knew my town was on the right path toward a more livable, tree-hugging society. I felt even better when I learned former Mayor Bob Lanier gave it his backing. “Developers and their lobbying groups always have our best interests at heart,” I said to myself on the way over to the new group’s headquarters.

It was a cinder-block building between a park and an elementary school, with 10 billboards in the front yard — perfect location. “Is this the office of Houstonians for Responsible Growth?” I asked. “You’re leading the way to a better tomorrow?”

The executive director, whom I later found was named Sam (Cracked) Slab, looked up from his copy of Wrecking Ball Weekly. “Yep. The HRG is made up of the best commercial developers for Houston, and some of them even live here. The others need passports to visit their investments.”

“Absentee landlords are the best kind,” I said. “They don’t get in the way. So what are y’all doing?”

“We’re for building a better Houston by making slums more affordable. We have our charitable causes such as inflatable apartment houses for Katrina evacuees who are still here. Our next project is to put a mall in Memorial Park. As they say, nature abhors a vacuum.”

“That sounds wonderful,” I said. “I’m all for building new mini-warehouses, strip shopping centers and cement plants.” “Then you should visit some of our colleagues, like Building for a Better Building, Pro-Active Houstonians for Freedom and Friends of Smog. Then there’s my pet pressure group, the Bayou Beautification Bureau. Its motto is, ‘You don’t have to take care of concrete.’ They are the darlings of the Army Corps of Engineers.”

“How can you argue with groups with such names?” I asked. “But all these organizations sound as though they are in a public relations war with an enemy. Is there a Building for a Worse Houston or Houstonians for Urban Blight? Are Houstonians for Responsible Growth trying to out-lobby Houstonians for Irresponsible Growth? Who’s opposed to a better Houston?”

“The Sierra Club,” he said.

My next stop was a new Inner Loop subdivision, Lookalike Lakes. “This is only a demo house,” said Flood Plains, the salesman, “but then all the other houses will look exactly the same.”

“The name of this place is Lookalike Lakes. I don’t see any lakes,” I said.

“Wait until hurricane season.” There seem to be a lot of wonderful lobbying groups forming to pressure City Hall for less planning. I visited a local group, Houston: Shining City on the Fill. “We specialize in re-inventing neighborhoods,” said the spokesman, Blight White. “Sometimes this means kicking out the old folks, but, hell, they’re paid well. Those preservationists can be a real pain, too. Any building in Houston that gets a second coat of paint qualifies for a historical plaque. Then we put in townhouses and save space with no yards, sidewalks, trees or front porches. We like to get the biggest bang for the buck. Our idea of an undeveloped wilderness is a parking lot without white stripes.”

It was clear that Houston’s future development was in good hands. But one day I was driving down Bissonnet St. and spotted yellow-and-black signs, hundreds of them: “Stop Ashby High Rise.”

“My God!” I screamed. “They’re taking away my Viagra!” Turns out developers are simply trying to build a 24-story condo/office/muffler repair shop in a quiet residential area. “It’ll ruin our neighborhood, pour hundreds of cars through here every day and destroy our home values,” whined one Nervous Nelly homeowner.

Think how easily you could direct visitors. You won’t have any trouble finding our house. It’s next door to a skyscraper. And the value of your property should increase, not decrease, especially if you want to convert your house into a funeral home.

I stopped at the headquarters of another feel-good lobbying group, Save Us From Ourselves. I noticed the “Zoning is for Wussies” bumper sticker on the car outside the office. “The nice thing about Houston,” said Pealer Painter, the director, “is that you can build a multi-million dollar home and have the convenience of a tattoo parlor next door. Here we can build anything anywhere. Let’s say you’re the manager of an oil refinery, but want to live in a nice house in a formerly leafy and quiet neighborhood. You can still walk to work.”

I then called on a different type of lobbying group, Ox Carte Blanche. This group has been charged with foot-dragging in embracing modern thought. Its members approved earth and wind, but fire died for lack of a second. They also oppose light rail, calling it “the devil’s own contraption.” The chairman, Org, asked, “Name me one city where commuter rail lines work?”

“That’s easy,” I replied. “New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Dallas….”

“Besides those.”

This, of course, led me to the John Culberson Concrete Cascade Committee. “We need more freeways and less government control over our Constitutional guarantees of life, liberty and the pursuit of pavement,” said Chuck Hole, the public relations agent heading up the group. “If God wanted us to have light rail, He would have invented the wheel.”

It was hard to de-rail that train of thought, so to speak. My next stop was a new lobbying group which opposed any communistic influence on controlling pollution, Air Apparent. “Cutting down on Houston’s air pollution is a leftist, one-world scheme, led by the Tripartite Committee and Henry Kissinger, to deprive us of our right to blow into the skies anything we want,” said Hack Coughman, its spokesman. “It’s public air and we have as much right to it as anyone.”

You can’t argue with that logic. So my investigation of all the various lobbying groups with great-sounding names clearly shows who’s running Houston. Before leaving Coughman’s office, I asked him, “What’s your biggest obstacle to thoroughly screwing up our town?”

“Bill White.”

Louie Welch Remembering the late mayor

When Louie Welch first ran for public office in 1949, two PR consultants told him, “The first thing you’ve got to do is drop that nickname.” “I told them it wasn’t a nickname. My name is Louie, not Louis. I was named for a man named Louie.”

“They said, ‘Then change your name.'”

He didn’t change his name, and won anyway. His first public office was an at-large seat on the Houston City Council; the beginning of a long career in city government. Welch died Jan. 27 of this year, about four months after being diagnosed with untreatable lung cancer. A few years ago I visited him in his home in northern Harris County. He sat in his chair, surrounded by memorabilia of 18 years in City Hall. At this time, Welch was 84 years old. He had suffered three heart attacks and undergone a triple bypass, but was still a walking encyclopedia of local politics.

I asked what a voter should look for in selecting an office-seeker. “Character,” he responded immediately. “Next is intelligence which includes a knowledge of government. Then leadership. You can’t buy it. You can’t force it. We’ve had mayors who had these characteristics, and some who didn’t. Having a career in business may be helpful, maybe not, because the goal of a business is to make money. The goal of a government is to spend money, but spend it very wisely.”

Welch believed that governments should only do for people what they can’t do for themselves. “The first thing most people do when they get out of bed in the morning is brush their teeth. They’ve got to know that the water they are using is safe. But they cannot find out for themselves,” he said. “It’s the same thing when I go to a restaurant. I can’t hire a health inspector to first check it out.”

“Over time, a city derives its own culture. This is done with museums, symphonies, that sort of thing. But Houston has had more circuses than bread. We are building expensive playpens for sports but the average citizen can’t attend very often. The tickets cost too much. Maybe these sports palaces give us civic pride, but they do not fill a need. People need fresh water. Taking care of our sewage, that fulfills a need. People take these services for granted, but you want a real problem? Don’t pick up the garbage for two weeks. That happened once in New York City. It was awful.”

Welch was a strong Republican, but in his later years did not like the way city government had become so partisan. “When we have City Hall divided between political parties, one party’s mayor gets in power and loads the city’s payroll with political favorites who are then protected by Civil Service. The other party’s mayor eventually gets in power and can’t fire the political appointees. City Hall’s issues are not national issues. They are not Republican issues and they are not Democratic issues.” When it came to city finances, Welch’s philosophy was simple: “I never had a budget crisis because we budgeted to spend only the funds available. When these bills come due it won’t be the mayor who pays them, it will be the people of Houston who pay them.”

In watching mayors and city council members come and go due to term limits, he continued to support a strong-mayor form of government for Houston. “They all have to understand that the council has no administrative authority,” he said. “It’s illegal for the council to attempt to administer the city. That’s the mayor’s job. The mayor and only the mayor has all administrative powers. If you’ve got more than one person giving orders in City Hall, then you have chaos.”

“A city manager operation like Dallas’ is not a good idea, but Houston should consider doing what Miami, Nashville, Jacksonville and Baton Rouge, to name a few, have done: combine the city and the county governments and have a county mayor. In 1957 we got an outside commission of professionals to study our situation and the report back recommended that we combine those two governments.”

He had his own opinions of mass transit: “Light rail is a problem to me because I have a degree of ambivalence. I haven’t noticed that traffic is any easier in towns that have it. If you go rail, go heavy commuter rail. It would go to Katy, Tomball, maybe to Galveston, to Angleton maybe. When I was mayor in 1973 we made a study of mass transit that designated five corridors. The plan included heavy commuter rail, not a Toonerville Trolley and not Disneyland. But it did include people movers in certain areas — the Galleria and the Medical Center.”

The former mayor continued: “I don’t think that’s the only answer. Los Angeles does not have much rail and its traffic is no worse. Dallas was actually laid out before the automobile. So was Houston, but our streets were built wide enough so a six-mule team could turn around in them. That’s why we have those 80 and 100-foot-wide streets. Those widths are unparalleled in any large American city except Salt Lake City. But some developments have to be made besides just widening freeways. The Katy Freeway is a good place to look at before just stacking up more freeways and building little light rails that go slower than cars. People won’t go slower. They won’t use them.”

During his tenure as mayor, he presided over a Southern city experiencing the rigors of integration, and endured some anger in the black community, which he felt was unfair. “I didn’t pick my police chief. I inherited Buddy McGill. [Buddy] paid no attention to the fact that the city had a mayor. I asked him to look into a bad situation and he didn’t do a thing. Finally the feds did, and made seven major arrests. So I called him in. I said, ‘You had full information on this, but took no action.'”

“So McGill said, ‘What do you want me to do about it?'”

“I pulled out a letter and said, ‘I want you to sign your letter of resignation.”

“He said, ‘I won’t sign that. You’ll have to fire me.'”

“I said, ‘You’re fired.’ I hired Herman Short, who was the right man at the right time. I had told McGill that I did not want police using the N-word about black Houstonians, and nothing happened. The day that Herman took over, that was the day it stopped.”

Welch came to be mayor of Houston through the usual route: he owned an auto supplies store. He was born in West Texas and attended what was then Abilene Christian College and married his high school sweetheart, Iola Faye. They were married for 51 years. Welch came to Houston during World War II and opened his first auto supplies store. Six years later he was active in his church and became president of his Lions Club. On Dec. 31, 1949, Welch recalled, he made a speech at a dinner the Lions gave for some city officials. It must have been well-received because in 1950 a few friends began asking him to run for City Council. He told his would-be supporters that he didn’t even live in that council district. “Run at-large,” they said.

“I don’t have the $1,100 filing fee.”

“We’ll pay it.”

He ran, got elected to the City Council and began his career in public service. After his first two-year term, in 1952, he ran for mayor against Roy Hofheinz and lost. Two years after that Welch again ran for mayor against Hofheinz and lost. In 1955 Welch ran for a seat on City Council, won, and held that seat for eight years, during which time he ran for county judge and got trampled. He ran for mayor of Houston again in 1961. For the third time he lost.

He decided to get into the real estate business. He rented an office from another up-and-coming real estate investor, Bob Lanier. “I made more money than I had ever made before,” he says.

In 1963 Welch ran for mayor for the fourth time. He was finally elected mayor and served for 10 years.

When he left the mayor’s office, the Chamber of Commerce asked him to run that organization. He did for many years. His wife died in 1991; a year later he married Helen, a widow, who had been his secretary at City Hall. He retired on a city pension of $900 a month. “Helen worked for the city longer than I did, so she gets a bigger pension,” he said.

Despite Welch’s constant clarifications about his name, the Houston Chronicle’s obituary editorial in praise of the former mayor was headlined, “Louis Welch.” You can practically hear him tapping his gavel in council chambers and lecturing the press corps, “My name is Louie, not Louis.”

Travel smart Cure vacation’s headaches before they start

Planning a vacation is a job in itself. There’s more to it than booking a flight. Arranging hotel rooms and ground transportation, understanding currency in foreign countries and creating a budget are just a few of the important things you need to work through to make your trip a true vacation.

To Hire or not to Hire?
Early on, you should decide if you are going to book your vacation through a travel agent. Typically you tell a travel agent when and where you want to go. They research airfares, hotels, excursions, etc. and put together vacation packages. They do all the work; you just have to select the one that fits your dreams, desires and budget. Mike Weingart, president and managing director of Carson Wagonlit Travel World Travel Agency says travel agents are also a valuable resource during your trip. “We’ve been there. We know the pitfalls,” he says. “Let’s say you go to the hotel and thought you bought ‘X’ but are getting ‘Y.’ With a quick e-mail or phone call we can straighten it out. But if you’re on your own, you’re on your own.”

The Internet has made planning your own vacations easier than ever before. Web sites such as Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz eliminate the “middle man” and the fees he charges for his services. Most airlines, hotels, cities, and destinations have their own Web sites you can visit for information. George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, says it’s a good idea to search the airline’s Web site directly. “I think the big story for 2008 is that the best deals will be on the airlines’ sites only, not sites such as kayak.com.” Searching these sites several times throughout the week can help you find better deals. Airlines update their offers and input fares at different times. If an airline revises their offers late Friday, cheaper tickets might be found Saturday morning. Hobica advises checking sites three times a day. Another tip to save money on airfare is to fly out Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday, generally the cheapest days to fly. It is also a good idea to call hotels, excursion companies and attractions directly before you book on line. The salesperson who answers the phone may have some extra perks or a lower price they can offer. If they don’t, you can still book through their Web site. When you have made your selections, be sure to print out receipts and confirmation numbers and bring them on your trip.

Protect your assets
Ignoring small details can derail an otherwise pleasant vacation. It’s best to be prepared for all situations, before and during the trip. Weingart stresses purchasing travel insurance. “It’s so important,” he says. “If a family member gets sick and you can’t go, the insurance pays for the cancellation. Or if your baggage is stolen it can help you with that.” Put a hold on mail, magazine and newspaper deliveries. A huge pile of newspapers in your driveway alerts burglars that you’re away. This usually can be done online. Ask a close friend to check on the property periodically. Also, purchase timers that turn lights on and off to give your home the appearance of being occupied. Do everything you can to deter criminals from taking advantage of the situation.

Power of the Passport
If traveling abroad, a passport is the most important item to possess. They are mandatory for most foreign travel, including air travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. They also help when re-entering the Unites States by land or sea. Denise Blackwell, a Houston field officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, says, “What you want to do (when returning) is establish identity and citizenship. You’ll need documents such as a birth certificate and I.D. If you have your passport, it satisfies both documents.” Passports are not needed when traveling to and from U.S. territories, which include the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Pet Preparation
Whether or not pets go along for the ride, they’re still a big part of travel plans. It’s not easy handing off a member of the family to a stranger before a vacation, but a kennel may be the best choice if someone isn’t available to check on them daily. “People should do their homework,” says Lisa Weisberg, senior vice president of government affairs and public policy for the ASPCA. “They should know [if a kennel is] responsible, sanitary or if there have been problems in the past.” Ask for recommendations. Talk to the owners; they can give you an inclination of how pets are treated. Once you have selected a kennel, book early. Kennels fill up quickly during peak times of the year and you don’t want to be searching for one with a vacancy on the day you are leaving on your trip.

Weisberg says the ASPCA recommends animals not fly unless they are allowed in the cabin. If it is inevitable, contact your airline to find out about their pet policies and procedures. The organization advises scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian for a check-up and vaccination updates. Book direct flights when possible; add destination information to collars and mark carriers with “live animal” and arrows indicating the correct orientation. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask to check on your pets if the flight is delayed or there are concerns about their well-being.

Returning
Before buying that bottle of absinthe in France, it would be a good idea to brush up on U.S. importation laws. While many items seem harmless, they are prohibited from entering the country. Rice, Mediterranean tomatoes, Native American artifacts from Canada and Cuban gold are a few examples of contraband. There are also laws against bringing back living creatures and plants. Sometimes mailing items back to the states is a legal alternative. U.S. Customs and Border Protection provide an extensive list of contraband at www.cbp.gov. Not everything is prohibited; the agency puts restrictions on some items while cautioning against others. These rules are meant to prevent diseases or illnesses from entering the United States in contaminated goods.

A hiccup-free vacation doesn’t just happen. You have to do the legwork and planning ahead of time. If you don’t have time or desire to plan the trip yourself, enlist a travel agent. Depending on the option you choose, you will be spending time or money to plan your trip. A memorable vacation is worth the expense.

Bandera, Texas Escape the traffic…escape the humidity…escape the lines…escape to Bandera, Houston’s playground

Generations of Houstonians have experienced the allure of Bandera: the hills, the river, the cowboys, the stars, the music and dancing — the mystique of the “Cowboy Capital of the World.” Located just northwest of San Antonio, Bandera is nestled in the Texas Hill Country, arguably the most beautiful region of the state and a reasonable drive from Houston.

In Bandera County, you can be a “dude” at one of our ranches, saddle up to the locals on Main Street, dip an oar (or a toe) into the Medina River or bite into a freshly picked apple. Browse the Frontier Times Museum or pick up some Western duds. Hike through Lost Maples or lean your “hawg” into a curve in the hills. Grab a cold one, prop your feet up and let nature entertain you where our deer and antelope still play!

Whoop it up at a rodeo, maybe “bust a mutton” or catch a wild hog; there are festivals and parades galore. As the stars light up the sky, break out your boots and dance the night away. You’ll find good ol’ Texas music around every corner most nights.

Every season is a good season to be in Bandera, where the fun never sets. And Bandera-style fun will make you forget about the city. Escape to Bandera.

For event and accommodations listings, visit the Bandera County Convention &Visitors Bureau.

Bandera County Convention &Visitors Bureau
1-800-364-3833
www.banderacowboycapital.com

Lake Austin Spa High on Service

The path to wellness is a systematic series of individual choices. Choose to eat, choose to attend yoga classes or choose to do nothing at all. At Lake Austin Resort, You have nothing on your schedule, except dinner and your daily spa treatment. Days are filled with lemon water, tea and low-calorie meals. Robes are acceptable in the relaxed atmosphere, even at dinner. Visiting the spa resort is an exhilarating experience you can enjoy alone or with friends.

The concept
The resort is built on a hill overlooking a portion of the Colorado River known as Lake Austin. The main office resembles a country farm house with big windows and distressed furniture. There are several areas to relax, attend lectures or watch cooking seminars. Most areas include waterfront views. Though they are decorated with soothing beige tile, light wood and plush white beds, the rooms are fairly small for Texas standards. They lack a working desk area; the only option for Internet is a common computer in the gift shop. Clearly, you aren’t meant to spend much time in your room. The design of this resort encourages you to get out and utilize the amenities. Canoe on the lake, lounge by the pools, work out at the gym, run around the track, walk through the herb garden and experience treatments at the spa.

The food
All meals are included in the price of admission and will not make your waist line bulge. The open seating restaurant’s menu changes daily and includes calorie counts for each dish. For lunch, I had fresh greens with cherry tomatoes and garlic along with fresh vegetable soup. Dinner consisted of veal cutlets stuffed with pine nuts, spinach, cheese and a side of broccoli. You’ll appreciate reasonably sized portions that are nothing like Houston restaurants. Meals are even more enjoyable when accented with the view of the lake. If you are traveling alone, the friendship table is a great place to make new acquaintances. The restaurant isn’t always open, so keep an eye on your watch to avoid missing dinner.

The LakeHouse Spa
As you make your way to the 25,000-square-foot Lake House Spa, you can see the humble beginnings of the Lake Austin Spa Resort. The former spa buildings are now small offices and the new grand spa has been built on an upper portion of the hill. It’s only minutes up the path to the new facility. As you walk, a simple limestone archway marks the entrance. At this point you begin to relax; your mindset changes with the landscape. Soothing sounds of running water come from fountains on both sides of the path. The comforting sounds of the water encourage spa-goers up the hill, through the rock garden, past the signature lap pool and to the registration desk. The spa has two levels. Lockers, a steam room, whirlpool and sauna (segregated, so bathing suits are optional) are on the first level and the waiting area, known as the Blue Room, is on the top floor. Screened outdoor patios are used for relaxation or treatments. There is also an outdoor treatment area called the Bamboo Room that comes equipped with a private outdoor shower. I enjoyed the Radiant Results Facial that exfoliates the face and neck and included a neck and upper back massage.

This very private resort buzzes in all visitors, and the staff maintains control of who is on the property. It’s like visiting your best friend’s lake house. Voted by Conde Nast magazine as the No. 2 destination spa in America, Texans are very lucky to have it in the Lone Star State.

1705 S. Quinlan Park Road
Austin 78732
1-800-847-5637
www.lakeaustin.com

Boerne, Texas

Settled by German immigrants in 1849, Boerne is a tiny treasure nestled in the magnificent surroundings of the Texas Hill Country. Just minutes from San Antonio, Boerne offers exceptional shopping, dining, arts, and attractions in a quaint, historic and picturesque setting.

Stroll through Boerne’s charming historic district and take in a world of specialty shops. Along with great antiques, the tastefully restored Hauptstrasse (Main Street) offers a feast of home accessories, unique gifts, clothing, books, jewelry, arts and crafts and much more. Intermingled among the shopping you will enjoy aromas of sweet treats from the home town bakery and coffee shops.

Boerne also boasts a thriving arts community with a variety of striking galleries. Enjoy historic European architecture, picturesque gardens and greenbelts with a stroll through Main Plaza, or take a hike along the banks of the Cibolo Creek at the Nature Center. Be sure to save time to dine at one of the extraordinary restaurants.

Overnight accommodations in the Boerne area are the Hill Country’s finest. With destination resorts, historic hotels, bed and breakfasts and inns nestled in the rolling landscape; visitors escape the hustle and bustle of the big cities as vacationers did a century ago, when they popularized Boerne for its invigorating atmosphere.

For a memorable Hill Country experience, plan a weekend getaway, a wonderful day of shopping or just have lunch and take in the warm and gracious hospitality of Boerne, the perfect setting for relaxation of the body and restoration of the soul.

For more information on Boerne, visit www.visitboerne.org or call the Boerne Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-888-842-8080.

The BROADMOOR Venture to Colorado’s Five-Diamond Paraise

The historic BROADMOOR is the longest consecutive winner of the AAA Five-Diamond and Mobil Five-Star awards. A luxurious retreat conveniently located just minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, The Broadmoor covers 3,000 acres with 700 rooms and suites; three golf courses including the legendary East Course; and three swimming pools including an infinity-edge pool at the north end of Cheyenne Lake, complete with waterslides built into Slide Mountain, a children’s wading pool, two 14-person hot tubs and 13 cabanas.

The BROADMOOR’s state-of-the-art fitness center provides personal training and a variety of classes including pilates, yoga and AquaFit. The tennis complex features award-winning Dennis Ralston Tennis Camps that are comprised of intensive instruction and fast-paced drilling. Other activities available during a stay at The BROADMOOR are horseback riding, fly fishing, rock climbing, jeep tours, white water rafting and hot air ballooning.

TAG Galyean, master architect for some of the most exclusive resort spas in the world, has brought his particular magic to The Spa at The BROADMOOR by designing not only the interior space, but two signature hydrotherapy treatments and a showpiece couples’ massage room. The Spa offers signature personalized treatments for men and women in pampered elegance.

With 14 restaurants, cafés and lounges to choose from, The Broadmoor offers everything from fine dining to family, alfresco and bistro-style fare. Internationally renowned restaurant designer Adam D. Tihany’s Summit is The BROADMOOR’s new American brasserie featuring a spectacular “wine turret” and glass-enclosed wine rooms that hold more than 500 bottles.

The recently remodeled and expanded Penrose Room offers sophisticated contemporary Continental cuisine, live dinner music and dancing in an elegant and distinctly unique setting with fantastic views of Cheyenne Mountain. The first and only AAA Five-Diamond restaurant in Colorado, Penrose Room also features a specially designed Chef’s Table and Demonstration Kitchen, with a wrap-around balcony overlooking the golf course.

The BROADMOOR has added several new retail shops in a design reminiscent of an Italian village that are conveniently located between the original main building and South Tower, this retail plaza includes BROADMOOR Lifestyle home furnishings; the Championship Shop featuring 2008 U.S. Senior Open apparel and accessories; Balliet’s at The BROADMOOR, a high end men’s and ladies’ fashion boutique; BROADMOOR Bloom flower shop and the Library, The BROADMOOR’s bookstore.

The BROADMOOR’s lush 3,000 acres are easily accessible, with nonstop flights from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco directly to Colorado Springs Airport or from anywhere in the United States through Denver International Airport, just 90 minutes away.

The BROADMOOR
1-800-634-7711
www.broadmoor.com

Lareto Nature, luxury converge in Loreto

In the 1970s, the Mexican government decided it needed to attract more tourists. It created the National Tourism Development Foundation (FONATUR). FONATUR selected five locales for development: Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Huatulco, Ixtapa and Loreto. While the other four locales experienced uncontrolled development, Loreto was all but forgotten. Situated between the Gianta Mountain Range, the Sea of Cortez and a national marine park, Loreto became the best-kept secret for those seeking big-game fishing, whale watching and eco-tourism.

In the beginning, the Mexican government openly questioned developer James J. Grogan’s plan to return private land to the public sector. Grogan, the president of Loreto Bay Company, felt his organization could create a paradise where luxurious hotels and homes could co-exist with the natural habitat. Grogan and the company made good on their word. The property was originally an 8,000-acre lagoon with a mangrove forest that was home to tropical birds, fish and shrimp. The company rebuilt the forest, added more than five miles of canals and made it a home for wildlife and a resort for man. Among the wildlife that call Loreto home are two of the five major sea turtle species.

Founded in 1697, Loreto was the original capital of Las Californias, which extended from what is now Cabo San Lucas all the way up the Pacific coast to the area of present-day Seattle. It sits on the banks of the Sea of Cortez which is home to abundant sailfish, marlin, mahi-mahi, tuna, cabrilla, acads, roosterfish, dorado and yellow tail, making Loreto a sport fisherman’s dream. With natural beaches, coves and islands, it is ideal for kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling and windsurfing.

The Loreto Bay National Marine Park is 2,000 square kilometers of government-protected islands and waters. It is home to 15 species of whales, colonies of sea lions and other aquatic life. Exploring the park is an adventure in itself, above and below the water. We went diving with Rafael Macillow from the Dolphin Dive Center who took us to the park’s Coronado Inland. The sea was alive with yellow tail, angel fish, Ridley sea turtles and parrot fish. There were tons of starfish and a wide array of vibrant colors.

A young female sea lion was curious about our presence. She would corkscrew dive toward us, swish her tail and flap her fore fins, then stop in front of our masks. Peering into our eyes, she would blow bubbles at us then dart off. She must have played with us for more than 20 minutes before retiring to her sun perch on the volcanic rocks just above the surf. The colony of sea lions has called Loreto Bay home since the San Andreas Fault separated Baja California Sur from Mexico. With the stewardship of the Loreto Bay Company and its dedication to sustainability, Loreto Bay will be their home, and mankind’s, for many years to come.

If the beach is not for you, there is golf, tennis and rock climbing. For the truly adventurous, one can travel the same “road” as the conquistadors — a dry, washed-out, pot-holed river bed that leads to the San Francisco Javier Mission. It is a two-and-one-half hour drive west of Loreto. Founded in 1699 by Father Francisco Maria Piccolo, the mission is still the center of life for a small community of farmers. Known as the Jewel of the Missions, it is the best-preserved of the 13 missions established by the Jesuits. The original baroque-style carvings still adorn the entryway and the altar still contains its gilded wood and oil paintings.

Behind the mission are olive trees and grapevines, remnants of the priests’ cash crops. One tree is believed to be more than 300 years old and has propagated into more than 1,000 other olive trees now belonging to Guillermo Bastida and his wife Etelvina Itiguerra. The couple supplies all of Baja California Sur with green olives. They also own and operate La Palapa restaurant. On the day we were there, Guillermo was hand-picking the olives, and bringing 40-pound bags of them to Etelvina for scoring. After scoring, the olives are soaked in a brine for 15 days.

The Inn of Loreto and the Villages of Loreto are located just south of the town. New homes have been built to resemble the adobe abodes of the desert. Through changes in Mexican laws, foreigners can own a piece of this beach-side paradise. In fact, most of the homes in the Villages of Loreto are owned by Americans. “With direct flights from Alaska Airways, Delta and Continental, our homes are being bought as summer homes, weekend getaways and retirement homes,” says Loreto Bay Representative Bob Toubman. “They really like the courtyards with views of the mountains and sea, and the rooftop terraces. At sunset, many of the homeowners gather on their roofs; it’s like one large cocktail party.”

www.innatloretobay.com
www.loreto.com
www.loretobay.com
www.visitmexico.com/wb/Visitmexico/Visi_Loreto
www.continental.com

The Woodlands Resort Houston’s home away from home

The Woodlands Resort is offering the lowest Spring Break rates of the season. From March 14 – 23 and starting at $99, enjoy the Destination Fun package, which includes deluxe accommodations and breakfast for two. At The Woodlands Resort, families unwind at a unique poolside experience where flowing waterfalls, waterslides and seasonal poolside entertainment provide all-day enjoyment for everyone; where guests can enjoy championship golf, world-class tennis, a full-service spa and more than 145 miles of nature and bike trails.

Minutes after check-in, stake out your spot — under cool spray jets, in the open sun or near the Cool Water Café at the resort’s signature Forest Oasis Waterscape™. Zip down the two-story, double-helix water slide; enjoy underwater music; explore underwater murals or join the kids in the resort’s fun underwater Scavenger Hunt.

When you’re ready to trade the water for the greens, grab your clubs and head over to the resort’s two championship golf courses, The Oaks and Panther Trail™. If tennis is your game, choose from 21 indoor and outdoor courts with hard and clay court surfaces.

Guests of The Woodlands Resort can also access the property’s Spa &Fitness Center, complete with nature-inspired treatments, whirlpools and a eucalyptus steam room. Yoga, Pilates, Bosu Ball, Zumba and other fitness programs also are available.

Nearby are hundreds of shopping, dining and entertainment options. Stroll through Market Street for great finds at Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer, Orvis and other fun shopping spots. Or hop aboard one of the six air-conditioned Water Taxis cruising along a 1.25-mile waterway for a calm and relaxing journey through the heart of The Woodlands Town Center.

The Woodlands Resort
2301 North Millbend Drive
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
www.woodlandsresort.com
For reservations dial 1-866-881-0728

Nacogdoches, Texas Rediscover Texas’ oldest town

Nacogdoches, the oldest town in the state, is a destination with historic attractions and museums; unique locally owned shops; festivals and art galleries; plus beautiful bed and breakfasts and Texas’ largest azalea garden.

The azalea trail offers visitors opportunities to explore Nacogdoches through self-guided driving tours of beautifully manicured residential gardens. While the colorful azaleas are a bright spring attraction, plenty of interesting sites reflect the town’s charm and character. Stroll and shop in Nacogdoches’ historic, red-brick downtown. The district dates back to the late 1700s, when Spanish settlers established the town. Eclectic artisan shops feature original works of stained glass, wire-wrapped jewelry, pottery and oil paintings. Visitors can also browse locally owned antique stores and upscale boutiques.

Nacogdoches’ landmarks include the Sterne-Hoya House, a home built around 1830 that conjures images of the great men who lived and died for Texas. Another glimpse into 19th-century life can be found at Millard’s Crossing Historic Village. The collection of historic structures ranges from a simple log cabin to a one-room country church, all complete with era furnishings. Historical highlights also include the 1936 replica of Don Antonio Gil Y’ Barbo’s stone house, also known as the Old Stone Fort Museum, located on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

Whether visiting Nacogdoches for the beautiful azaleas, unique shopping or a historic excursion, you can go all day and relax all night in one of our comfortable hotels or cozy bed and breakfasts.

Nacogdoches Convention & Visitors Bureau
1-888-OLDEST-TOWN
www.visitnacogdoches.org

The Pacific Coast Highway

It’s been written about in song lyrics and books, shown in thousands of movies. The California coast has called out to millions of travelers and turned an occasional visitor into a permanent resident. Some have even left their hearts there. For some people, like me, experiencing the California coast was really a dream. I took in this long and winding sliver of heaven on a nine-day drive down Highway 1, better known as the Pacific Coast Highway.

Choosing a starting point was difficult because the PCH stretches nearly the entire length of the California coast. Most people choose a route based on what they want to see and how much time they have. I chose to fly into San Francisco, drive south and fly home from Los Angeles. However, acting on a tip from a bartender at the near century-old Final Final pub, I decided to head north and begin my adventure at Stinson Beach. This popular surf spot has managed to maintain its small-town charm through the years. Arts and crafts shops, B&Bs and a few choice eateries are along the main road. The surf can be extreme here, so swimming is not recommended, but a stroll along the beach is a great way to walk off a wonderful meal.

Heading south from Stinson Beach, I made my way back to the Bay Area. As I approached town, I pulled over and soaked in the sights from the Marin County side of the Golden Gate Bridge, appropriately dubbed “Vista Point.” Some say this view is one of the top-10 city views in the world. As I leave the Golden Gate Bridge behind, I thought of the long trek ahead and wondered, “Could it get any better?”

The next day, I cheated and took U.S. Route 101 south to Hwy. 17 toward Santa Cruz. Purists will say “stay on the PCH,” but time was not on my side. Driving through the mountains toward Santa Cruz, I realized the extra money I spent on renting a convertible was paying off. All my senses kicked in when I passed over the Santa Cruz mountain range. The fresh scent of pine and cool mountain air soon gave way to the warm, fresh breeze of the Pacific Ocean as I pulled into Santa Cruz. This summer seaside staple is a fantastic family retreat. Santa Cruz features a long walking pier and a Coney Island-style boardwalk loaded with playful children. Adults seemed more interested in the many arts and crafts galleries.

The road southward runs along Monterey Bay, a stretch of coastline that seemed to bend endlessly to the right. Just when I thought I had gone in a circle, I reached the bay’s namesake. This old fishing-village-turned-tourist-spot boasts world-class golf, shopping, kayaking, sea otter watching, hiking and lots of beach. A variety of restaurants and shops line the famed Cannery Row, pier district and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Teaming with wildlife unique to the area, it was one of my favorite stops.

A short drive from Monterey is Carmel-by-the-Sea. This Clint Eastwood-run community beckons the upper class. Victorian style B&Bs, arts and crafts and tourist shops make up the quaint downtown area; surfers are usually riding the waves along the public beach. While water warriors continued their quest to find the perfect wave, I headed south along the Central Coast towards Big Sur (Tip: Fill the gas tank in Monterey Bay). Passing through Los Padres National Forest and a handful of state parks, the road seems to wind endlessly upward into the ever-growing mountain range. Along this stretch, the PCH tests your driving skills. Towering mountains seem to fight man’s progress; nature appears to be winning. A long series of switchbacks snake their way along the coast, almost defying gravity. Dozens of parking areas have been constructed along the road so tourists can safely take in the amazing panoramic views.

A few miles down the road is one of America’s most amazing homes, the Hearst Castle. I toured this compound of 165 rooms inside four separate buildings. Tour guides described William Randolf Hearst’s lavish lifestyle as we strolled through the home of one of the richest Americans to ever live. I wish I would have saved more time for this stop; you could spend two full days here and still not see it all.

I moved on to Morro Bay. This friendly fishing community is a nice place to relax, sit in one of the marina’s restaurants and enjoy some great seafood. The sunset was stunning. From there, the PCH begins to succumb to the modern world as it merges with the freeway and all but disappears into the populous of San Luis Obispo. I made my way to Malibu where an endless curtain of coastal mansions house Southern California’s most famous (and infamous) residents. I left without a glimpse of a single movie or rock star. Heading south along the coast through Santa Monica, Los Angeles and Newport Beach, I was nearing the end of my journey.

I had time for a couple of stops. Laguna Beach, home to true “beach bums,” is also known for competitive beach volleyball games, top restaurants, five-star hotels and shops. Dana Point, the end of my Pacific Coast Highway adventure, has been taken over by the privileged masses. Once a sleepy resort community, it is now a place where wealthy southern Californians go to get away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. It’s said realtors measure California ocean views in glimpses. If that’s true, then I definitely got a great bargain on my Pacific Coast Highway adventure.

Acadia, Canada

Russell Schulte discovers Acadia, Canada, the land of plenty

If you enjoy the spicy food, down-home feel and good people of Louisiana’s Cajun Country, then you will love the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Ancestors of Louisiana’s Cajuns originally settled on this land they called Acadia on the east North American seashore after leaving France; their influence forever changed the culture. To get there, we took a direct flight from Houston to Montreal, Quebec, just north of Vermont. From there, we took an overnight train to New Brunswick.

There is not a more romantic way to see a country than by train, and Canada boasts one of the world’s first-class railway experiences. VIA Rail Canada stretches across our northern neighbor coast-to-coast. Our upgrade to an Easterly Class car was worth the money. The package included a host of amenities that made the trip more memorable: members of the crew explained the history of landmarks and towns along the winding route; elegant, delicious meals were served with wines from Nova Scotia; sleeping accommodations included comfortable duvet bedding and plump pillows. We also had use of VIA Rail’s signature 360-degree Dome Car where we enjoyed panoramic views of the Canadian countryside.

After a restful night on the rolling train, we debarked and set out via automobile to the islands of Lamèque and Miscou near the northeastern point of New Brunswick and the Gulf of Lawrence. Rolling landscapes and majestic landmarks make these two islands sightseers’ dreams. Beautiful Miscou is home to the oldest operating wooden lighthouse in New Brunswick. Built in 1856, it still guides fishermen safely home. Île Lamèque’s Saint-Cecile Church is decorated with bright colors and designs that are reminiscent of the psychedelic 1960s. Its acoustics make it an ideal home for the annual international festival of Baroque music. The Ecological Park of the Acadian Peninsula, also on Lamèque, has a 500-meter-long footbridge leading to its nature trails and arboretum featuring 27 different species of native trees and plants. The sea is the heart and soul of this territory; an astounding assortment of displays feature local fish and aquatic life, including a collection of rare blue lobsters, at the New Brunswick Aquarium and Marine Centre.

We then headed west along the northern coast to the historic town of Caraquet, where they claim the Acadian heart beats strongest, and spent the night in the 117-year-old Hotel Paulin. The largest attraction in the area is Acadian Historical Village. Depicting Acadian life from the 1700s to the 1930s, it is a living museum; workers act out the lives of their ancestors. Visitors can even sample the simple, authentic Acadian food. Nearby is Kouchibouguac National Park — 87 square miles of dunes, beaches, salt marshes, and tidal rivers. “Kouch” is home to more than 250 species of birds, several of which are endangered. We took a boat to the barrier sandbars and saw North America’s second largest colony of harbor and grey seals.

We left Caraquet and drove south to Shediac, the “Lobster Capital of the World.”

A trip to this region is not complete without learning about lobster. Our educational experience was a two-hour Lobster Tales Cruise aboard the Ambassador. We saw traps pulled from the water and were taught the traditional maritime way to eat a lobster. For lunch, we were given one for practice. The meal was tasty and through our newly acquired skills, there was nothing left of the lobster but the shell. Acadians are proud of their culture; after our nautical dining experience we headed north to the town of Bouctouche to visit Le Pays de la Sagouine. Le Pays is an Acadian museum and entertainment complex all rolled into a daily social event where they display their heritage. Though Acadians speak French, almost everyone also speaks fluent English. They treated us to poutine (Acadian-style French fries) and a pet de soeur (cinnamon roll).

While in this area we stayed at a couple of unique old inns. Maison Tait House, built in 1911, boasts a cozy dining room, amazing chef-prepared seven-course dinners and a wrap-around porch perfect for drinking cordials and sharing stories with other guests. Château Moncton sits on the chocolate-colored Petitcodiac River. Reasonable prices, proximity to tourism centers and access to warm saltwater beaches make it an ideal vacation spot.

We flew from Moncton back to Montreal where we boarded a non-stop flight to Houston. We spent most of the flight dreaming about beautiful landscapes, clean air and bountiful seafood, just some of the highlights of our immersion into the rich culture of Canada’s Cajun Country.

www.viarail.ca
www.hotelpaulin.com
www.maisontaithouse.com
www.chateau-moncton.nb.ca

Port Aransas Texas’s best coastal secret

Discover “island time,” the laid back lifestyle on Port Aransas. Located about 200 miles southwest of Houston on the northern-most tip of Mustang Island, Port Aransas is the perfect place for a peaceful family beach getaway.

As we explored the island, we could not help comparing Port Aransas to other Texas coastal cities. It was quieter than Galveston, more family-oriented than Padre Island. Traffic was lighter than either one because everything is within walking distance; the island at its widest point is two miles across. Many of the islanders seemed to prefer walking, riding bicycles or hopping on Port Aransas’ trolley which taxis people around town for 25 cents. Because there are no crowds, cars are allowed on the beach; we didn’t have to tote our ice chest or chairs. The beaches are clean, and unlike Galveston’s, lead to crystal blue water.

There are plenty of hotels, condos and bed and breakfasts available, many with beach views. We stayed at the Tarpon Inn. Named after the large species of fish inhabiting the waters near the island, the Tarpon Inn is a favorite among fisherman. The walls are decorated with what appeared to be iridescent shells. Upon closer inspection, we discovered that these “shells” were actually tarpon scales that have been autographed by the fishermen who caught the great fish. One was autographed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who caught one of the large fish in the area waters. Many famous personalities have visited the area throughout the years. The rooms feature antique furnishings and long, covered porches. Balconies are equipped with ceiling fans and rocking chairs and surround the building; perfect settings for a romantic getaway.

There is no shortage of entertainment. Wildlife enthusiasts enjoy dozens of locations where they observe more than 100 species of migratory birds. Beaches, piers and jetties offer great fishing, along with many guide services for offshore adventures. Parks, golf courses and shops kept us busy through the day; we mingled with locals and enjoyed live music in the evenings at some of the restaurants and bars. However, the beach is the headliner here. Views are breathtaking at sunrise and sunset. Depending on the day, there are activities like yoga on the beach, community beach walks, and much more.

Port Aransas is laid back, but don’t think for a minute that it isn’t growing. There are many new developments in the works including new, upscale housing subdivisions with ocean views and a market street community similar to The Woodlands’. In addition, there are plans for a new golf course, boardwalk and nature preserve. If visitors or residents miss the buzz of the city, Corpus Christi is just 30 minutes away.

Port Aransas provides a little taste of paradise without straying too far from home. The most difficult part was getting back to real time from island time. But lucky for Houstonians, island time is just a short drive away.

Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce
1-800-45-COAST
www.portaransas.org

The Tarpon Inn
1-361-749-5555
www.thetarponinn.com

Starlight Gala

Houston young professionals unite against cancer

With goals of raising money for the American Cancer Society and introducing young professionals to philanthropy, the Starlight Gala was established in 1996. Comprised of Houston’s brightest young leaders, these young philanthropists give back to the community in a big way.

The 13th Annual Starlight Gala will be held March 29 at the Edwin Hornberger Conference Center, located in the Texas Medical Center. “Lone Star Tribute: Honor and Remembrance Under the Texas Sky,” encourages patrons to cut loose in true Texas style: entertainment will be provided by Texas High Life; guitars donated and signed by Miranda Lambert and LeAnn Rimes will be auctioned; and bottomless wine will be served. Texas-themed gambling and food for every palate help round out the entertainment.

This year’s gala chairs, Kristen Belote and Robin Milstead, used their corporate connections to help make this event a success. Gallagher Healthcare, where Belote is a financial analyst, has raised more than $11,000 in donations and has 16 fellow employees volunteering for the gala. Milstead’s company, Bradsby Group, also elected to become a sponsor and by doing so, involved some of their clients. Both thank their companies for giving them the freedom to focus on this event during daytime hours.

Large donors and companies have backed the young professional group since its inception. With the support of these companies, and others like them, volunteers feel confident they will reach their lofty fund raising goal of $125,000. This year’s list of donors includes: Gallagher Healthcare, AIG, Compass Bank, Core Services, AspenTech, The Bradsby Group, Andrews and Kurth LLP, Continental Airlines, Southwest Airlines, John P. McGovern Foundation and Karma Nine Marketing Firm.

Houston’s future leaders are creating positive changes according to Belote and Milstead. They put aside their careers and help others by supporting the fight against cancer. “We have all been touched by cancer and after all is said and done, ultimately each of us wakes up everyday and makes a conscious choice that we will be a part of change,” says Milstead. “The Starlight Gala is just the beginning for many of us.”

For more information on the Houston Starlight Gala go to, www.starlightgala.org or www.myspace.com/starlightgala.

Travel smart

Cure vacation’s headaches before they start

Planning a vacation is a job in itself. There’s more to it than booking a flight. Arranging hotel rooms and ground transportation, understanding currency in foreign countries and creating a budget are just a few of the important things you need to work through to make your trip a true vacation.

To Hire or not to Hire?
Early on, you should decide if you are going to book your vacation through a travel agent. Typically you tell a travel agent when and where you want to go. They research airfares, hotels, excursions, etc. and put together vacation packages. They do all the work; you just have to select the one that fits your dreams, desires and budget. Mike Weingart, president and managing director of Carson Wagonlit Travel World Travel Agency says travel agents are also a valuable resource during your trip. “We’ve been there. We know the pitfalls,” he says. “Let’s say you go to the hotel and thought you bought ‘X’ but are getting ‘Y.’ With a quick e-mail or phone call we can straighten it out. But if you’re on your own, you’re on your own.”

The Internet has made planning your own vacations easier than ever before. Web sites such as Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz eliminate the “middle man” and the fees he charges for his services. Most airlines, hotels, cities, and destinations have their own Web sites you can visit for information. George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, says it’s a good idea to search the airline’s Web site directly. “I think the big story for 2008 is that the best deals will be on the airlines’ sites only, not sites such as kayak.com.” Searching these sites several times throughout the week can help you find better deals. Airlines update their offers and input fares at different times. If an airline revises their offers late Friday, cheaper tickets might be found Saturday morning. Hobica advises checking sites three times a day. Another tip to save money on airfare is to fly out Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday, generally the cheapest days to fly. It is also a good idea to call hotels, excursion companies and attractions directly before you book on line. The salesperson who answers the phone may have some extra perks or a lower price they can offer. If they don’t, you can still book through their Web site. When you have made your selections, be sure to print out receipts and confirmation numbers and bring them on your trip.

Protect your assets
Ignoring small details can derail an otherwise pleasant vacation. It’s best to be prepared for all situations, before and during the trip. Weingart stresses purchasing travel insurance. “It’s so important,” he says. “If a family member gets sick and you can’t go, the insurance pays for the cancellation. Or if your baggage is stolen it can help you with that.” Put a hold on mail, magazine and newspaper deliveries. A huge pile of newspapers in your driveway alerts burglars that you’re away. This usually can be done online. Ask a close friend to check on the property periodically. Also, purchase timers that turn lights on and off to give your home the appearance of being occupied. Do everything you can to deter criminals from taking advantage of the situation.

Power of the Passport
If traveling abroad, a passport is the most important item to possess. They are mandatory for most foreign travel, including air travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. They also help when re-entering the Unites States by land or sea. Denise Blackwell, a Houston field officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, says, “What you want to do (when returning) is establish identity and citizenship. You’ll need documents such as a birth certificate and I.D. If you have your passport, it satisfies both documents.” Passports are not needed when traveling to and from U.S. territories, which include the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Pet Preparation
Whether or not pets go along for the ride, they’re still a big part of travel plans. It’s not easy handing off a member of the family to a stranger before a vacation, but a kennel may be the best choice if someone isn’t available to check on them daily. “People should do their homework,” says Lisa Weisberg, senior vice president of government affairs and public policy for the ASPCA. “They should know [if a kennel is] responsible, sanitary or if there have been problems in the past.” Ask for recommendations. Talk to the owners; they can give you an inclination of how pets are treated. Once you have selected a kennel, book early. Kennels fill up quickly during peak times of the year and you don’t want to be searching for one with a vacancy on the day you are leaving on your trip.

Weisberg says the ASPCA recommends animals not fly unless they are allowed in the cabin. If it is inevitable, contact your airline to find out about their pet policies and procedures. The organization advises scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian for a check-up and vaccination updates. Book direct flights when possible; add destination information to collars and mark carriers with “live animal” and arrows indicating the correct orientation. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask to check on your pets if the flight is delayed or there are concerns about their well-being.

Returning
Before buying that bottle of absinthe in France, it would be a good idea to brush up on U.S. importation laws. While many items seem harmless, they are prohibited from entering the country. Rice, Mediterranean tomatoes, Native American artifacts from Canada and Cuban gold are a few examples of contraband. There are also laws against bringing back living creatures and plants. Sometimes mailing items back to the states is a legal alternative. U.S. Customs and Border Protection provide an extensive list of contraband at www.cbp.gov. Not everything is prohibited; the agency puts restrictions on some items while cautioning against others. These rules are meant to prevent diseases or illnesses from entering the United States in contaminated goods.

A hiccup-free vacation doesn’t just happen. You have to do the legwork and planning ahead of time. If you don’t have time or desire to plan the trip yourself, enlist a travel agent. Depending on the option you choose, you will be spending time or money to plan your trip. A memorable vacation is worth the expense.

Mission: Possible

Clean That Closet Clutter

It’s packed to the brim with clothes, boxes, books and a random assortment of unexplainable junk. Delving into the closet to select your daily wardrobe has become more daunting than navigating morning traffic. It’s time to call in the experts. The Houston area is brimming with enthusiastic professionals who are passionate about organizing closets. With spring right around the corner, it’s a perfect time to start a fresh new relationship with your favorite walk-in.

Getting Started When it comes to organizing a cluttered closet, three important processes are on the list: purging, sorting/organizing and maintaining. The first step, purging, is the most important. It is also the most emotional because it involves deciding what stays and what goes. Organizers recommend that any item of clothing that is too small, too large or downright unflattering goes; only keep what fits and feels comfortable. They also warn not to hold onto items that “might fit” in the future. Remember this is a fresh start. If you’re not sure about a particular item, get rid of it if you haven’t worn it in a year. Once you decide what you are going to keep, try on every piece that survives the purging process. This small but crucial step will ensure that everything remaining in the closet is a perfect fit.

The future for your purged clothes depends on the garments themselves. High-quality items can be sold or consigned through resale shops; many pieces can be given to charity. The rest of the purged clothing, particularly any items that are stained, torn or threadbare, should be thrown away.

After the Purge Sorting, which involves arranging clothes by category, is the second major step to organizing an out-of-control closet. Rearrange your newly culled wardrobe into categories: pants, skirts and shirts (or any other grouping you choose). When each item has a spot in the closet, organize within that unit, putting certain colors or styles next to each other. Although there is no “right” way, the items should be organized in a manner that makes sense to you and allows for quick decision making.

After making decisions on your clothing, start organizing your accessories. Shoe, belt and tie racks, jewelry drawers and even hangers can make a huge difference in maintaining an orderly wardrobe. Julie Hibbs, president of the Houston chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers, says, “If you choose one [style of] hanger and stay with it, it will give your closet the overall appearance of being organized because everything sits at the same height.” Organizers typically recommend a system of racks and drawers as essential closet additions because they provide places to put every accessory, preventing future clutter. “I like to use the elfa® line from The Container Store,” says Karon van Vuuren, a certified professional organizer. She is also familiar with many other lines and works with clients to select the best match for their space, storage needs, style and budget.

Maintaining Organization Once your clothes and accessories have been purged, sorted and organized, the final objective is to maintain your perfectly structured closet. As with any long-term goal, it takes commitment and determination to ensure old habits do not return. Here are some tips from Hibbs and van Vuuren to help you stay on track. • Put clothing back in its designated spot in the closet. • Put items that become worn out or ill-fitting directly in a donation box. When the box gets full, take it to a local charity. • Follow the one-item-in, one-item-out rule. If you buy something new, get rid of something old. That goes for anything: shoes, pants, shirts, etc. • Consistently track progress and evaluate your situation. It helps to meet with your professional organizer; they have tips and recommendations to keep your closet neat and tidy.

Controlling clutter can be easy to achieve; you may be surprised how simple steps can make a big difference. If you don’t want to do it alone, call a professional organizer. They have years of experience transforming big messes into systemized perfection. To find an organizer, Hibbs and van Vuuren recommend checking the NAPO Houston Web site at www.napohouston.com, where hundreds of professionals can be found.

At the Buzzer

Announcers reflect on their careers

Houston basketball fans may not instantly recognize their faces, but fans certainly know their voices. Like old friends, Gene Peterson and Jim Foley are invited into homes, offices and cars. For the next couple of hours, the two talk basketball. If it’s a good night, the conversation ends with, “How sweet it is!” For more than 30 years, Peterson and Foley have provided the play-by-play and analysis for radio broadcasts of Houston Rockets basketball games. Both broadcasters announced their decisions to retire following this season.

Born for basketball Basketball has always been in Foley’s blood. His career started in Milwaukee at Marquette University’s sports information department where he worked with hall-of-fame basketball coach Al Maguire. From there, Foley jumped to the NBA and joined the Milwaukee Bucks’ front office. “After only three years with the team, I got a championship ring,” Foley says, recalling the Bucks’ 1971 NBA title. “I thought, ‘I could get used to this.'”

The following season, the Houston Rockets, who had recently relocated to Texas from San Diego, offered Foley a public relations position. Thirty-six years later, he is still a vital part of the organization. As his tenure continued, he found a new role — one that would endear him to Rockets fans around the world. Foley was paired with Peterson (who joined the team in 1975) behind the microphone for home radio broadcasts. Soon, that partnership extended to playoff games, and finally, the entire 82-game schedule beginning in 1987.

Best was yet to come Peterson’s road to the Rockets started from a small radio station in the Midwest. “I was the news director, sports director, everything,” he says, his signature baritone voice booming. “My wife and I would mop and wax the floors on weekends with our child sitting in a stroller. We would do anything we could for a little bit of extra money.”

He later became sports director at KPRC AM 950 and then joined the Rockets. Although he has enjoyed many memorable moments in his career, Peterson looks back on his meager early days fondly. “The early years, as tough as they were, are special; I wouldn’t trade those times for anything,” Peterson says. “But, the time with the Rockets has been the best. There have been all the ups and downs, good times and bad times. Most of the time I’ve been here, we’ve been to the post season, 14 playoffs and four finals. It’s been a great run and a wonderful career.”

Courtside Broadcast partners for parts of 33 seasons, Foley and Peterson probably know each other better than some siblings and have a deep admiration and respect for each other. “You really wonder where the time went,” Foley says. “This will be 36 years for me, 33 for Gene. This is our 21st year full-time together.”

After calling more than 2,500 games together, Peterson and Foley operate like a well-oiled machine. Their mechanics are simple: Peterson does the play-by-play and Foley gives the in-game commentary. “Jim is terrific, he’s like my right arm,” Peterson explains. “When we first started, we worked things out. He knows when I’m talking and when I’m going to stop, and I know when he is going to stop. I say what I see. It’s as simple as that. I don’t make up anything — any analysis is done by Jim. That’s it. There’s no secret.”

Foley agrees: “I always thought I was allowed to speak up when the ball was dead but when the clock was going, it’s Gene’s time. We never had the problem of talking over each other.”

Fond memories Both Peterson and Foley point to the 1993-94 and 1994-95 world championship seasons as the greatest in Rockets’ history. “For so long, this team was just on the verge of going all the way. For a couple of years, we had so much trouble beating Seattle.” Foley remembers. Then [in the 1994 playoffs], Denver knocked them out and we went all the way. When we finally won, to see the reaction in the entire city, it was amazing. We finally did it. The championship parade is still one of the all-time greatest things to ever happen for us. People were in the parking garages, literally hanging out of them as we rode the fire trucks downtown. There could have been a million people out there.”

Peterson recalls the excitement of the 1986 Western Conference Finals against the storied “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers. Rockets center Ralph Sampson sank an off-balanced jumper at the buzzer to win the series. While a stunned crowd at the Great Western Forum stood silently in disbelief, the Rockets celebrated their victory — as did Foley. “He went nuts,” Peterson says, laughing. “I couldn’t hear myself. Jim broke his microphone when [Sampson] hit that shot he was so excited.”

“It was great,” Foley recalls. “I jumped and almost strangled myself with the microphone cord. It was a great moment in our history.”

End of an Era After 12 eye surgeries, Peterson says now is the time to call it a career. “I’ve had six surgeries in each eye. We used to be courtside, but now they have moved us up [to a higher press area]. I’ve been struggling with the eye problems for a while,” Peterson explains. “It’s just time. It’s absolutely time. My wife asked me how I feel about this and I said, ‘Absolutely terrific.’ She said that was great. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very excited about the season, but I’m looking forward to retirement.”

Foley says he and Peterson made the decisions to retire independently. When the final buzzer sounds ending the Rockets’ season, the pair know they are leaving with their heads held high. “No regrets. I’ll walk away smiling,” he says. “There will be a tear in my eye when I walk out of here for the last time, but I know we gave it all we had.”

As the season goes along, Foley and Peterson are greeting their share of well-wishers, and they reciprocate the enthusiasm their listeners have for them. “We’ve had wonderful fans here and they have been great to us,” says Peterson. “We want to give our heartfelt thanks to our listeners over the years. Without them, there wouldn’t be a broadcast or a team — we appreciate them so much.”

Their careers will end with the Rockets’ last game of the season, which could be anywhere from late April, the end of the regular season, to late June, when the NBA Finals end. “Here’s hoping for late June and Gene says ‘How sweet it is!'” Foley says. When it ends, both broadcasters and their fans can look back over the last 30-plus years and say, “How sweet it’s been.”