september vip

7/30/2019 September VIP

1/52

the

mensissue

volume 2 issue 4 | NovemBeR 2009 | thVIPVOLUME 6 ISSUE 11 | September 2013 | theVIPmag.

complimenta

o f s o u t h e a s t t e x a s

Advice on datindenim, classic ca

burgers, festivaand ESP

Singer/songwriterPaul Anka

Alligator huntersTroy Broussard &

HarlanHatcher

Country artistMark Chesnutt

Mark Sparksbachelor pad

Gold expertMikeFuljenz


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EaEditor

DAVID [email protected]

Contributing WritersCATHLEEN COLE

LArENA HEAD

grACE mATHISjANE mCbrIDE

HOLLI pETErSENCHEryL rOSE

Editorial AssistantLAurEN mCgEE

PapContributing Photographers

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rEN SHEppArDLEE E. STINSON

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on the coverCanadian singer, songwriter and actor, Paul Anka became famous inthe late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like Diana, Lonely Boy andPut Your Head on My Shoulder. He went on to write such well-knownmusic as the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, oneof Tom Jones biggest hits, Shes a Lady, Frank Sinatras signaturesong, My Way and Michael Jacksons This Is It. Anka will performThursday, Oct. 3 in Beaumont as part of Gift of Lifes annual cancerawareness fundraiser.

c o n t e n t s

vip magazine

06 viesonalit06 Meet the stars of

Swamp People

11 Mark Chesnutt: Back

in the spotlight

15 vi hoe15 Mark Sparks simple

bachelor pad

19 vi stle19 Classic cars and the

fashion they inspire

26 Perfect-tting denim

30 vi oth30 Singer/songwriter

Paul Anka34 Mike Fuljenz: Why to

invest in gold

36 ood&dink36 Beaumonts best

burger joints

39 vi sotliht39 SE Texas events

44 vi advise44 SE Texas Festival

Guide47 5 great dates

in September

48 Calendar

49 Crossword puzzle

50 vi voices50 ESPN: Every Spouses

Perpetual Nightmare

inside september

06

26

11

4 September 2013 | theVIPmag.com


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s w a m p p e o p l e

vpersonality

Later, Gator!text by CHERYL ROSEphotography by LaCiE gRant

With more than 4million viewers

watching, the

former Stephen

F. Austin High

School football

center holds a thrashing, 10-foot alligator on a

line, his biceps popping. Maneuvering next to

him, his bare toes inches away from the snap-

ping beast, his bearded partner sights down his

gun and pulls the trigger, hitting the exact spot

to penetrate the alligators skull. Thunder andlightening! the men yell and bump sts as they

haul the heavy trophy aboard their airboat.

Born and raised on the bayous and marshesof Southeast Texas, Troy Broussard and HarlanHatcher of Fannett took their years of hard-earned alligator expertise to the big time, joiningthe Season 4 cast of the popular reality programSwamp People on the History Channel. Asyou watch these men representing Texas amongall the Louisiana gator hunters, the questionarises: Are they incredibly brave or just plaincrazy?

Swamp People

Ive never done anything half-throttle,Broussard said. Im not the kind of personyoull nd sitting watching TV.

Instead, hes appearing on TV, an experiencethat embarrasses the Port Arthur Fire Depart-ment captain a bit. Im still the same guy, hesaid. My family and God are No. 1.

Hatcher feels the same way. It hasntchanged me one drop and it never will, he said.

Both men have been hunting alligators sincethey were teenagers, so confronting the reptilesand the techniques they use on the show are al-most business-as-usual. The only thing dierent

two SE texs huerssrr Swmp Peoplesy s he rel del



7/52

is having a cameraman in the airboat with themThe camera guy wasnt an issue, Broussard

said. Wed just move him out of the way, but wedid have to get over the jitters and the pressure onot failing on camera with the world watching.

The two split the kill eorts on the show,with Broussard holding the shing line andHatcher taking the killing shot. He can do thewrassling Im 54, Hatcher said. And I dontmiss when I shoot. Im a good shot.

Both men say nothing involved in the hunt-ing is staged or scripted for the show. They use

their knowledge and tricks gained through theyears, such as Hatchers secret recipe marshmarinade and Broussards souped-up airboat.Together, the two men have between 200 and300 alligator tags to ll each season, represent-ing 10 percent or more of the tags for Texas.

On the show, the men go by nicknamespicked up in their youth, T-Roy and Bigfoot.The partners are the rst and only gator hunterfrom Texas on the show, with the majority of thcast and locations sited in Louisiana.

Troy and Harlan are wonderful charactersbecause they take pride in their work and bringan infectious excitement and passion to every-thing they do in the swamp, said Zachary Behr,an executive producer for the History Channel.With Bigfoots preference to never wear shoesand T-Roys incredible airboat, The Beast,these two are an entertaining, dynamic duo onthe water.

Partners and friends

A couple of years ago, both men were con-tacted separately by the History Channel andencouraged to come to a casting call in Louisi-ana. They both attended and were surprised tosee each other. Ultimately, the show decided tokeep the episodes conned to Louisiana thatseason. Broussard and Hatcher agreed that ifthe opportunity arose again in the future, theywould present themselves as a team, combin-

ing all their tags. Our wives were the ones thatcome up with the idea of putting us together,Hatcher said.

A year later they got another call and a sepa-rate audition in addition to an ocial castingcall in Beaumont and the rest is History.

Though there is a 12-year gap in their ages,the men have been friends since their youthbecause they both hunted nutria and sold themto the same fur buyer. Ive been knowing Troysince he was a kid, Hatcher said. I got to knowhim really good when he was about 12 years old.Weve been around each other that long.

T-Roy

According to Broussard, his rst ride on an

airboat was when he was 6 weeks old. He shothis rst duck at 4 years old. When he was 8,he would head out in his own pirogue with hisshing pole and tackle with the only admonitionfrom his parents, Donald and Connie Broussardto be back by dark. It was instilled in me by myfamily early on how to take care of yourself andbe responsible, Broussard said.

Broussard grew up in Port Acres. WhenTexas re-opened alligator hunting in 1984, hisfather was one of the rst in line. The youngerBroussard has been hunting alligators sincehe was 13 years old. He also enjoys duck >>

theVIPmag.com | September 2013


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hunting and holds a commercial crabbing license, buthis favorite activity is shing. He competes in bass

tournaments and recently received sponsorship fromseveral businesses including Premier Yamaha BoatingCenters, Ranger Boats, Castaway Rods, Energy Coun-try Ford, Simon Outtters, Port Iron, Coastal Welding,and Ancelets Marina.

His various activities balance out seasonally, buthave taken a step-up in commitment with the TV showand the bass sponsorships. Nobody can get better inlife until youre challenged, he said. Just because youthink youre good doesnt mean you are. You have tohave a work ethic. If you slack o and dont work ashard, there are going to be people nipping at your feetto get your tags.

Broussard brings that same work ethic to his careerwith the Port Arthur Fire Department, where he hasworked since 1991. In my life as a reghter, I get a

lot of satisfaction out of helping people, he said, butIve also seen peoples lives changed and destroyed. Ittakes a toll on you, but you become hardened.

Broussard is a softie though when it comes to his3 -year-old daughter, Mallory. I was 38 when I hadmy rst child and she is by far the greatest achievementin my life, he said. I used to be all work, all business,didnt have time for play. Now I have a fuller life.

Bigfoot

For Hatcher, alligator hunting is his livelihood. Hesdone some other jobs along the way carpentry, driv-ing trucks and tractors but he estimates 95 percentof his income is from alligators. In addition to hunting

them himself, he also serves as a hunting guide and alicensed nuisance hunter for the state. I truly do it for

a living and I dont want to do nothing else, he said.For most people, its a hobby, but its my living. I likeanything to do with the outdoors.

Hunting is in his blood, Hatcher said, listing a longlineage of hunters, trappers and shers among hisfamily tree. An uncle rst took him gator hunting. Hegot his rst tags from the late Sydney Dupuy of LaBelleand is still hunting on some of the same property hestarted on 29 years ago. When hes not hunting alliga-tor, hes duck hunting.

And whatever Hatcher is doing, hes doing it bare-foot. I walked across my graduation stage withoutshoes, he said. I used to work on the rice farm andgo duck hunting without shoes.

His wife of 34 years, Doddie, said that he did wear atraditional suit and shoes for the wedding ceremonies

of his three daughters, but he was back in blue jeansand bare feet for the rst dance of the receptions. Noone thought anything of it because thats who he is,she explained.

In addition to their daughters, the Hatchers havea son and six grandchildren. All four of their childrenwere born in the month of February. Hatcher said ifyou do the math, they were all conceived in the springwhen the hunting seasons were over. There was nohunting underway and I was around the house appar-ently, he laughed.

Wives tales

Dana Broussard and Doddie Hatcher knew

Gator Hunting, Texas-StyleSwamp People is primarily set in Louisiana with the majority of the cast members representing Louisiana gator hunting families and

businesses. However, there are some major differences in the alligator hunting regulations for Texas and Louisiana. For example, the

Texas season is shorter than Louisianas, running only 20 days from September 10 to September 30 in the 22 core counties.

Another difference Hatcher noted is the number of lines per tag allowed. In Texas, its one baited shing line per tag, unl ike Louisiana

where the number of lines isnt limited. Also, in Texas, alligators cannot be shot free swimming or caught with a throw hook.

Another challenge for Texas hunters is that the alligator po pulation is spread further apart than in Louisiana, Hatcher explained. In the

season, we travel at least 200 to 300 miles a day from the Trinity River plum to Sabine River, to Sabine Pass to the beach and back to

High Island, he said. We might have 10 tags here, 15 tags there. Each tag has a number that is assigned to the property so we have to

catch them on that property.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) determines how many tags to issue private landowners each year based on habitat,

nest count and a count of alligators done at night, Hatcher explained. Hatcher, Broussard, other hunters and guides have relationships

with these landowners to ll their tags.

Alligators were removed from the endangered species list in 1978, but they are protected with strict regulations per the TPWD. For

more information about alligators: [email protected].

Left and middle: Troy T-Roy Broussard hunting alligators as a kid and at the re-opening of Texas alligator season in1984. Right: Harlan Bigfoot Hatcher hunting with his brother Edward in 1984.

>>



9/52

Nothing LeftLike any commodity, the price for alligato

uctuates with the market. Broussard recal

that in 1984, the price was about $20 a foo

and rose steadily until it peaked around $70

foot in 1991. Prices then bottomed out to le

than $10 a foot for a few years, and Brouss

refused to hunt. Thats wasting a valuable

resource, he said.You dont want to cash

out your stock when the price is low.We let

them mature and boost the population until

market got ripe again.

Last year, gators priced between $20 an

$30 a foot depending on size, Broussard sa

The price per foot reects the value of thewhole animal, including meat and hide. Farm

raised alligators living in controlled condition

are more likely to have unblemished hides,

there is still a market for wild hides for boot

guitar straps, suitcases and more. Broussar

attributes the rising price to the popularity o

alligator meat, directly inuenced by reality

programs such as Swamp People.

Hatcher uses every scrap of the alligator

including offering taxidermy for hunters for

bodies, heads or skulls. I dont waste nothi

teeth, meat, skin, claws it all gets used,

Hatcher said.

Tastes LikeChicken?

Whether you agree that alligator tasteslike chicken or not, alligator meat is very

similar to chicken breast nutritionally. MaryEllen Vivrett, the director of the Metabolic an

Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Institute at PrClinic, said alligator meat has 110 calories

chickens 124 in the same portions, but tha

alligator has just slightly more fat.The diet of gators in the wild consistsof sh, shellsh and small animals near the

wetlands, she said,so there is a lot of nat

protein and plant matter. Like all wild gamethere is a higher protein content and less fa

than in farm-raised animals.Keeping it healthy is all in how you cook

it, Vivrett said. Deep-frying erases the healtbenets of the lean meat, so marinating, gr

and sauting are recommended. Because itso lean, Vivrett said fat needs to be added t

make patties or sausages. The tail is the leaest cut, with the rib section offering a darke

more strongly avored meat.Local vendor Mark Porter of Porters

Processing and Alligator Farm in Anahuacsells alligator tail meat for $10 a pound. He

recommends that anyone curious to try alligmeat buy a pound to sample it or try it at on

of several local restaurants he supplies. Andyes alligator can taste like chicken, too.

Farm gators and wild gators almost have tdifferent tastes, just like farm and wild sh,

Porter noted.Wild gator tastes better to moseasoned alligator consumers because it ha

distinct avor, whereas farm gator really doetaste kind of like chicken.



10/52

what they were getting when they married their men. Ifshe hadnt known before, Dana got a preview on her wed-ding day at Toledo Bend in 2010.

He almost missed our wedding, she said. He caughthis largest bass ever at 11.14 pounds that morning. Heran back for the ceremony, she said, but then thought hewas going back out to do more shing. She corrected thatassumption.

He doesnt do anything halfway or little, she said.He does things that make me worry a lot putting outres, going out crabbing in thunderstorms. Thats thestu that worries me, the Mother Nature things, but he

takes precautions and he always has good stories when hecomes home.She has been gator hunting with her husband and de-

scribed it as fun, though he worked her hard and madeher pull the carcass in the boat by herself.

Doddie used to hunt with her husband when theyrst got married, before she got kicked o the boat shejokes. She remembers gator hunting one time where abait line was down, which could mean an alligator washooked or it had snagged on something. After watchingit, Hatcher decided there was nothing there and got in thewater chest-deep to slowly pull the line up. As it turnedout, there was an 11 -foot gator on the end. Doddiestarted yelling, Get in this boat right now!

Fortunately, neither man has had a serious injury fromalligator hunting, though both have been nipped or bitten

and remain respectful of the danger.

Stay tuned

At this time, it is uncertain whether the two willreprise their roles on Season 5 of Swamp People.Regardless, both men intend to keep hunting and taggingout this month. VIP


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text by Cheryl rose

When the lights go out, Im just a man,A man in love with a woman.No matter where I go, Ill always turn aroundAnd come back home cause girl,Youre always where Im going.

And when youre there with me, layin in my arms,Up against my heart, thats who I really am,When the lights go out.

Tracie Chesnutt cried when she listened to it for therst time, sitting in their truck one evening, alone withher husband of 21 years.

But when Mark Chesnutt, a performer with 14 No.

1 songs and a string of gold and platinum albums to hiscredit, rst told his wife that he had written a song forher, her original response was a distracted thats good.

Shes been with me so many years, she dont take anyof this serious, Chesnutt said. She was with me whenall this career stu started, when I was hot in the 90s,during what we called the crazy days, when I was doing200 dates a year. So I didnt want her to hear this songuntil it was mixed, mastered and nished. She cried whenit nally hit her what the song was about.

Rollin with the fow

Chesnutt began singing and playing in honkytonksaround Southeast Texas when he was 16 years old. He

m a r k c h e s n u t t

vipersonality

love songfm a ad wai

>>



12/52

played regionally for more years until hesigned with a Nashville recording company.He exploded onto the country music scene,charting dozens of songs over the next de-cade and developing a solid fan base. Now,at 49, Chesnutt still works hard on the roadto please his fans. He played 86 dates last

year around the U.S. and Canada.Non-stop touring for 23 years has been

my way of life, he said. The hard part ofthis business is getting to the gig and hop-ing the bus dont break down, going throughthe grind of airport travel, trying to eat andsleep right, he said. We do all that for anhour, two hours on stage. Of course thatswhy we all do this. If youre in this businessto get rich, youre in the wrong business.We do it because we love music and thefeeling of getting on a stage, playing in frontof a live audience who are excited about youbeing in their town. It gets in your blood.You crave being on stage. Its not only play-ing the music, but also the energy you getback. Theres nothing else like it.

Though hes been performing for threedecades, Chesnutt says hes not a natu-ral songwriter. I always wanted to writesongs, but I just didnt get that talent, hesaid. My daddy (the late Bob Chesnutt)was a great songwriter.

In the mid-1990s, Chesnutts recordcompany paired him with Roger Springer,who Chesnutt describes as a country boywith roots in traditional country music.The two immediately hit it o and are still

best friends. The two collaborated on sev-eral songs, including Its a Little Too Lateand Thank God for Believers.

He could always pull a song out of me,Chesnutt said.

Though he loves playing his classic hitsfor his fans on tour, it has been a few yearssince hes released any new music. Both the

fans and Chesnutt himself were antsy forsomething fresh.

I just wanted you to know

Chesnutt met up with Springer inNashville last winter to work on some newmaterial.

I had no idea for a song when I wentNashville, Chesnutt remembered. Rogehad the idea for the opening line and meldy. He started singing it and after thinkifor a few minutes, it came to me and worstarted coming out of me. I ended up singing a song for my wife.

When the Lights Go Out (TraciesSong) is the rst single from Chestnuttsown independent label, Nada DineroRecords. The vocals were recorded at thehome of producer Jimmy Ritchey. Im anindependent artist now, Chesnutt said. dont have to answer to anyone. I dont hato worry about making anyone mad. I cantime things at my own pace. As an indepe

dent, I dont owe anybody. I dont have tosell 10 million records to stay out of the rbecause the budgets arent that big.

Chesnutt anticipates being back in thestudio this month, working on more songfor a future album. We might releasesongs as we nish them if we think they astrong enough for a single, he said.

Blame it on Texas

In one of his hits from 1991, Chesnuttsings been havin a ball since I was a boyin Beaumont, love that town but I just

On TourSeptember 9, 2013: Baton Rouge, LA

September 21, 2013: Fulton, KY

September 28, 2013: Durant, OK

October 5, 2013: Mason City, IA

October 11, 2013: Rockport, TX

October 25, 2013: San Antonio, TXNovember 9, 2013: Columbus, MO

December 7, 2013: The Woodlands, TX

ph

otographyby

ScOTTESlingEr



13/52

couldnt stay. But return he did.The Chestnutts and their threeboys Waylon, Casey and Cameron live in Jeerson County. Chesnuttdrives into Beaumont to shop at agrocery or the mall when he or hisfamily need something, just likeeveryone else.

Im just a simple old countryguy from a small town, he said.Im not any dierent on stagethan I am over here at the house

cooking on the pit or fussing at mykids.

All three of his boys play andsing with a variety of instrumentsand styles and thats OK withChesnutt. Hes a classic rock fanhimself, in addition to his love oftraditional country music.

One of his earliest mentors inthe music business was a lumi-nescent star of traditional countryand fellow Beaumont boy, GeorgeJones. George was a great friendof mine and a huge inuence,Chesnutt said. We were really

close. We became friends in the80s. We toured and recorded quitea few times together, did a lot oflive shows together.

Jones death earlier this yearwas a blow to Chesnutt. I knewhed been sick, but it was almostlike losing my daddy all overagain.

These days, Chesnutt himself isan idol young country singers wishto emulate. Rising country artistJustin Moore was recently reportedto have said, Id love nothing morethan to cut an album that sounds

like Mark Chesnutt in 1994.Chesnutt laughed when he

heard the compliment. It makesme feel like Ive done something,he said. If anybody learned any-thing from what Ive done, thatsa huge compliment. Inspiring awhole new generation is a big dealto me.

Gonna get a life

When he isnt on the road,Chesnutt loves to sneak o tohunt and sh. Whenever I geta chance, Ill be out on Sabine

Lake doing some shing for trout,redsh or ounder, he said. I liketo hunt whitetail deer. There areseveral places I travel to hunt and Itake my boys with me.

He also loves Southeast Texasfood from barbecue to crabs toCajun avors. I love Beaumont,he said. I love the atmosphere andthe people. Its authentic. You cango hear live music seven nights aweek, and you can sh nearly year-round. Its a great place to live. VIP



14/52


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text by CHERYL ROSE

Smooth, calm and reective on nature are probably

not how his friends would describe Beaumont

attorney Mark Sparks, but do characterize the

peaceful zen of his home. His interior decorating

is minimalist and thats the way he likes it.

A couple of years ago, Sparks had an epiphany about theamount of possessions he had accumulated. The catalyst wasselling a previous home before nding a replacement. As a tem-porary necessity, he rented storage to hold all his belongings. Ididnt like any houses I saw, so I lived on my mothers couch,he said. I was homeless and it was wonderful. There was nosound of a mortgage and property tax sucking out of my ac-count every month. Eventually, I had to face that being 38 and

A less s more phlosophyraslaes o a raqul rerea

b a c h e l o r p a d

vp home

ausery

rulesphotography by LEE E. StinSOn

>>



16/52

living on your mothers couch isntthe coolest thing that you can do.

However, he was determined notto take two storage pods of life detri-tus into a new home. He pulled it allout, gave family and acquaintancesrst shot, then donated the rest toGoodwill Industries. What remainsis what he honed down to a combi-nation of the most personal and thebasic utilitarian.

Smooth and soothing

Sparks new home is a two-bed-room built in the 1980s with a nod toAcadian style, having iron gates, oldbrick oors and living space surround-ing a courtyard. The brick oor runsthroughout the downstairs with theexception of the master bedroom. Theoor was one of the features that at-tracted Sparks to the home.

Once hed made some maintenanceupdates, Sparks turned to his child-hood friend, Seawillow Edwards, forguidance with the interior. I have ter-rible taste, he confessed. I enlistedSeawillow and she helped me tremen-

dously. The only parameters I gaveher were I wanted something minimaland less is more. I want very little inthe house and I want a light, open-airfeeling. Whatever classiness is in thishome is owed to her, not to me.

Edwards demurs on that compli-ment, but says it has been a fun expe-rience to assist her friend in pullingtogether his few, eclectic possessionswhile also reecting the design ofthe house. All the windows face thecourtyard with all that natural light,she said. To me, the point is to lookout onto the beautiful grounds and to

bring in the outdoors.They chose a pale green wall colorto amplify the green of the outdoorsand reections from the pool. An-other idea was to make it a smooth,consistent calm from the front doorto the back, Sparks said. Peace andcalm arent often aorded me.

Edwards wanted to help Sparkscreate a retreat from his busyschedule. Hes a really hard worker,extremely dedicated with long hours,and he travels so much, she said. Iwanted his home to be a place whereit would be calming and uncluttered.

Male dcorThe one disagreement the friends

had was on the use of the diningroom. For guys like me, a diningroom is a waste of space, Sparkssaid. I dont dine. I dont entertain. Itwould be dead space. I already had thepool table and thought it would lookcool under the chandelier. I stuck tomy guns on that, though normally I gowith what she says.

The decorative items that remainfrom Sparks purge are totemic refer-ences to his past and personality.



17/52

Over the replace is a polishedskull from an Ankole-Watusi cow. Tanimal belonged to his late father, arancher who raised exotic species.After his fathers death, Sparks alsoinherited the trophy heads from thfamilys hunting experiences. I grup deer hunting, he said. My fathwas an avid hunter as was my brothI couldnt get rid of them, so I putthem in the oce.

Several sculptures are pieces he

brought back from his travels. He pchased the Asian pieces in Thailandexcept for the Buddha that came byway of a Houston art gallery. Sparkfound the Greek helmet in Athens.One of his college majors was philophy, and the history and style of thpiece spoke to him.

The only other art on the wallsare two autographed guitars. I amaddicted to 1990s hair band rock,Sparks confessed. One is signed bSlaughter and the other is signed bWhite Lion.

He purchased both guitars and aother piece of guitar-shaped art sigby Willie Nelson. His love of hard ralso explains his favorite feature ofhome a surround-sound stereo stem that runs inside and out. I caplay my Poison throughout the houwhich may explain why no one comover to be entertained, he joked.

The neighbors did call the copshim one time though for playing hirock too loudly while lounging in hpool, his favorite thing to do the rartimes he has to relax. He recently hLandscape Solutions re-invent hisbackyard to include a water fountaiand pond. Its nice to sit in the bac

yard by the pool and listen to musiche said. The problem is the frogs ithe pond make this awful noise. Imshocked that female frogs nd thatattractive.

Unlike so many homeowners,Sparks actually uses his home gymwhich takes up a good portion of thupstairs. I use it every day Im herhe said. Hewill wake upat 5 a.m. trun ve miles on his treadmill andreturn to the weights at night.

To rest, he likes to sit in his granmothers chair and put his feet up othe ottoman to read or watch TV.

FreedReleasing so many possessions

was dicult, he admits, but also vefreeing. All of his upstairs closets acompletely empty. I kept photo-graphs, my Matchbox cars, my StarWars stu and CDs, but very littleelse, he said. I travel in CentralAmerica a lot for my job and I real-ized the excesses that I had and howfortunate we all are as Americans.Its amazing how much stu you cacollect. We can get along ne withoall of it. VIP



18/52


19/52

text and styling by Larena Head and Grace MatHisphotography by Lacie Grant

photo assistantLauren McGeemodeled by Brady Martin and tiffany MaLoney

hair and makeup by Beauty witH Grace Boy meets girl meets classic cars. From a soda shop to a dark alley, this relation-

ship showcases sexy, smart style. Whether you have a need for speed or just

like to have fun, take inspiration from these wheels. Casual and playful, bold and

daring, sultry and glamorous are the elements of this story.

f a s h i o n & c a r s

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20/52

classic&coolT

ake classic elements and bring them up to date

with bold color and mixing of patterns. Stay cool

with light layers and fabrics like chambray.

THE FASHION

Womans outft From S & M Family Outlet: Floral ciga-

rette pants, $21; White camisole, $24; Open-toe wedges,

$20; Coral jacket, $26. From LUXE Boutique: Navy bubbleearrings, $13. Mans outft From Express, Parkdale

Mall: Polka dot chambray shirt, $60; Stripe shorts, $70;Reversible belt, $40; Straw fedora, $40. From From S & M

Family Outlet: Two-tone Keds, $24

Shot on location at: Mikes Old Fashioned Soda Fountain,

1302 Port Neches Avenue, (409) 985-5194

THE CAR

1957 Chevy Bel Air owned by Ross Russell

According to Ross Russell, most people with classiccars enjoy sharing those cars with other people.Its easy for a classic car owner to become jaded,

Ross explained. I keep my 57 Chevy Bel Air in my garage

at home, so every time I go out the door into the garage I

see the car sitting there. I have to remind myself that not

everyone gets to see one ever.

Russell describes how his car generates excitement

wherever he goes. I might be sitting at a stop light when

I hear beep beep and I look over and the guy next to megives me a thumbs up and says I like your car! Or, when

I go to a gas station, people will stop at the station just to

look at it.

As a teenager in the 50s, Russell learned about cars

from his dad, and dreamed of one day owning his own 57

Chevy. He just didnt know it would be 40 years before he

bought one. Just about everyone has a passion for some-

thing, Russell said. For some men its golf or bass shing

my passion is for cars. I wonder when the day is gonnacome that that passion dwindles or if that day will ever

come. Between you and I, I hope it doesnt. I really enjoy my

passion and I hope it continues the rest of my days.



21/52



22/52



23/52

bold&brawnS

tand out from the pack with bold simplicity. The

iconic white T-shirt and jeans speak volumes w

worn with attitude, even next to a dramatic silk t

THE FASHION

Womans outft From BCBG, Parkdale Mall: Silktunic, $228; Jewel-tone tassel necklace, $5; Neonring, $28; From LUXE Boutique: Nude Archer sandal$60; Suede snake purse, $119; Lariat necklace, $30Braided heart bracelet, $13; Embossed bangle, $17.Mans outft From Express, Parkdale Mall: Aviatosunglasses, $20

THE CAR

1929 Ford truck owned by Sterling Bradley

Sterling Bradley owns Bradleys Collision Center in Neches and has been around cars his whole life.dad had a body shop since I was 10. My uncle wo

in the performance division for General Motors, and my

ther and uncle would go hot roddin together, he explai

When I was a teenager I would build the hotrods ta car and soup it up with a pretty paint job and persona

ize it, he reminisced. Then we would cruise the drag o

Gulfway and Nederland Ave.Bradley has owned his 1929 Ford truck for 15 years

The truck found me.A guy traded it for some storage f

another vehicle. It looked like it had come out of a eldsomewhere, with grass growing through.After many

changes, including automatic power windows and brake

plus air conditioning and a ame paint job, the bed, fend

and doors are the last original remains of the old eld trOver the years, Bradley has owned over 30 clas-

sic muscle cars, including one he currently owns, a 65

Mustang Fastback. He denitely has his favorites. The I would love to have would be a 65 Pontiac GTO and I r

love the 65 Mustang.



24/52

lust&allureR

ough up timeless glamour by adding a sexy

edge. There is no need to try too hard when you

are this hot.

THE FASHION

Womans outft From LUXE Boutique: Black goldsequin dress, $60; Kristin Cavallari pumps, $130. From

BGBG, Parkdale Mall: Ring, $38. Mans outft FromExpress, Parkdale Mall: Red tted shirt, $60; Photographer

pant, $80; Belt $40

THE CAR

1966 Ford Mustang owned by Joe Malley

Joe Malley is not mechanically inclined, but that doesntkeep him from enjoying his black 1966 Ford Mustang.Its called a two-plus-two cause itll seat four people.

I liked them in the past, but never thought I would get one,

he recalled. But 4 years ago, he decided it was time.

I looked around and my friends looked and found one

on the Internet in Metairie, La. Malley said. My wife and I

left at 4 in the morning, saw it and loved it and decided that

was it.

The car didnt need much work, but anytime it does, heleaves it to the experts.I get a lot of pleasure in showing

the car to other people who either had them in the past or

young people who really like the old styles. I like sharing it

and taking people for rides in it, he said.

He also enjoys helping with the Raos car show, which

he helped start. Four years ago, we had 38 cars, this year

it was 120. Its growing, he said. I really like doing it, with

the help of a lot of good people. We sell links and drinks and

proceeds go to Boys Haven.Theres no judging people

just walk around and look at cool cars. And everyone has a

good time.



25/52



26/52

text by Larena Head

D

enim plays an

essential role in a

mans closet. A ver-

satile pair of jeans

can be worn with

everything from a

sports jacket to a tee shirt. But withan abundance of options in terms

of t, color and nish, choosing the

right pair of jeans can be a challenge.

Fit is the most important thing to

look for in a pair of jeans. Determine

what t works best for your style and

go from there. Slim t jeans oer a

clean, sharp look and dress up nicely.

They should slightly hug the thighs,

knees and calves while loosening up

around the ankles. Straight leg jeans,

a little more forgiving, are slightly

form tting through the thigh,

but looser in the knees and calves.

Classic and relaxed ts are roomier

throughout.

A pair of black or dark wash jeans

are essential because they can be

dressed up or down with ease. Want

to diversify your denim? Mix in some

color. Grey, olive and rust are subtle

but smart ways to work in a little

color without being too bold. When

it comes to details the simpler, the

better. Minimal branding and embel-

lishment has a cleaner look and

makes for a more versatile jean.

So youre ready for a new pair

of jeans, where should you start?

Express oers dierent ts, washes

and cuts. Most of their selection is

clean and modern, plus there are

plenty of dapper accessories to pull

together your look. The majority of

jeans at Buckle come in a relaxed t

but they oer some slim t options

as well. Their knowledgeable sta

makes selecting a pair of jeans a

breeze, and if the length isnt just

right, their in-house seamstress

can take care of that, free with your

purchase. For tried and true classic

denim, a pair of Levis is just the

ticket. For under $100, you cant go

wrong. Levis jeans can be found lo-

cally at Kohls, JCPenney and Macys.

Once you nd a pair of jeans that

suits your needs, be sure to make

them your own. Mix and match

denim with your favorite pieces

in your wardrobe and try out new

combinations. From casual Friday

to date night, with the right styling,

you cant go wrong with a great pair

of jeans.

Its gotta ftThe right-ftting denim is essential to a mans wardrobe

b l u e j e a n s

vip style



27/52

From Buckle, Parkdale Mall: Slim Fit Shirt,Buckle Black, $60; Charcoal Jake Jean, BKE,$70; Brown Leather Belt, Fossil, $35.

Dk TkAge: 35 Occupation: General Manager, MikeSmith Honda and Mercedes

Do for fun? I love the water, boating, sh-ing and hunting.

Ideal rst date? I think an appropriate rstdate is dinner and a movie.

Favorite way to wear a pair of jeans?

Dressed down with boots.

Look for in a partner? Compassion,loyalty, affection, and a sense of humor

Beard or no beard? No beard, I dontlike beards. I prefer a goatee that is wellgroomed.

Favorite date spot? Madisons

Dream car? A 65 Corvette Convertible

styling by larena heaDphotography by ScoTT eSlingershot atmaDiSonS

Dt autUbi Caritas, the non-prot Beaumontministry that has provided health-care to the uninsured since 1998, isholding its fth annual Date Auctionon Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. atMadisons in Beaumont. The eventfeatures an auction of date packageswith some of the areas most eligiblebachelors and bachelorettes (includingthese handsome men).



28/52

From Express, Parkdale Mall: Fitted

Printed Shirt, $70; Black Rocco Slim FitJean, $88; Reversible Leather Belt, $40

Andrew

ChernoffAge: 23, Occupation: WeekendSports Anchor/ Sports Re-porter, KFDM Channel 6

Do for fun? I love going tosporting events and I enjoyhanging out with family andfriends.

Ideal rst date? Dinner ata very nice restaurant, thenwhatever she wants to do.

Favorite way to wear a pair

of jeans? I like wearing themwith long sleeve shirts and

polo shirts. I think jeans arequickly replacing khakis.

Look for in a partner? Hon-esty, kindness and support

Beard or no beard? Nobeard.

Favorite date spot? Some-where on the water.

Sports star Id like to have

dinner with? Brad Stevens,the Boston Celtics head coach



29/52

From Express, Parkdale Mall: ExtraSlim Bengal Stripe Dress Shirt, $70;Photographer Blazer, $198; Rocco SlimFit Jean, $80; Brown Leather Belt, $30

Garrison

FullerAge: 21, Occupation: Adminis-trative Assistant, Taryn Hebert,RE/MAX Beaumont

Do for fun? I enjoy going tothe beach, conveniently located

just an hour away. I like to get

involved in local events andorganizations. I also really likecooking and entertaining forfriends and family.

Ideal rst date? Go to a laid-back patio bar, have a coupleof toddies to relax, then have agreat dinner, preferably Italian,followed by some live music.

Favorite way to wear a pair

of jeans? I like boot-cut jeansthat t like a glove. Not tootight, not too loose, just right.

Look for in a partner? Ambi-tion, optimism and a laid-backpersonality

Beard or no beard? I alwayslike to have a little scruff.

Favorite date spot? Herelocally, I would have to sayCarrabbas. You can never gowrong.

Describe your style: Classicand preppy, with accessories ora pop of color



30/52

text by CHERYL ROSE

Screamingly

popular teen

sensations

seem often

to end up on

Where Are

They Now?

programs. But for Paul Anka, whose

rst No. 1 hit was in 1957 at age 16,

the answer to where is he now? is

everywhere.

The 72-year-old global superstar isconstantly charting new forays in themusic industry, performing, produc-ing, mentoring younger singers andmanaging multiple businesses. I lovewhat Im doing, he said. Im stillvery good at it and learning somethingevery day. They throw dirt on you ifyou stand still.

The prolic songwriter and per-former has enjoyed a rare longevity inthe entertainment industry, movingfrom teen idol stardom to sought-after

lyricist. Hes performed with andwritten songs for music giants fromall genres, including Frank Sinatra,Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, BudHolly, Willie Nelson, Celine Dion anMichael Bubl. Just this year, Ankareleased both a biography that reacNo. 6 on the The New York TimesNon-Fiction Best Sellers List and anew album called Duets. ThoughAnka has pared down his tour scheule from a height of more than 200international dates a year, he still pon about 75 extravagant shows a yeHell be bringing his megawatt smiland charm to Beaumont on Oct. 3 apart of The Julie Rogers Gift of LifePrograms annual celebration event

Sensation and survivor

Born in Ottawa, Canada in 1941to a family of modest means, Ankacaught the show-biz bug early. By a12, he was taking piano lessons, performing at parties and writing poetrHis parents werent sure what to mof this desire to be a performer, buthis mother enthusiastically supporthim, serving as his rst muse.

In the 1950s, in Canada, there wno comparison to these Idolparentsgrooming their kids like grapefruitsAnka said. It didnt exist. But I kn

Former teen idol and Vegasregular Paul Anka still dazzle

Pomp Sans

Pompadour

p a u l a n k a

vip worthy

Top 10 SongsThough he has written more than 900 songs, here are 10 of

the songs Paul Anka performed that topped the charts:

1. Lonely Boy (peaked #1 in 1959)

2. Having My Baby (peaked #1 in 1974)

3. Diana (peaked #1 in 1957)

4. Put Your Head On My Shoulder (peaked #2 in 1959)

5. Puppy Love (peaked #2 in 1960)

6. Its Time To Cry (peaked #4 in 1959)

7. Times Of Your Life (peaked #7 in 1975)

8. You Are My Destiny (peaked #7 in 1958)

9. One Man Woman (peaked #7 in 1974)

10. I Dont Like To Sleep Alone (peaked #8 in 1975)



31/52

from the get-go I had a gift. I had asense of performing and a desire andhunger. I knew I wanted to write. Iwas a cub reporter for the local news-paper. I also had a paper route andworked as a caddy at the golf club. Iwould sing my songs to my mother inthe basement and test them out.

Anka received his rst record con-tract at the age of 15. His rst song,Diana, went straight to No. 1 andmade him an overnight sensation.

Anka appeared on The Ed SullivanShow and American Bandstandandtraveled with other stars of the erasuch as Buddy Holly, Chuck Berryand Jerry Lee Lewis. He had a briefromance with Disney MouseketeerAnnette Funicello, who died earlier

this year and was the inspiration forPuppy Love, another top hit forAnka.

Many of his contemporaries of50s pop disappeared after the ar-rival of The Beatles and the BritishInvasion in the early 60s. Duringthat turbulent music scene, Ankalaunched another singing career inEurope, played in Vegas clubs andwrote a steady string of hits for him-self and others.

Anka has written more than 900songs in his career, but some of the

ones he is most known for include thelegendary anthem he wrote for FrankSinatra, My Way, his own No. 1 hitYoure Having My Baby, Shes aLady that he wrote for Tom Jones,the Academy Award-nominated scoreto the movie The Longest Day andthe theme song for The TonightShow with Johnny Carson.

Integrity and longevity

Anka was able to evolve and tran-sition his career by having a versatiletalent, being a smart businessmanand steering clear of the dangeroustemptations rife among the show-bizset.

All of my life, Ive believed thatyou cant function and give a fair

share to your audience if you are nottotally in control of yourself, he said.I taught myself how to live right.Even though I was hanging aroundwith the Rat Pack and the maa, Ihad to nd a smart way to live. I sawfriends disappear from the businessfrom sickness. I cherished what I didtoo much.

Anka attributes the sensiblegrounding given to him by his parentsas the reason he was able to avoid let-ting celebrity status go to his head.I believe your character is very

Clbg

h Gf f Lf

Plan to join The Julie Rogers Gift of Life Program for an

Unforgettable Evening with Paul Anka in Concert at

the Julie Rogers Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 3, along

with featured speaker Pat Smith, the talented talk

show host and wife of former NFL superstar Emmitt Smith.

Every October, the nonprot organization heightens aware-

ness and celebrates survivorship in a month of Putting on the

Pink activities, including educational outreach, a regional mobile

mammography van, and a Promenade of Courage, celebrating

the strength of cancer survivors and remembering those who

have succumbed. Another special event is the Julie Richardson

Procter 5K Ribbon Run Color Rush in Beaumont on Saturday, Oct.

5, raising awareness of ovarian and breast cancer.The National Cancer Institute estimates that a woman in the

U.S. has a 1 in 8 chance of developing invasive breast cancer

during her lifetime. Last year, the Gift of Life provided more than

2,200 free mammograms and clinical breast exams, as well as

additional diagnostic testing, for medically underserved women in

SE Texas. Eleven of those were diagnosed with breast cancer.

Our mission of saving lives in Southeast Texas is augmented

by the local medical community which assists in our organi-

zations continuum of care that includes free breast cancer

screenings, diagnostic evaluations and case management with

navigation to cancer treatment, when necessary, explained

Regina Rogers, the founder of the Gift of Life Program.

photography courtesy ofPauL anka andassoCiated Pr

>>



32/52

important and its tested daily,especially in this business, hesaid. You can get carried awaywith the attention and applause.I was about three years into thebusiness when I thought, Ive gotto nd a way not to be a jerk, whatwith everyone catering to you andkissing up.

Anka believes his lifelong focuson integrity has contributed to hislongevity in the industry. Reputa-

tion is very important, he said.I would rather go to my gravewith only a penny than with a badreputation.

Quality and honesty

After his initial success withDiana, Anka points to writingMy Way as a major turningpoint in his career. The seriousballad gave him a new gravitasin the industry, allowing him toexpand to new genres and provinghis versatility for songwriting.

With the aspect of writ-ing, you live this very quiet and

segregated existence, workingwith your mind, he said. Ankaoften works alone when writing,though he has had some fun col-laborations, including two weeksworking with Michael Jackson ona song that was later released after

Jacksons death titled This is It.On his latest album, Duets,

Anka used technology to enhancehis collaborations. Willie Nelsonis in Texas and Im here in Cali-

fornia; he sits in his comfort zone,but we are communing with eachother and working and recordingtogether, Anka described. Dolly(Parton) wants to be in Nash-

ville; we do our parts like we artogether, back and forth. Thatsusing technology in a great wayby my point of view.

When he was learning his cr


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Anka points out that there was noenhancing technology to improvethe voice or oer lip-syncing for aperformance. Back then, you hadto study harder and be on your

game, he said. Once you wereon the stage, you had to be in key,on time and know what the hellyou were doing.

Quality and honesty are his

standards for all of his music andperformances. When he visitsBeaumont next month, he said theaudience can expect great musi-cianship, a wide variety of music

and an evening that will touchmany buttons of emotion as eacperformance is tailor-made for occasion.

His way

Ankas career and fan-base rmain strong, with albums such Rock Swings (Ankas swing interpretations of hard rock songs2005 bringing in a new generatiThe fans are constantly changi

amazingly so, he said.If he had to dub an heir ap-parent, he would choose MichaeBubl, a fellow Canadian he hasmentored and produced.

With so many accolades andsheer volume of accumulatedwork, Anka said it is his ve chidren and their successes he is mproud of. The most importantthing is family, he said. I get tbiggest pleasure from that. I feesad for people who accomplish lot, have a lot of nancial gain, blive alone, sleep alone, and donhave anyone to share it with.

After 55 years in the musicindustry, Anka feels he has earnthe right to sing My Way fromthe voice of experience. It hasmore relevance and poignancy tme than it did when I wrote it,he said.

My WayFrank Sinatras signature anthem about aging and regrets, covered by ev-

eryone from Aretha Franklin to The Gipsy Kings, was penned by a young Paul

Anka in 1968. Though his record company gave Anka some grief about not

recording the song rst, Anka realized that the lyrics wouldnt resonate coming

from a 27-year-old. Instead, he had written the song to capture the spirit of

his friend and mentor, Frank Sinatra.

Anka was barely out of his teens when he began performing in Las Vegas

alongside the famed Rat Pack, including megastars Frank Sinatra, Dean

Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. As Anka tells it, Sinatra asked him back then,

Kid, when are you going to write me a song? Anka knew that Sinatra hatedpop music. He often jokes that if he had offered up a Puppy Love tune, Sina-

tra would have thrown him out the window or put a horses head in his bed.

Several years later, the two met up at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami

where Anka was performing and Sinatra was lming a movie. Over dinner,

Sinatra told Anka that he was planning one last album and then intended to

retire. He reminded Anka of his promise to write him a song.

Anka returned to his then-home in New York. The rst line, The end is

near, and so I face the nal curtain, came to him and he began typing, work-

ing through the night and nishing at 5 a.m. He called Sinatra and producer

Don Costa in Las Vegas and told them he was bringing them a song.

Two months later, Sinatra called Anka and played the nished recording

over the phone. I heard it for the rst time, Anka remembered.I started

crying. Changed my life.

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34/52

text by Jane McBride

When Mike

Fuljenzs

grandfa-

ther, Jules

Lievens,

gave his

6-year-old grandson a silver dollar for

making the honor roll, he knew he was

helping instill respect for hard work.

What he couldnt have foreseen was the

profound impact that lone, shiny coin

would have.

Today, Fuljenz is a dynamic, pas-sionate man driven to excellence whoturned his love aair with coins intothe creation of one of the largest coinand bullion companies of Americacoinage. As president of Universal Coin& Bullion in Beaumont, Fuljenz has areputation for honesty, integrity andknowledge of numismatics.

Fuljenz is a frequent contributor tonumismatic literary publications. Hehas written numerous articles on thevalue of rare coins made of preciousmetals, as well as authoring severalnational award-winning books, includ-ing the 2010 Numismatic LiteraryGuild Investment Book of the Year,Indian Gold Coins of the 20th Century.He has provided expertise to the U.S.Mint, Federal Trade Commission, inputtoward creation of a new Texas PreciousMetal Dealer Registration, and assistedthe Texas Rangers and Runnels CountyTexas Sheris Department in locatingsuspected gold thieves. While his com-

mitment to the professionalism of hiseld is important to Fuljenz, he wouldmuch rather speak about his numberone reason for collecting beautiful andartistic coins.

Its fun.

A passion is born

Soon after his grandfather rewardedhim with that rst coin, Fuljenz headedto the local coin shop in his home town

of Lake Charles and bought a coin book.He began attending meetings at the coinclub and by the time he was 18, hadbeen a four-time president of SouthwestLouisiana Coin Club and chairman ofthe Louisiana State Coin Convention.

I did a lot of work so they gaveme an oce. Its the rule of volunteerorganizations, he laughed.

Financial reward

Fuljenz quickly learned that in addi-tion to the pleasure of discovering new

and beautiful coins, collecting oereda nancial reward. By age 12, he wasmowing yards for $5. He would take thepaper money he earned to the bank andtrade it for rolls of coins, which he wentthrough looking for ones containing sil-ver. He would keep those, replace themwith non-silver, re-roll and take back tothe bank to exchange for new rolls. Hecontinued to do that until he was 18.

Buying, selling or trading coins pro-vided money for him to buy more coins.It also changed his life.

It eventually provided the moneyfor me to date the young lady who

became my wife of 34 years.Until 1964, dimes contained 90 per-cent silver, Fuljenz notes. Todays coinsminted for circulation contain no silver and that pre-1965 dime is worth $1.50.

Thats 15 times its face value,Fuljenz said about the excellent returnon investment. And you can still ndvaluable coins in your change.

Giving back

Fuljenz and his wife, Karen, arewell-known for their generosity ofgiving, both nancially and personally.Mike was the third generation of hisfamily to choose a career in educa-

tion. His mother and grandmotherwere teachers for 30 years. The formerschool teacher and summer schoolprincipal volunteers and supports Beau-mont I.S.D. and Diocese of Beaumontschools, participates in youth sportsprograms, Julie Rogers Gift of Life, andMeals on Wheels. Karen volunteers inseveral community programs, includ-ing serving meals to the homeboundwith Nutrition and Services for Seniors,

supports Julie Rogers Gift of Life, AnyatHouse and Triangle Aids Network.

This past April, Catholic Charitiesof Southeast Texas named Mike andKaren as Humanitarians of the Year atBreakfast with the Bishop.

The Fuljenzs believe that as peopleof faith, they are called to share theirtime, talent and treasure. He creditshis grandfather and father for teachinghim the value of strong character and agiving spirit.

Through the way we parent, we

impact children and grandchildren. Iwas fortunate to have very interestedand engaged parents and grandparents.My dad, Ray Fuljenz, was very involvedwith what was then called The LionsClubs Crippled Childrens Camp. As aprosecutor, he worked with families ofkids at the juvenile detention center.That had an impact on me. He told methey needed a hand up, not a hand out.We are here to show these young menand women a better way of life whenthey get out.

Fuljenzs accomplishments includeworking with State Rep. David Simpson

and the Texas Legislature to eliminatethe $1,000 minimum expenditure forinvestors to qualify for a tax exemption.

We had an exemption for over$1,000 but none under. When I taughtschool in 1980 I made $1,000 a month.When she taught, my mother made$100 a month. Rep. Simpson and Iwanted the young investor to have thesame benet as those who could spendover $1,000.

While his success in the businessworld is fullling, Fuljenzs philan-thropic works provide somethingequally tangible.

Volunteerism is important. Its like

the story of the little boy who foundhundreds of starsh stranded on thebeach. When people saw him throwingone back in the ocean, they ridiculedhim, saying there were too many tomake a dierence.

It makes a dierence to this one,the boy replied.

We cant make a dierence to ev-eryone, but it is important to the oneswe do.

A Heart of Gold

m i k e f u l j e n z

vp worthy

VIP



35/52

photography by Scott ESlingEr

5 reass

lve cs

Mike Fuljenz, considered one ofAmericas foremost gold expertdescribes why he loves collecti

buying, selling and trading goldsilver coins:

1. Beauty This

American Silver EaObverse designed

Adolph Weinman iconsidered the mo

beautiful silver U.Scoin.

2. Artist/Designe

Augustus Saint-

Gaudins worked wPresident Theodor

Roosevelt to desigthe obverse that is

used on the AmerGold Eagle. This is

considered the moartistic U.S. gold c

3. Precious Meta

Investors and man

collectors prefer c

made of silver or glike this $10 GoldIndian from 1910.

4. Rarity $3 gold

coins were made U.S. Mints only fro

1854-1889 and avery popular due t

their historically lomintages.

5. History Theshort-lived Type II

$20 Liberty gold cseries (1866-187

is historically popugiven it is the rst

double eagle ($20to have the motto

God We Trust on



36/52

BEAUMONTSBEST BURGERS

text by CATHLEEN COLE photography by LEE E. sTiNsON ANd guisEppE bArrANCO

Are you craving a fresh, grilled hamburger but arent in the mood to re up the grill? Are hand-battered onion rings invading your dreams but you dont have a deep

fryer? Is a chocolate malt on your mind but youre out of ice cream? Not a problem. Beaumont has several choices for a delicious burger experience, so put on yo

comfy pants (the ones with the elastic waistband) and steer toward your burger-diner destination.

Hea to one of thee eatee fo a jcy hame mae to oe

b u r g e r s

food dining



37/52

Daddios Burger4230 Calder Ave.409.898.1977

Beaumonts newest burger diner is Daddios Burger, but the restaurant business

isnt new to owner Dave Jones who founded Novroskys in 1982. Daddios keepsthe menu simple basically burgers, fries and shakes but the deliciousness

is in the details. The juicy patties are made from Nolan Ryans all-natural beef and

you can even get a buffalo burger or a veggie burger. Top your selection off with goat

cheese, grilled onions, mushrooms, avocado, bacon or a fried egg. The fresh-cut

French fries include sweet potato fries and Parmesan trufe fries. To satisfy your sweet

tooth, order a hand-dipped Blue Bell malt or shake with whipped cream on top. Or if a

cold brew is what you need, theres a nice selection of domestic and imported beer.

Willy Burger5535 Calder Ave.409.892.3407

Willy Burger, according to the sign on the window, is where friends meat to eat.

This West-End burger joint has some retro-diner sizzle with its lunch counter

and cozy booths. Patrons can eat in the main building, in an attached and

remodeled 1971 Airstream travel trailer or on the patio. Owner Colburn McClelland is a

stickler for freshness and homemade appeal. The certied Angus beef is ground fresh

daily, and the onion rings are hand-dipped. Try the sweet potato fries for a change of

taste. If youd rather have a hot dog, theyre charbroiled. You can enjoy your meal with a

cold draft beer or savor the sweetness of a malt, oat or shake. Finish it off with a funnelcake for a satisfying sugar high!

Hamburger Depot1652 W. Cardinal Dr. 409.840.6600790 Neches St. 409.838.3700

Owner Tressy Morgan keeps Hamburger Depot chugging along with classic

burgers and southern favorites including fried pickle spears and fried okraFor the main attraction, sizes range from the Small Depot Burger a little

than half a pound to the Sissy Cheeseburger three half-pound patties with th

slices of American cheese. (With this mega-burger, the menu bids you Good Luc

The gussied-up burgers include the chili burger, the mushroom Swiss cheeseb

er and the Southwest burger with grilled onions, jalapenos and pepper jack chees

The Depot also offers hand-battered onion rings, Cajun fries and tater tots.

Burger GuysMonday at Lunch at the Lake, 700 Crockett St.Tues.-Fri. at King Arthurs Pub, 2650 N. 11th St.409.782.6606

Jake Mazzu III is the latest chef to jump on Beaumonts gourmet-burger bandwa

on with his Burger Guys trailer that he parks at two locations during the week

lunch. His Akaushi beef burgers include the Sonoma Burger, which is topped w

apple-wood smoked bacon, cheddar, avocado, arugula and aioli sauce, and the Saig

Burger, which has pate, daikon, carrots, jalapenos, cilantro and sriracha-lime aioli

sauce. Mazzus specialty is offering avors from around the world. The twice-cooke

hand-cut fries are nished in duck fat and topped with kosher salt.Add a cold drink

and youre ready to dine alfresco!

The burgers are homemade and very tasty, and I know that their

fries are homemade. I really enjoy places that make things from

scratch like my grandma Mama Lou used to. Randy Romano, Beaumont

I love Willy Burger! It is original, consistently tasty and their

breakfast is wonderful. I enjoy the gluten-free choices, and it is

the closest walk from our home! Lori Alter, Beaumont

The patties are the best part theyre fresh and juicy. My favo

ite is the barbecue cheeseburger. Reid James, Beaum

They are my standard for best burger and havent been toppe

yet. They have a wide variety of burgers, but my favorite is the

Sonoma. The duck-fat fried fries are amazing too. William Fermo, Lumbe

VIPsays: TheBlueBellshakesareway

cool, daddio!

VIPsays: Greatatmospherewith its

retro-dinermotif.Thetraveltrailerisa classictouch!

VIPsays: Fresh airandgourmetburg-ers. Deepbreath.

Big bite. Ahhhhhhh.

VIPsays: An etensiveandvarmenu. Thefrie

picklespearsartreat!



38/52


For Heavens Sake

4190 Calder Avenue, Beaumont

[email protected]

Needlepoint Baseball Caps

Balimports

collection shows aone o kind artisticstyle using specialtypes o fnishesand hardware, anda non-traditionalstyle that makes thisart collection totallydierent rom allother urniture.

Balimports oersan extensivecollection othe fnest, mostattractive and rarefurniture and rusticurniture availableat reasonable

prices.

Balimports

1290 Calder, Beaumont, TX

409-832-2254

www.burnsankhaus.com

At Burns Antik Haus, you will fnd stunning hand-selected

items rom all over Europe. You wont fnd better value or more

beautiul pieces anywhere.

Tues-Thurs 10am-5pm Fri-Sat 10am-3pm

409.835.3080

New items put out daily!At Burns Antik Haus, you w ill fnd stunning hand-selected

items rom all over Europe. New items put out daily!

Tues-Thurs 10am-5pm Fri-Sat 10am-3pm

409.835.3080

McManus CompanyHandmade Glass Crystal

Artwork. These beautiful pieces are made

with vintage glass and Swarovskys crystal.Each of these traditional crosses make their own

unique statement. Sizes range from 6" to 36".

WOW, what an unbelievable collection.

thecat5.com

HAVEY O U

BEEN

CAT5D?

4fabulous ndsRetailers we love and their

merchandise we love to have!


39/52

s e t e x a s e v e n t s

vip spotlight

The B-List at Madisons

Matt Maida, Michelle Norsworthy

Robyn Rayes, Chessney Mills

Michele Stone and Corey Donohue

Jennifer McDaniel. Heather Hatton Brandy Kinston, Sheldra Brigham Ashley Thorpe, Sarah Nicholas,Allora Bellanger, Brooke Berry

xx

Felicia Brodie, Dakota McNeely

Justina Jennings, Ryan Beard

Neal Riley, Chris Auster and Matt Maida

Christi Grudier, Elissa Owens and Caitlan Kruger

Amber McMillan, Ryan Mott, Lance Edwards and Leslie PerkinsRobin Broussard, Roxy Flowers Sandi Frank and Chris Willis



40/52

Port ArthuChamber Breakfas

Bridal Traditions

Summer Show

Rex Steele and Paige Snyder Joe Paitl

Jennifer and Morgan Simmons, Brandon Laird Helene Czudek, Natalia Mayogoitia

Anthony Leger, Floyd Gaspard

Eric Phenix and Laruen Hector

Chrissy Pelatan, Rocky Armstrong, Carlita Zumm

Tammie and Meeghan Falls

Marian Ruiz, LindaTait Gladdie and Eddie Fowler

Bryan Broussard, Rachael Ruiz,

Eloise Price and Megan Arceneaux Courtney and Sheryl Duval

Reginald Sutton, Carl Parker, Marisha

Senegal-Gonzales and Shannon Quinn

Cheyenne Williams, Kacie Williams, Martha Rezai, Chelsea Scott, and Teya Williams

scotteslin

ren sheppard



41/52

Uncle Sam Jam

Nicole Bradshaw, Desirea Wilson and Sabrina Allbritton Kade Merritt, Kelsey McElroy

Hunter Duhon and Maegan Morgan Savannah Sheppard, Michael Alfrey

Taylor Morris, Allie Chesson, Leslie Chesson and Tisha Morris

Robyn Summers, Sarah Summers and Emma Hunter

Richard and Gracie Trumps Randall Hodges and Tammy Davis

rensheppard


Experience the resort feeling without the price!

Te Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites

Beaumont Plaza

Te Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites

Beaumont Plaza

Let us share in planning your next event!Contact our professional sales department.

3950I 10 South @ Walden Road

Beaumont, TX 77705

Phone: (409) 842-5995 Fax: (409) 842-7810

www.holidayinn.com/beaumont-plaza

medical spa & laser centerskinologie@ baptist hospital, 810 hospital dr., suite 100call today! 409.833.0342 www.skinologie.comseptember special: 10% off all laser hair removal packages

never shave again.


42/52

Hebert HighHall of Fame

Induction

A.B. Bennett, Paula McNair and Norris Bennett

Denise Spooner, Danny Jones and Melanie MoyeShirley Walker, Arlana LeBlanc, E.R. Melonson and Millie West

Annie Scott Moye, Diane Drew

Gwendolyn Walters, Phyllis Thomas

John and Casita Taylor

Bernita andBilly Jackson

Paul Owens and Patricia Bryant

Maggie Lee and Alvin Lee, Sr.

Glynis F. Glider, Graig L. Jackson, Andreaus Boise Fontenot and Horace Jennings

Tim Elzy, Janet Elzy and Jimmie Smith

sco

tt

eslinger



43/52

Bill GaitheHomecoming Tou

SouthernSummer Night

Donna Imgram, Shelia Stafford JC Modica, Kay Bowe

Scott Snyder, Matt Hubbard, Kim Hubbard Kelly and Mark Hanlon

Lilian Amboga, Enock Nyaenya

Victoria and Ryan Carr

Monette Hightower, T.J. Giammona

Scott Wareham, Krista Campbell

Mark Howard, John Senkar, Sammie Birmingham Carolyn and David Moore

VJ Harper, Cheryl Harper, Darlene Moody, Billy Harrison, Ivy Pate

Jimmy and Judy Morvent, Mary and Leon Miller

Jerry and Ellen Zimmerman, David and Jill Carriere, Brenda and Bobby Duhonlacie gra

lacie grant



44/52

TexsGtorfestSeptember 1215, 2013

Located in historic Fort Anahuac Park,

Texas Gatorfest offers a variety of

activities that arent seen at many

area festivals. There are three music

stages with street dances in the beer

garden Thursday through Saturday. The

kids will be thrilled to see a baby gator up

close in the Alligator Education Tent.BEST OF THE FEST: For a truly unique

experience, look for the Great Texas

Alligator Round-up pavilion. The festival

is scheduled around the opening of gator

season, and you can watch hunters from

all over Texas bring in gators for the

on-sight buyers to evaluate. Prizes are

given based on length, and some of these

critters are more than 13 feet long!

Texs ReFestvlOctober 2 6, 2013

The Texas Rice Festival has grown

from a one-day event in 1970 to

one of the most popular festivals in

the area. With pageants, a BBQ cook-off,

parades, a huge carnival and much more,

this homecoming of sorts celebrates the

impact of rice farming in Southeast Texas.

If you thought rice was just for gumbo,dont miss the Rice Education Tent.

BEST OF THE FEST: The musical enter-

tainment is denitely some of the best.

Lee Brice is big on the country charts right

now and will headline Thursday night. Pick

up a famous rice ball from the St. Louis

Catholic Church booth, right by the main

stage, and settle in for some good music.

f e s t i v a l s

vp adviser

BESTFESTS

Texs PenFestvlSeptember 19 22, 2013

In 1919, Wiley Choate planted 6,000

pecan trees over a 385-acre track.

This year, the city of Groves will cel-

ebrate the humble nut that started it all

with the 45th Texas Pecan Festival. There

will be regional food choices like gumbo,boudain balls and pistolettes, and plenty

of pecan pie. Stop by the Chambers

booth to purchase your yearly supply of

pecans. Foodies can enter the pecan-

cooking contest.

BEST OF THE FEST: On Saturday night,

put on your dancing shoes and celebrate.

The popular local band Champagne Room

will bring the theme of Stayin Alive for

45 to life with their energetic covers that

will get everybody movin and groovin.

Put tese 10 SE Texs festvls on your lendr now!text by GRacE MaThiS



45/52

South TexasState FairMarch 27 April 6, 2014

The YMBL South Texas State Faircan trace its roots back to theearly 20th century. Today, fair-goers can experience one of the

largest fairs in Texas, complete with arodeo, livestock area, live music with beergarden, a midway and some of the mosteclectic food selections of any regionalfestival. Forget the pizza and corndogs.Where else can you get a fried peanutbutter sandwich or chocolate-coveredbacon? Inside the Ford Arena, be sure tocheck out the quilt and photo competi-tions, as well as the school art exhibit.

BEST OF THE FEST: For the kiddos, andkids at heart, dont miss the exotic animalpetting zoo. Camel ride, anyone?

KirbyvilleMagnoliaFestival

April 17 19, 2014

T

his small town festival will happenin the middle of spring, when the

namesake magnolias are in fullbloom. All the proceeds from thefest go right back into the very park whereit takes place, including jogging tracks,restrooms and the playground. The locallittle league sells a memorable BBQ sand-wich that goes well with a bloomin onion.

BEST OF THE FEST: For a true small-town experience, make it to the live auc-tion on Friday night. You can also checkout the talent show and reworks display.Warm fuzzy feeling going once, goingtwice, SOLD!

MauricevilleCrawfshFestival

April 18 20, 2014

Whoever thought of pickingup a mudbug, boiling it with

corn, sausage and spices,and sucking its head was

pretty brilliant. While you may not be ahead-sucker, you can still celebrate theseiconic critters like a good Cajun SoutheastTexan at the Mauriceville Crawsh Festi-val. To get your crawsh x, look for theMauriceville Youth Football Association.They sell crawsh by the pound as theirmajor fundraiser to help kids buy equip-ment and uniforms.

BEST OF THE FEST: How fast can youpeel and eat 10 crawsh? If you havemagic ngers, enter the crawsh-eating

contest and you may be crowned the fast-est crawsh eater in Southeast Texas.

NederlandHeritageFestivalMarch 11-16, 2014

At the Nederland Heritage Festival,

its all about family. With no chargefor parking or entrance, plenty ofmusical entertainment and a free pettingzoo, this is an event that can t into anybudget. A $45 Passport to Fun providesunlimited carnival ride access during theentire event. If youd prefer to keep yourfeet on the ground, make memories at theantique photo booth, which has partici-pated for more than 20 years.

BEST OF THE FEST: Saturday morningthe chili cook-off and parade kicks off at10 a.m. For $5, you can taste as muchchili as your heartburn will let you. Walk itoff at the car and motorcycle show.

>>



46/52

Texas BBQ

FestivalApril 24 - 27, 2014

Taking place at Conn Park, the Texas

BBQ Festival is Vidors largest annual

party and has carnival rides and live

music all weekend. The highlight is the

IBCA-regulated BBQ cook-off.

BEST OF THE FEST: To truly satisfy yourBBQ cravings, consider being a cook-off

judge. Contact organizers if youve got

what it takes to eat lots of meat. After

youve made your discriminating judgment,

balance out all that savory sauce with a

banana split from the Cool Breeze vendor.

Port Neches

RiverfestApril 30 May 4, 2014

Its easy to forget about the abundance

of waterways in Southeast Texas, but

the Port Neches Riverfest highlights

one of our greatest resources. Testing for

the Thunder on the Neches Tunnel Boat

racing starts Friday, with races all daySaturday and Sunday. Whether your idea

of action is a speeding boat, a beer and

some washers, or a community treasure

hunt, this festival has something for

everyone.

BEST OF THE FEST: Bring a blanket to

get a relaxing view of the boat races while

still enjoying the music coming from the

entertainment complex. If you visit on

Saturday, youll also have a great spot to

enjoy the reworks display that evening.

Texas CrabFestivalMay 9 11, 2014

Give mom a Mothers Day to re-

member at Crystal Beachs annual

Texas Crab Festival with Music, Art

and Crabs Gulf Coast Style. Play some

games at The Crab Arcade, purchase art

from local artists and show mom how

strong you are at the high striker. Enjoy

soft shell crab or crab gumbo from the

booth operated by a local commercial

crabbing family, the Millenders, who haveparticipated for 28 years.

BEST OF THE FEST: Buy mom some crab

jewelry and have her put it on for good

luck. Bring her by the wine-tasting booth,

and then cheer her to victory in the crab

races. VIP


Special tours highlighting historically banned booksPaper marbling demonstration; make a whimsical hat,hairpiece or bowtieLight refreshments & soft drinks included in cover chargWine & beer available at cash bar

$10/person; $8/SCV member

September 27, 20138-11pmLiveMusic

Mad

Maude

& TheHatters

For ages 21& ove

*SCVMembersmustpresentthemembershipcar

at thedoor.Night at theMuseumBANNED

Image by Lacie Grant Photography. 2013 Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

Located at 712 Green Avenue in Orange, Texas409.886.ARTS (2787) www.starkmuseum.org


47/52

Roman JourneysSeptember14The Symphony of Southeast Texastakes off on an adventure like noother with Roman Journeys at 7:p.m. at the Julie Rogers Theatre inBeaumont. With a colossal percusspresence and a lively surround soueffect, this concert is sure to beimpressive. The concert kicks off tSOSTs 61st season and is the rstin its Classics Series for 2013-201Musical selections include HectorBerliozs Roman Carnival OvertureRussell Pecks The Glory and theGrandeur, and Ottorino RespighisPines of Rome. The concert willfeature off-stage musicians from thLamar University Wind Ensemble athe brass section from Calvary BapChurch contributing to the surrounsound effect. Season tickets $77-$153; single tickets $17-$41. Senistudent and group discounts availa(409) 892-2257 or www.sost.org.

Ubi Caritas DateAuctionSeptember11The Fifth Annual Ubi Caritas DateAuction begins with cocktails at6 p.m., followed an the auctionat 7 p.m. of some amazing datepackages presented by theareas most eligible bachelors andbachelorettes and benetting UbiCaritas. Madisons, Beaumont.Tickets $10 per person; tables$75-$525. (409) 832-1924 or (409656-1157.

great dates in september

Bootleggers BallSeptember6Don you best 1920s outt at TheArt Museum of Southeast Texas26th anniversary gala inspiredby the Roaring Twenties. Eventincludes ne dining, entertainment,The Great Gatsby movies starringRobert Redford and LeonardoDiCaprio and more. Proceedsbenet the museums exhibition andeducation programs. 6:30-10 p.m.,Art Museum of Southeast Texas,Beaumont. (409) 832-3432 orwww.amset.org.

Hope for a NewDay GalaSeptember10

Annual Hope Womens ResourceClinic gala, pays tribute to Bob

and Kelli Phillips, Holiday Innand Suites, Beaumont. Keynotespeaker is Nik Wallenda, Kingof the high wire, who recentlycompleted a tightrope walk acrossthe gorge near the Grand Canyon.Dustin Ellerman, Top Showchampion on season three of theHistory Channels program, willmake an appearance. Receptionand meeting with speakers 6p.m., dinner and program, 7 p.m.Dress is business attire.Tickets$80 per person; tables for 10available at different levels. Toregister, call (409) 898-4005 or goto www.hope-clinic.com.

The Color PurpleSeptember28Perhaps one of the best musicals evermade from a movie, this is show isnot to be missed. 8 p.m., BeaumontCivic Center, Beaumont. Reservedseats $44.50 and $39.50. Tickets at

Ticketmaster outlets including H-E-BPlus, Beaumont, the Beaumont CivicCenter Box Ofce, online at www.ticketmaster.com or call (409) 838-3435 or (800) 745-3000.

Event SubmissionsDo you have an event you would like to promote? Do it with VIP for FREE! Please send us detailsdates, times, location, contact phone, web address

and a brief descriptionto [email protected]. Information should arrive at least 60 days in advance of the event.



48/52

{ September }

September 5

First Thursdays on Calder Avenue

5-9 p.m., Mildred Building,

Beaumont. (409) 833-9919.

A Salute to the Real American Heroes

6 p.m., Wesley United Methodist

Church, Beaumont. Featured speakers

are rst responders from Boston

Marathon bombings. Tickets $50, free

to active uniformed personnel and

spouses. (409) 839-2956

September 6

Don McLean

Nutty Jerrys, Winnie. Doors open at 7

p.m. Tickets $30, $45, $55. (877) 643-

7508 or www.nuttyjerrys.com.

September 6-7

Larrys Old Time Trade Days

8 a.m.-5 p.m., Winnie. 409) 296-3300or larrysoldtimetradedays.com.

How to Succeed in Business

Without Really Trying

Presented by the Beaumont

Community Players, 7:30

p.m. (409) 833-4664 or www.

beaumontcommunityplayers.com.

September 7

Walk Like MADD Dash and 5K Run

Registration 7:30 a.m.; opening

ceremony 8:30 a.m.; walk 8:45 a.m.,

Beaumont City Hall. (409) 832-5704

or www.walklikemadd.org/beaumont

Sole Connect 2013 Sneaker and

Streetwear Convention

2-7 p.m., Montagne Center at Lamar

University, Beaumont. Buy, sell

and trade sneakers, clothing and

accessories.

A Band Called Honalee

A Tribute to the music of Peter, Paul

& Mary, 7:30 p.m., Lutcher Theater,

Orange. Adults $25, students $20.

(409) 886-5535 or www.lutcher.org.

Richard Tallent Solo Exhibition and

the Group ShowOpening reception 7-9 p.m.,

Beaumont Art League, Beaumont.

Runs through Sept. 28. Free. (409)

833-4179 or www.beaumontartleague.

org.

September 11

Temple of the Brave

Memorial museum to the Texas

soldiers of all wars, will open for

Patriots Day, 2-5 p.m., Pipkin Patriots

Park, Beaumont. Free.

september vip

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