dallas flow magazine
DESCRIPTION
Entertainment, Fashion and LifestyleTRANSCRIPT
Zen & The Pure Spa
Page 42
Katie McCutcheon
Page 34
2
GCB: Good Christian…
Blondes?
Page 26
Who’s Got
The Voice
Page 32
Studying
Abroad
Page 62
3
www.livingbellavita.com
4
5
ENTERTAINMENT FASHION LIFESTYLE
PUBLISHER and EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: DURAINE WILLIAMS
ASSISTANT EDITOR: CHRISTINA FITE
FASHION EDITOR: ANDREA FENDER
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: SAMANTHA KAUFFMAN
XHEVRIJE WEST BRITTANY PIRES ASHLEE GREEN
LAURA PUIG BEATRICE COCHRAN
ALEX REJAEE JILLIAN FERTIG
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: RANDY ANDERSON
SERGIO GARCIA MILIND KOTHARE DANNY CAMPBELL
JOYCE NICOLE SARA IBERRA
STACEY POWERS
VIDEOGRAPHERS: REYNA CUELLAR RUTH GARCIA
LACEY SIMPSON
SPECIAL THANKS TO: IVONNE KINSER, ANDREA FENDER, SEBASTIAN GREEN, CHRISTIAN ILES, PAIGE ANDERSON, RANDY ANDERSON,
CARSON INGLE, LEONARDO D’ALMAGRO, DIANA PIETRA, KAYLA HICKS, MIND SQUAD, BELLA VITA CUSTOM HOMES, ERIC THOMAS.
6
JENNIFER HOBSON
7
www.DallasFlow.com
8
MODEL: SOPHIA LEE
PHOTO BY DANNY CAMPBELL
MAKEUP BY MOTIVES COSMETICS
9
THIS MONTH IN DALLAS FLOW MAGAZINE
ENTERTAINMENT
Larry Hagman’s Last Stand Q & A Session: Tim Halperin Page 12 Page 14
Review: The Voice Scenes From: Red Carpet Launch Party Page 26 Page 28
FASHION Winter Fashion Wonderland Christian Dior: Spring/Summer 2013 Page 30 Page 34
Scenes from: Lily Vasaelini & Andrea Fender’s Fashion Show Tailored Looks For Men Page 40 Page 43
LIFESTYLES Pure Spa Resort Style Living For Everyone Page 44 Page 50
Restaurants Top 5 Men’s Grooming Spots Page 52 Page 54
Restaurant Review: Tasty Bites Romance in the Workplace Page 56 Page 58
Studying Abroad Page 62
10
By Ginger Adams
T exas has lost a GIANT. Love ‘im or
hate ‘im, J.R. Ewing has done his last
deal, thrown his last barb, and flashed his last devilish
grin. Larry Hagman, the larger-than-life actor who in-
carnated the Texas icon, passed away November 23
peacefully at his home. He was 81.
Hagman was in the midst of shooting the second sea-
son of the resurrected TV series “Dallas” for the TNT
cable network. He had been battling throat cancer, but
had enthusiastically stepped back into the role that had
thrust him -- and the city – into the worldwide spotlight
during its first run, 1979-1991.
Along with reviving the Southfork Ranch-based show,
Hagman had also recently started the Larry Hagman
Foundation to benefit underprivileged children and the
arts. The Foundation released this statement: “Larry
was back in his beloved Dallas, re-enacting the iconic
role he loved most. Larry’s family and close friends
had joined him in Dallas for the Thanksgiving holi-
day. When he passed, he was surrounded by loved
ones. It was a peaceful passing, just as he had
wished for.”
Hagman’s last public event was in Dallas November
15. He and fellow “Dallas” cast mates Linda Gray and
Sheree Wilson headlined a fundraiser for Wilson’s
charity, the White Bridle Society. Never one to disap-
point, Larry brought his ten-gallon hat and signature
radiant smile.
Larry Hagman was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sept. 21, 1931, to Broadway legend Mary Martin and her attorney husband, Ben Hag-man. Martin was just 17 years old. Larry’s early years were spent in Weatherford Texas until his parent’s divorce. Mother and Grandmother took young Larry to California for Mar-tin to pursue her acting career. Here, they enrolled Larry in military school.
Martin soon met and married Richard Halliday, a sto-ry editor for Paramount. He became Martin’s man-ager and the family moved to New York. There Mar-tin went on to become one of the great musical ac-tors of her time, most notably appearing in the lead roles of South Pacific, Peter Pan, and the stage ver-sion of The Sound of Music.
By the time he was a teenager, Larry decided to re-turn to Texas to live with his father and become a cowboy. He did return to Texas and attended his mother’s alma mater, Weatherford High School. However, he soon decided there must be an easier way to make a living than out on the
11
range. He dabbled in the theatre, in his mother’s footsteps, but then was drafted for military service. He joined the Air Force, serving in England from 1952 to 1956 in the Special Services entertainment division.
While in England, Larry met and married his sweetheart, Swedish clothing designer Maj Axelsson, on Dec. 18, 1954. When his tour of duty was over, they returned together to New York so Larry could pursue an act-ing career himself. Larry found fame the first time in the ‘60s campy comedy TV series, “I Dream of Jean-nie.” He fell easily into the role of Major Tony Nelson, an astronaut who becomes the master of a beautiful genie in a bottle he finds on a deserted island. The series continues today in syndi-cation.
Larry signed on for his signature role in 1978, as part of an ensemble cast in a
five-part miniseries, “Dallas.” The series centered around two quarreling Tex-
as families with two young lovers in a Romeo and Juliet-type situation. Lar-
ry’s character, J.R. Ewing, was not the main character but quickly found its
way to the forefront of the story. Larry developed the character’s dastardly
charm and caustic lines that brought comedy to the drama and made
viewers love to hate him. His is the only character that appeared in every episode.
In one of his memorable and self-revealing quotes, J.R. Ewing said, “A conscience is like a boat or
a car. If you feel you need one, rent it.”
Ratings soared as the miniseries turned into a ground-breaking primetime soap opera. At the end
of the second season, J.R. Ewing was shot, with each character having a motive to do the
deed. The world over was asking, “Who shot J.R.?” During the interim, Larry renegotiated his con-
tract, adding to the suspense about whether his character would even return. The season three
premiere episode garnered the highest TV ratings ever at that time, as viewers desperately wanted
to know who was guilty.
Larry relished the role he created in J.R. He even good-naturedly had
imitation $100 bills printed with his picture on it, emblazoned with “In Hag-
man We Trust,” and handed them out to fans.
Larry continued working post-“Dallas,” but his health began to fail. Dec-
ades of hard drinking began when he lived in Texas. He openly talked
about his constant flow of alcohol on the set of “Dallas,” as life imitated art, or art imitated life in
J.R.’s character.
In 1992, Larry was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, and doctors also found a cancerous tumor
on his liver. Fortunately, he was able to get a transplant just in the most critical time. After recov-
ery, Larry’s new lease on life led him to become an advocate for organ donation and a supporter
of the National Kidney Foundation.
He also became an anti-smoking advocate, having quit in the 1960s, and becoming chairman of
the American Cancer Society’s campaign, “The Great American Smokeout.”
Fans can read about Larry’s life in his memoir, “Hello Darlin’: The Tall
(and Absolutely True) Tales About My Life,” published in 2001.
Sheree Wilson, who played April Stevens in “Dallas,” said in an interview
with local radio host Nicole Barrett just after Larry’s death, “Larry is my
treasured friend. He was truly Peter Pan’s son – he never wanted to
grow up. He was just as charming and impish, full of life. He had
etched in his mirror, ‘Don’t worry, be happy, feel good.’ And that’s just
how he lived his life.”
Season two episodes of “Dallas” are scheduled to premiere on TNT January 28.
12
13
14
15
You may remember Tim Halperin as a top 12 male finalist, from Fort Worth, on American Idol Season Ten in 2011. But even if you didn’t watch the show, you heard Kidd Kraddick proclaim on his nationally-syndicated radio show (which airs on 106.1 KISS FM) after Tim was cut, that “Idol Got it Wrong.”
16
In fact, Kraddick was such a believer that he set up his own contest during the remaining weeks of the Idol season. He let Tim compete on his radio show against the re-maining contestants on their same songs. Listeners called in and each week, the votes came pouring in for Tim. He was so loved, Kraddick asked Tim to write a song for the Kidd's Kids program which supports an annual trip to Disneyland for 60 children who are medically fragile or terminally ill. Tim is a truly happy-to-be-alive kind of guy, and that’s why he has such chemistry with the people in the causes he supports!
Dallas Flow wants to know:
You are regularly in demand to perform at Race for the Cure events around the country and are a Komen National Partner. Tell us more about this:
I first became involved in supporting TCU's partnership with Komen at the invitation of my manager Ann Louden, who is Frogs for the Cure chair, and was my mentor during my days in school at TCU. Ann asked me to write a song in tribute to breast cancer survivors. In five days, I finalized "We Fight Back" which was put on iTunes to benefit the cause. My second tribute song "Cross That Line" was showcased by TCU this year in a music video with over 1,000 TCU students, faculty, staff and community members.
Let’s talk about your experience on “American Idol.” Did it change you?
A little bit. I definitely gained a lot more confidence as a result of being on American Idol. I also found out what strengths I have as a singer and performer. It was a great experience to have.
Were the judges brutal?
The new judges that came on the year I was on it gave good feedback. Any improvement needed was also coupled with a compliment or said in a way that wasn’t really hurt-ful. I did get frustrated at my very last performance, when they said it just wasn’t a good song for me. I thought the song was a good fit.
What doors were opened because of Idol?
Idol exposed me to millions of people and a whole new audience. It really gave me a lot of momentum to go out and do the things I want to do and give it a real shot. Right after American Idol, I gave my song, “The Last Song,” away for free. I wanted the people who had gotten a taste of what I could do on American Idol to enjoy this and it gave me the opportunity to gain a lot of fans.
Songwriting:
There are several themes in my music; definitely the number one is love songs. Especially on “Rise and Fall.” The second theme is focused on inspiration and encouragement. One of the opening lines of one of my songs is “This is for those of you who have lost your hope” (in “That’s All You Got”). I think there are so many out there who are hopeless, distraught, and downtrodden in what-ever it may be. Whether it’s illness, or whether it’s a trial in life, and I think music is something that touches the human spirit, the human emotion like nothing else can. I want to reach out to those who have lost their hope. That’s a result of my faith. It’s a result of who I am as a person. I really do like to help the brokenhearted.
Who is your fan base?
My fan base ranges from high school girls to soccer moms. Piano-driven music is great on the level
17
that it can relate to almost anybody. The goal of a singer/songwriter is to write lyrics that are timeless and that can appeal to all different age groups. My fans range from those who appreciate my lyrics to those who like the pop-rock sound of my music. That includes females who listen to the words and guys who connect with the beat.
Biggest lesson so far about the music business:
Not to put all your eggs in one basket. If someone promised you something, the chances of it actually happening are slim. That hasn’t affected my positivity about life or career, but it has affected the way I look forward to certain things.
Ever moving to Nashville or L.A.?
I’ve thought about it, but I’m also a firm believer that you don’t need to be in a certain place to have a career in music. In this day and age, the internet allows us to be connected with anybody from anywhere. However, it is crucial to get face to face with some of the people that can make things happen for you. Nothing can replace direct communication.
What is your favorite thing to do in DFW at Christmas?
My fondest memory in the Metroplex during the Christmas holiday is the TCU Christmas tree lighting. My earliest experiences were at TCU and just with lots of friends together at the tree lighting. In the past, Ann had an incredible lighting display (at her house) and I use to play “Buddy the Elf” in that. Ann played Mrs. Claus.
I love the holidays, and that’s what inspired my 2012 Christmas album. I’m a happy person. I smile a lot, and I love the holidays because people are generally happier and in better spirits. I love the whole Christmas spirit of loving one an-other and being forgiving and sharing and caring.
We are excited to find out what’s next for you?
Holiday shows and promotion of the new Christmas CD for the season, industry meetings in New York, and plans for a spring tour are in the works.
Where do you want to take your music down the road?
Anywhere and everywhere! You will see me reaching as far as I can reach and pushing as far as I can push. I’m so thankful for all the things that have hap-pened and all the steps that we’ve taken as a team. As a musician, we all want that hit song. I think that would be incredible but most of all I will continue writing authentic music!
Summing it up:
I think there’s nothing more validating than knowing I was in the top group on American Idol after over 100,000 people auditioned. So it gave me great amounts of motiva-tion and encouragement to continue and pursue a music career full time.
Ann definitely has my back, of course my family and friends have all been there for me, and I continue to be grateful for my many loyal fans!
Tim’s music is available on iTunes and on his website, www.timhalperin.com.
19
20
Exploring Dallas:
Hidden Gems By Allison Smith
V ibrant, innovative, and full of life,
Dallas is a fascinating, sprawling city.
It would be easy in such a vast me-
tropolis, to miss the many hidden
gems located within this glimmering, contemporary, urban
environment: The Bishop Arts District. Chances are, if
you are not directly looking for this fascinating neighbor-
hood, you may never know it exists, and that would be a
shame. Bursting with energy, these white-lighted, tree-
lined streets, illuminate a historic charm that is rare in Dal-
las.
Originally, this area was a bustling, burgeoning center.
From the 1920’s until the 1940’s, both Davis Street and
Bishop Avenue greeted rising warehouses, as well as an
abundance of shops. Unfortunately, the emergence of
shopping malls and suburban spread contributed to the de-
cline of the region in the 1960’s. A spirited revitalization
effort two decades later transformed this neighborhood into
the charismatic destination it is today. Walking down
North Bishop Avenue, the allure of the independent and
unique makes the draw to these city blocks even more ap-
pealing. You will find an eclectic mix of vintage and local
designs at Epiphany Boutique, and revel in the their one of
a kind jewels sparking amidst the clothing, or inhale the
calming drift emanating from natural, handcrafted blocks
of herb infused soaps from Shambhala.
The other magnet that will pull you back to these trendy
streets is the availability of undisputedly some of the best
restaurants in the city. Neighboring eateries such as the
infamous Bolsa, and, the recently opened and high-end
Italian fare of Lucia’s, compete with an outstanding mix of
other delectable cuisines. The gorgeous Hattie’s, a South-
21
ern American bistro style restaurant, will surprise you
with the sublime every time. You have never had chicken
and waffles like this, both elegant and comforting all at
once. Another almost unassuming treat is Veracruz Café.
Do not leave without tasting the Mole Xiqeño, without
dispute, the best dish in the city. Save a bit more room
for a chicken or pork tamale, sprinkled with “pipian,” a
spicy, ground pumpkin-seed topping.
Whether you are simply looking for an escape from
the everyday chain stores that pervade the city, or search-
ing for a unique experience that will make you feel like
you have arrived in an urban cross of New York and San
Francisco, take a stroll through the Bishop Arts District.
First Thursday is a great place to start your initial visit to
this amazing area, when every month, many of the stores
and restaurants stay open until 10PM, while offering a
host of interesting wares, sales, and goodies. Savor the
distinctive flavor of this great spot by spending an even-
ing taking in the sites, sifting through the shops, and tast-
ing the tempting selection of food. I guarantee you will
enjoy one of the most independent and unique hidden
treasures of
Dallas.
The Bishop Arts District is located in the heart of Oak Cliff, at the
intersection of Davis Street and North Bishop Avenue.
Allison Smith is a freelance writer and educator living in the DFW
area.
22
JEM Beverage Co releases
Western Son Texas Vodka
and Stingray Spiced Rum
First Distillery in Carrollton, TX surges ahead with 3
industry veterans at the helm
Carrollton, TX – After 20 months of preparation
and jumping through permitting hurdles, the wait
is over. JEM Beverage Co and Master Distiller, Mike
Pfeiffer, are hitting the streets. Their first effort,
Western Son Texas Vodka will hit shelves in less
than a week in Texas. Their patrons eagerly await
the 10 times distilled, crystal clear elixir that was
perfected by Pfeiffer.
“I’ve been dropping by every week for what seems
like an eternity, but they say the finest things are
worth the wait,” said Dallas resident, Matt Caw-
thon, who plans to be one of the first to purchase
a bottle. Cawthon has been following the compa-
ny’s progress via Facebook and has already heard
the success in Arkansas and Mississippi. He is a
vodka enthusiast and is particularly interested in
the small batch process and the sweet finish from
using 100% Yellow Corn.
Pfeiffer, a veteran of the US Army and the alcohol
beverage industry, decided to trade in his corpo-
rate suit and tie to take his shot at redefining quali-
ty. Small batches, hyper-clean water, and sup-
porting the troops is what Mike and partners had
in mind. Producing 200-gallon batches at each run
allows Mike to taste, view and smell the vodka at
every stage. Carefully examining each batch to
guarantee quality. JEM Beverage also uses reverse
osmosis to get the cleanest possible medical grade
water. Water so clean, that it is truly neutral and
the definition of clean.
As a military veteran, supporting the troops was a
very important cornerstone of the JEM business
plan. A percentage of the revenue from every case
sold is donated to The Peter Burks Unsung Hero
Fund. This funds main goal is to send goods to
troops serving over seas that will make their stays
more comfortable. Items like clean socks, phone
cards, up to date magazines and more are sent
over to troops that do not have access to such lux-
uries. To date, the fund has shipped over 10 tons
of goods overseas. “We are proud to support our
Troops and couldn’t be happier to partner with
The Peter Burks Unsung Hero Fund. Being able to
give back to fellow soldiers while living my dream
is a perfect combination,” says Pfeiffer.
JEM Beverage Company is also launching Stingray
Spiced Rum, infused with Cinnamon, Almond and
Vanilla. The namesake for this brand comes from
the early 1600’s, when piracy was running ram-
pant. Sailors, pirates and bootleggers would hide
their finest spiced rum on the shallow ocean floor,
safe among the Stingray. Even today, Stingrays are
synonymous with the finest Spiced Rum.
JEM Beverage Company’s Western Son Texas Vod-
ka and Stingray Spiced Rum will be available
statewide starting July 26th. The distillery is locat-
ed at 2525 Tarpley Rd Suite #104 in Carrollton, TX.
For more information please visit
www.westernsonvodka.com and
www.stingrayspicedrum.com or email in-
23
24
25
26
W ith extremely high ratings, and high
profile coaches, The Voice is mak-
ing a name for itself giving weekly
reasons as to why their outshine other singing
competition shows.
With over 25 million viewers during the season
premiere, The Voice has become one of the nation’s
most intriguing singing competition shows.
Differing from shows such as American Idol and X
Factor, The Voice is truly about what it says…the
voice. American Idol gives any contestant an oppor-
tunity, whether they are phenomenal or whether
they are not good at all. To audition for The Voice, it
is a necessity to have background and legitimate
experience in your back pocket. So bad auditions
aren’t what brings viewers in. When first auditioning,
contestants are singing to the back of chairs, prov-
ing that it’s not always all about appearance.
After a couple episodes of bothersome and rather
awkward auditions, American Idol loses viewers. Af-
ter all, that’s what most claim their reasoning is as to
why they watch American Idol; to see the judges in-
sult and pick on the less talented participants, and in
some sense, that shows a lack of professionalism.
But oh no, not The Voice. The Voice requires true
talent, and that is why their popularity continues to
sky rocket on a weekly basis.
Well renowned pop singers Christina Aguilera and
Adam Levine along with R&B/Pop sensation Ceelo
Knock Knock. Who’s There? It’s The Voice
27
Green and country star Blake Shelton are the four
coaches who all have previous fame before joining the
show.
The Voice starts off with the “blind auditions” in which
the four coaches chose their teams, and for the rest of
the season they coach them and form bonds and rela-
tionships with them, which heightens the competition.
The competition is now in the quarter-final stages
where judges will have to send home at least one of
their team members. Last week, contestants Jesse
Campbell from team Christina and Jordis Unga from
team Blake were eliminated. America saved Chris
Mann leaving Ashley De La Rosa and Lindsey Pavao
to sing for their lives. Christi-
na Aguilera decided to send
Lindsey Pavao packing,
which leaves Ashley De La
Rosa and Chris Mann
fighting for their place in the
finals. From team Blake, Jer-
maine Paul was saved,
which left Raelynn and Erin
Willet to duke it out for the
finals. In the end, Erin Willet
was too much dismay, let go.
This week, it was Team Ad-
am and Team Cee-lo who
had their final four contest-
ants battling it out on stage.
Jamar Rogers, James Mas-
sone, Cheesa, and Juliet
Simms are the four contest-
ants left on Team Cee-lo and sang their hearts out on
tonight’s show as well as Katrina Parker, Mathai, Tony
Lucca, and Pip from Team Adam, leaving coaches Ad-
am Levine and Cee-lo Green with a difficult decision to
make in their instant elimination.
Gritting their teeth, Adam Levine eliminated Pip and
Cee-lo eliminated Pip, shrinking their teams down to
three.
Watch Tuesday night on NBC at 8/7c to see who gets
saved by America and who will have to lay their voices
on the line in hopes that they will receive immunity
from their coaches.
And give your hearing senses a little tingle Monday
nights on NBC at 8/7c to watch the semi-finals and
see who makes it one step further on winning The
Voice.
Story By Cortney Haygood
28
29
30
Sergio believes the best images are captured by working to-
gether with an enjoyable team, who work together as one co-
hesive group.
At the end of the day, he enjoys doing what he loves for a living
and capturing distinct images for his clients.
A close friend, Jeanette Chivvis, of "Chivvis Styles", says:
“Sergio and I have been working together ever since I
came back to Texas from LA. You know when you meet some-
one and you feel like you have known them forever? That is how
I felt when Sergio and I worked together four years ago. We
have a kindred creative spirit and have created some beautiful
pictures together. He has a very unique point of view and is a
true artist at heart. What makes a good photographer is posses-
sion of a very unique strong point of view on beauty and he has
it! We also really enjoy just hanging out and making each other
laugh! It isn't very often you meet someone who you click with
on so many
levels!”
Inspired Images:
“These top looks were inspired by Eskimos and all their layers of
clothing. I wanted the light to have a moody and edgy feel,”
says Sergio. Kim Dawson’s model Rachel Thomas did an out-
standing model shoot and was able to take the character Ser-
gio created to perfection. Rick Flores for hair and make up, An-
na Devereux for styling, and Craig Thomas for lighting made an
excellent combination, illuminating the final creation. “It really
takes a whole crew to make something that looks easy, come
together.” says Sergio Garcia.
We know you’ll appreciate Sergio Garcia’s talent as much as we do at:
www.prismshots.com
31
32
www.livingbellavita.com
www.facebook.com/phyrestudio
33
DESIGNER HANDBAGS
WWW.LILYVASAELINI.COM
34
By Laura Puig
D ior’s new Crea-tive Director, Raf
Simons, debuted his first ready-to-wear collection during Paris Fashion Week, garnering rave reviews. According to his Vogue interview earlier
in the year, Simons had a clear vision of what he want-
ed to accomplish with the collection, stating that he
would like to “bring back some emotion” to the line. His
passionate aspiration was apparent from the start of
the show to the end; the entire production radiated
through and through.
The show-space displayed white walls with sizeable
cut outs draped with pale pink fabrics, creating a
smooth, sensual effect. There was an airy, light aura
given by the set that automatically transcended to the
clothing as soon as the first piece hit the runway. Si-
mons began the show with minimalistic, black suits and
suit dresses that were toned down by a simple roman-
tic scarf displayed in several colors including black,
pink and red. The show took a turn towards the middle
and provided the audience with more colorful, vibrant
pieces, which have made quite a statement in various
runway shows this season.
The makeup was not overdone and added to the ethe-
real-like theme of the loose, free pieces. The eyes
were strong, pulsating and bold. All models wore a
black stiletto, some with added color and some without.
There was a lot of movement on the runway, yet every
piece still managed to look controlled and sophisticat-
ed. Dresses were draped with sheer tulle, giving the
structured one underneath a wavy feel. Simons was
able to take a step back into the history of Dior and in-
tegrate the “A” and “H” line cuts into the collection, in-
geniously making them more modern by incorporating
them into coats and jackets. He also added a modern
twist to the legendary “Bar” jacket Christian Dior him-
self, made popular back in 1947.
The most significant pieces of the line came at the end
with elegant dresses and coat dresses cut at different
hemlines. The last four looks to hit the runway paraded
a historic elegance with rich, full, above the ankle skirts
and tasteful black short and long sleeve tops. The
skirts were of colorful, iridescent nylon with different
flower patterns.
A lot of the shows’ major moments could be accredited
to the very distinctive use of fabrics. The different ma-
terials allowed the pieces to illustrate themselves as
fresh and refined all in one. There were a variety of
skirts nipped at the waist and flared at the bottom,
which greatly resembled the antique fashions of the
1950s when a curvy, elegant look was deeply desired.
Simons' detail to the fit of each piece was evident in
the sense that the clothes were perfectly tailored.
While some of the pieces were lackluster, such as the
two-toned off-white and neon yellow dress and the
flowy black dress with pale pink polka dots, the collec-
tion as a whole worked, and it worked well. It was prac-
tical, modern and appropriate for all ages. It displayed
edgier looks such as low V cut coats and dresses and
colorful, asymmetrical tops that were paired with
shorts, and it also provided more sophisticated pieces
for an older crowd, such as stiff black pants and above
the knee dresses.
Simons came to impress and impress he did. The col-
lection provided all of the elements that made a Dior
show eminent. His interpretation of a modernized Dior
woman was apparent in various pieces, and his past
experience and knowledge have proven to be a valua-
ble asset to The House of Dior. The poetic, romantic
and soft collection ignited a spark that is sure to keep
people captivated, excited and wanting more.
www.Dior.com
35
36
37
Unique
cutz 1700 N. Beltline Road
Irving, Texas 75061
972.951.7278
Walk-Ins
Welcome
38
39
Karson's Clothier
818 N. Hwy 67 Suite #102-A
Cedar Hill, Texas 75104
www..karsonsclothier.com
40
41
42
43
M en’s fashion is often overlooked but Dal-
las Flow is here to change that trend! You guys deserve some love and our fashion hearts are yours! Many people may think there are not many choices in men’s cloth-ing, but in actuality there is. Gentlemen get ready, set, and go!
Some trends in men’s fashion are strong, sleek, and tailored. Almost like a sailor getup but without the wide leg pants and the captain hat! Current fashion designs consist of collared button-up shirts, slim-ming slacks, and an outstanding necktie. A blazer can be added to top things off! There are large varieties of really inter-esting prints and bold colors. If that’s not the look for you, shorts or jeans can be worn instead. HINT: Just make sure the shorts or jeans are crisp to match the rest of your look! Don’t forget those striking shoes rich in color!
Color matching? Not this time! Try piecing things together so you don’t match from head to toe. Maybe a striped top and pol-ka dot bow tie for those who dare! Even a fun colored blazer or slacks are totally ac-ceptable for men. Mix it up and make it coordinate to your style and boldness!
So to all our sophisticated men out there, dare to be fashionable! Make it casual cool, stunning and handsome, or dapper crisp. This look is calling you, so tailor it up and strut your stuff! Time to turn some heads in style!
44
45
Zen and the Art of Pure Spa and Salon
By Allison Smith
T ypically, spas have been a place for pampering and calm relax-
ation, but the increasing demand of clients expecting more long-term
outcomes from their treatments has invoked a new generation of busi-
nesses crossing the feel-good indulgence clients expect, with the long-
term visible effects customers want. While many spas offer a few medi-
cally infused techniques into their repertoire of treatments, or offer a few
pampering facials along with a full range of cosmetic medical proce-
dures, there are few spas in the Dallas area that offer the complete pack-
age. Pure Spa and Salon is one such spa that offers a full range of skin,
body, and hair services, along with long-term cosmetic medical proce-
dures practiced by a board certified physician.
46
Tucked away on East Mockingbird Lane, at the edge
of the University Park neighborhood, the minute you
open the door to Pure Spa and Salon a calming drift of
herbal and coconut aromas draw you in. You will find
Minna Taylor at the spa on any given day, quietly scurry-
ing about, ensuring everything is perfection. Dallas Flow
sat down with Minna, to find out the plans for the future
of this top rated spa in the city.
Since taking over Pure Spa and Salon in November of
last year, what changes have you made to the spa, and
what concepts do you foresee instituting that will sep-
arate you from other salons?
When we took over the spa we made some physical
changes, but we really wanted to concentrate on keeping
the best of the best technicians. Each one of our staff
comes highly recommended, and all our technicians have
seven plus years of experience. We currently have eight
massage therapists, three estheticians, three hairstylists,
and two full time manicurists and pedicurists, each one of
them the best in their field. I think the incorporation of
both the medical side along with the spa amenities, is
what separates us from other day spas. We are the com-
plete package. You come to our spa and you can have
your hair done, get a massage, or a facial, and having the
medical services available is a huge plus for those who
want that option of maybe considering something a little
more permanent than what they already are currently hav-
ing done. We also have our Waterhouse available, com-
plete with whirlpool, steam cave, and rain shower. Very
few day spas can offer this kind of service. We are al-
ways looking forward to see what is out there, what are
the trends, what is hot right not, and we try to make sure
that we bring that to Pure.
What are your most popular services at present?
Definitely our massage bookings, and our Pure Renewal
Facial. The Pure Renewal facial really leaves your skin
glowing. The mushroom mask we apply during the treat-
ment really helps to reduce pore size and smooth out fine
wrinkles, your skin looks and feels firm and smooth.
You Tweeted a special on a coconut lime wrap and
body treatment a few weeks ago, that sounds delight-
fully Spring-like. What inspires you when designing a
spa experience for your clients?
Many of our body treatments we make ourselves. We
purchase organic ingredients, such as fresh limes, sugar,
and play with the ingredients, testing them out to make
sure we can make them as effective as possible for the
treatment. Our body wraps our different from other spas,
47
we really lather the product on and wrap the whole body.
I try to think seasonally, bringing ingredients into the
treatments that remind me of that time of year. I am play-
ing with an orange vanilla treatment right now, kind of
like a “Creamsicle” for summer. Products that we do not
directly make at the spa are all organic, and many come
from right here in Texas.
How has beauty changed over
the years and how has Pure Spa
and Salon transformed along
with those changes?
Well, we are constantly looking to
see what else is out there, testing
new products, and creating more
effective treatments, finding out
the trends of today and tomorrow,
for skin and hair. I feel like right
now we have finally found a body
wrap that really helps you lose inches and weight. We are
still working and training on this treatment which we hope
to launch in May. We always have our finger on the pulse
of what is happening in skin and hair care.
Have you found an increase in male clients over the
years, and what services are popular with men?
Oh yes, I would say our male clientele has risen to about
twenty-five percent now. I think for years men were kind
of left in the dark, and suddenly, whether they were
dragged into a spa by their wives or girlfriends, realized
what they were missing, the benefits, as well as the relaxa-
tion of the experience. Massage is a popular service for
our male clients, but right now we have a new monthly
maintenance Pure Platinum Membership program, where
for $69 per month, you can choose from a Pure Signature
Manicure plus a Hot Stone Pedicure, a fifty-minute Pure
Signature Facial, a haircut condition-
ing treatment, plus a blow-out, or a
fifty minute Massage Hot Towel Aro-
matherapy. Couples have been pur-
chasing these together, so it is really
becoming a popular thing for men and
women to do together.
What would be your two essential
service picks for someone who is
looking to revitalize the look of their
skin before the start of the warm
weather?
I think the best treatment on the medical side to really give
you that glow, where your skin looks beautiful and fresh,
would be Microdermabrasion with Laser Genesis Skin
Therapy. The Microdermabrasion revitalizes your skin by
the application of fine grains that buff away the surface
layer of your skin, and the Laser Genesis, or collagen re-
modeling, helps to lessen any redness in your skin, im-
proves skin tone, and gives your skin a completely vibrant
look. On the spa side of treatments that can help revitalize
When we took over the spa
we made some
physical changes, but we
really wanted to
concentrate on keeping the
best of the best
technicians. Each one of
our staff comes highly rec-
ommended, and all our
technicians have seven plus
years of
experience.
48
skin, I would suggest a Renewal Facial, and a massage.
What are your favorite services at the spa and salon?
Definitely a Blow Out before a night out. I love having
that, it really makes you look great and feel special. I al-
so love our Hot Stone Massage. The hot stones really get
deep into your muscles, and completely relax you, and
massage has been proven to have medical benefits, in-
creasing your overall health.
June weddings are around the corner, what service
suggestions would you offer to a bride to be for the big
day?
Pre-wedding, Microdermabrasion, and a massage. On the
day of, definitely hair, make-up, manicure and pedicure.
We have a lot of bridal parties that come in for services
before the wedding, and that is really a fun and relaxing
thing to. We offer a twenty percent discount on bridal
parties of six or more, so that can be a big advantage for a
large group.
What is your primary concern when a client visits
Pure Spa and Salon?
I want to ensure that we have top notch technicians work-
ing on our clients. I feel this is really important. I also
want the clients have a very positive experience in all re-
spects. Keeping the facility top notch, making sure the
salon is sparkling clean, relaxing, calming, these are all
concerns that I make sure are attended to at all times.
In one word, describe a trip to PSS?
Zenful. Life is so difficult and so stressful; people de-
serve some peace, to forget about everything going on.
Emails, text, phone calls, I want this to be an oasis from
“out there.” I want our clients to know that as soon as
they walk in the front door, they are in for an hour or
more of relaxation and calm.
The atmosphere of Pure Spa and Salon immediately
washes over you when you walk in the door, and calms
any tension in your body. The peaceful ambience, sooth-
ing music, and the friendly welcome from the staff makes
you want to slip your shoes off, shut your cell phone
down, and indulge yourself with all of the offerings the
spa presents. You will leave Pure not only feeling good,
but also looking great.
Pure Spa and Salon is located at:
5555 E Mockingbird Ln S300
Dallas, TX 75206
phone 214.827.4200
Allison Smith is a freelance writer and educator living in the DFW
area.
49
50
D riving up to the arched gates of the mas-
ter-planned community of Savannah,
Texas, located on U.S. 380, about five miles west of the
Dallas North Tollway, I have a sudden urge to kick off
my work shoes, don a pair of flip-flops, and throw on a
swimsuit. It may be the enormous private water park,
equipped with two giant tube slides, the cascading, fifteen
foot, rock waterfall, or the massive clubhouse with its
own private theater, greeting me as I arrive, that gives me
this overwhelming feeling as if I have just arrived on va-
cation, however, glancing around at the unique homes
which circle around this towering center, proves other-
wise. Although Savannah may seem like a holiday re-
treat, make no mistake, while this may be premier, resort-
style, living, it also stands as a deeply rooted community
that boasts something for everyone.
A Huffines Communities Development, built only eight
years ago and carved out of open land in the 380 corridor,
Savannah now has a population of over five thousand.
Each house in this community, by builders such as Grand
Homes, LionsGate Homes, Grand Homes, Nathan Car-
lisle Homes, and History Maker Homes, has a very dis-
tinctive style, elegant architectural details, and well laid
out floor plans. The original concept of the community
was fashioned after both Southern and Cape Cod styles,
but newer construction also incorporates an Austin, Texas
look, with brick, natural wood, and stone work. Just re-
cently, Nathan Carlisle Homes began construction on Sa-
vannah’s active adult community for the fifty-five plus
set, Isabella Village. This area of the community offers
single story homes and 2 models with optional 2nd floor
game rooms, plus a separate Amenity Center, specifically
for these residents. When people hear the words
“complete community” they may think of cookie cutter
homes, where it becomes impossible to distinguish one
BY Allison Smith
51
house from another, but this is definitely not the case in Sa-
vannah. The variety of designs available offer a multitude
of houses available for any taste, and owner’s needs, and
the prices ranging from the $140's to the $300's, make it
accessible to a wide scope of budgets.
Despite the variety of elegant and charming homes availa-
ble, the real draw to Savannah is the amenities and the com-
munity spirit. Aside from the private water park, the Junior
Olympic swimming pool, separate adult pool, and the over
eighteen parks scattered about the neighborhood that in-
clude fishable ponds, the community also features tennis
courts, a regulation baseball field, basketball court, and a
soccer field. The clubhouse itself offers a three story
workout facility, conference rooms, a spectacular cathedral
ceiling sitting area, a breathtaking library with fireplace, a
private theater which can accommodate up to seventy peo-
ple, a café area, and a commercial kitchen for both catering
and community events. The community also features and
exemplary Denton ISD neighborhood school, Savannah El-
ementary for kindergarten through to grade five, and while
kids may be sold on the waterpark, parents will definitely
be sold on the fact their children can bike or walk to school
located right in the community.
The jewel in the crown of Savannah, however, is the ener-
getic role the residents and Homeowners Association play
to create a one of a kind community. A full-time activities
director helps organize the many neighborhood activities
and events that take place, such as pancake breakfasts, base-
ball games, and pool parties. The events staff always tries
to host one event a month, and ensures there is always
something for everyone. According to Chellie Feathers,
one of the onsite Huffines team members, residents are all
very active in the community, and it is the kind of place
where everyone knows their neighbors. Families with
young children make up a large part of this community, but
there are also many empty-nesters, singles, and working
couples, creating a very dynamic make-up of residents.
The attraction for prospective Savannah residents may be
the resort-style living, a place where you can live and play
in top notch, well maintained facilities, but the community
feel, that is so very evident when walking around the neigh-
borhoods, where families watching their children on the
playgrounds, or single people jogging to the gym to
workout, wave welcomingly, is what will have buyers call-
ing this their home.
Allison Smith is a freelance writer and educator living in
the DFW area.
52
Dallas Dining
Do you enjoy live entertainment with your dining?
Enjoy these fine restaurants with excellent entertainment that will please
every taste.
Arthur's Steak & Seafood - Addison 15175 Quorum Drive ; Addison, TX US 75001 (972)-385-0800
Arthur's serves prime aged steaks and fresh seafood in a glamorous and elegant setting. Live Pi-
ano entertainment adds to the already sumptous atmosphere and the four curtained rooms are
popular for romantic dining.
Bruno's Ristorante - Irving 9462 N. MacArthur; Irving, Texas 75063 972-556-2465
You will be delighted with the romantic atmosphere, excellent cuisine, pleasant service, and the
beautiful view of the canals in this great Valley Ranch location on MacArthur just north of LBJ.
Live piano music, featuring Mike
Coldewey, will make your dining experience a memo-
rable one, not just for the food but for the ambience he
creates.
53
Lavendou - Far North Dallas
190009 Preston Road; Dallas, Tx 75225 972-249-1911
On Thursday's, join our vocalist and French guitarist on Lavendou's enchanting patio for a relax-ing evening.
India West Fine Dining & Lounge - Addison
5290 Belt Line Road #114; Dallas, TX 75254 972-503-5000
India West features live jazz every Friday and Saturday evening. Join us for a relaxing evening of
dinner and jazz.
Steve Fields Steak and Lobster - Plano
5013 W. Park Blvd.; Plano, TX 75093 (972) 596-7100
View our website www.SteveFieldsRestaurant.com for our current drink special and upcoming
events.
Bavarian Grill - Plano
221 West Parker Road; Ruisseau Village; Plano, Texas 75023 (972) 881-0705
Bavarian Grill offers live music nightly. We have live accordion music Tuesday thru Saturday 7-
10pm and on Tuesdays we also have Bavarian Bier Jazz (Dixieland) 7-10pm.
Avanti Ristorante - Uptown/McKinney
2720 McKinney Avenue; Dallas, Texas 75204 214-871-4955
Avanti Ristorante offers a small and intimate dining room with a sleek, uptown bistro atmosphere
convenient to the McKinney Avenue Trolley line. The menu features Northern and Southern Ital-
ian dishes made with fresh seafood, steaks, veal and pasta. Avanti Ristorante offers live jazz
nightly.
Citrus Bistro - Dallas 5930F Royal Lane; Dallas, TX 75230
Located at the SW corner of Preston and Royal, Citrus Bistro Seafood offers creative and origi-
nal cuisine by chef Didier Viriot. The small dining room allows chef Didier to bring you an
exceptional experience, giving the attention that is necessary to make everything run to
perfection.
54
55
Top 5 Men’s Grooming Locations
by Alex Rejaee
I t is often times difficult to find a
staunch grooming business for
men these days. Quality and service has
been downgraded for time financial efficien-
cy. After scouring the metroplex, the top
grooming shops have been selected for your
review.
The Menz Room, featured in national maga-
zines such as VIBE and Hair/Fashion, has a
vast clientele base and welcomes everyone
with open arms. Services offered are hair-
cuts, manicures/pedicures, shaves, facials,
coloring, eyebrow details, wardrobe styling
or a total makeover (consultation required).
Located in Downtown Dallas, The Menz
Room is urban oasis in the mist of a con-
crete jungle where the metropolitan male
can get male bonding, networking, health/
wellness tips, community info, upcoming
events info, as well as quality grooming ser-
vices & products
The Gent's Place: Men's Fine Grooming of-
fers a variety of lavish services such as hair-
cuts, trims and shaves, coloring, waxing,
massaging, facials, and even a pedicure
(“Foot Repair”, as they like to call it) that
includes whiskey and television. With a lo-
cation in Frisco and a second property re-
cently opened in Preston Hollow, The Gent's
Place and all it has to offer can be easily ex-
perienced by everyone.
We Only Wax, located in Dallas off of North
Central Expressway, focuses on, you
guessed it, waxing for men and women.
While men may think waxing is feminine
and a pain, We Only Wax offers a discrete
practice and the most painless waxing you
will ever experience, from “head to toes”.
The Grooming Room by Culwell & Son has
many services that range from haircuts to
shoe shining. Related and located next door
to the renowned Men's Shop off of Hillcrest,
The Grooming Room also prides itself on
quality and experience. No reservations are
required and walk-ins are openly wel-
comed.
Winston's Barber Shop offers haircut, color-
ing, shaves, and waxing. Friendly employ-
ees and a wide array of grooming products
makes this barber shop worth the visit. Win-
ston's is located on the lower level of The
Shops at Willow Bend in Plano in between
Neiman Marcus and Dillard's.
56
Restaurant Review: Dallas's Tasty Bites and
Rich Spirits
By Christina Dowers
D allas is home to some of the best, world-class restaurants and bars. Whether it’s a Mediterranean flare you are seeking or good ol’ Ameri-can cuisine, the Big D has a lot to offer. The slew of choices that are available in the city is enough to satisfy any appetite and quench every thirst.
Chris Davidson, cofounder of FN Dinner Club (a blog about Dallas’s best restaurants), suggests to those who are looking for a more upscale atmosphere to try out Victor Tangos, Rosewood Mansion, or The Chesterfield Bar and Restaurant. All three offer a unique menu and some of the best savory cocktails in town.
Victor Tangos offers an intimate charm
Victor Tangos, located in the increasingly popular Knox/Henderson area, is known for its intimate din-ing experience where guests can catch up with friends and share American inspired small plates. The restaurant’s acclaimed, executive chef, Greg Buffey, is very familiar with what Dallasites are looking for in cuisine, as he has worked for two other restaurants in the Dallas area (Stephan Pyles in the arts district and Hibiscus Restaurant) prior to open-ing up Victor Tangos four years ago.
“It is one of Dallas's most understated yet vibrant eateries! Their infamous lamb chops and mint ju-lep's are simply divine!” Azalea Murga, a frequent customer of Victor Tangos, says.
The restaurant is famous for their unique, fresh cocktails. One of the most popular drinks is the pas-sion fruit gimlet, which is made with fresh thyme, vodka, real pieces of passion fruit, freshly squeezed lemon juice and house-made clover, honey syr-up. All of their specialty cocktails are served in a tall or short, chilled martini glass. They also offer a small batch of American craft beers.
57
Mansion Restaurant is unique to Dallas and Tex-
as alike
The Rosewood Mansion is a restored 1925 mansion that has a different ambiance from other restaurants and bars in the city. The restaurant has been around for more than three decades; therefore, it has a loyal following of customers. Offering haute Texas cui-sine, The Mansion has a daily, full-service breakfast, lunch and dinner menu.
“On any given night you’ll find people just hanging out in the bar, getting engaged in the library and hav-ing a business dinner in the main dining room,” Stephanie Hutson, marketing manager, says. “When the weather is nice, the terrace is a great, relaxing place to be.”
Live entertainment is provided throughout the week and on the weekends. A mixture of blues and jazz fusions are part of the usual playlist. The music tends to start out mellow at the beginning of the night and grows livelier as the night progresses.
Every Thursday evening, the bar has wine chats where guests can sit down with Mansion beverage director, Michael Flynn, to try new wines the restau-rant has brought in. And Monday through Thursday customers can enjoy half-price specialty cocktails for happy hour. The most popular drinks include the homemade tonic with gin; and the blazing turtle, The Mansion’s signature cocktail, with lots of cham-pagne.
Chesterfield brings downtown back to the golden
age of cocktails
While only being in business since this past Decem-ber, The Chesterfield has already established a big pool of returning customers. Guests tend to come in and get lost in the menu, as it offers chapters of sig-nature cocktails to try. The bartenders and waiters
strive to create a personalized experience for each guest by asking what types of flavors they like, then making a specially concocted drink based on their preferences.
“My life has led me to the obsession of managing bars and restaurants,” Eddie “Lucky” Campbell, the owner, says. “Bars are a living piece of art. All walks of life gather to celebrate events and most bar scenes are of life gathering at bars.”
In addition to the signature cocktails, The Chester-field has Mediterranean style dishes with a new American and classical French twist. A full lunch and dinner menu is offered. The chef makes his own pas-ta and breads, and the seafood used in the dishes is always fresh (never frozen). Guests usually come in and order small plates to share with each other, but the restaurant also has a variety of entrees.
Whether you are looking for an intimate setting to have good conversation with friends in or a more classical atmosphere to relax to jazz music in, Dallas has what you are looking for. Victor Tangos, The Mansion and Chesterfield are just a small sample of what this city has to give. Come out and experience it for yourself!
58
59
WORK PLACE ROMANCE:
GOOD, BAD, OR UGLY? By Noel Liz Smart
I n today’s day and age, it seems
as though there are more people
than ever on their grind, trying
to get to the check. So it is not
surprising that many are spending
more time on their jobs than freely,
giving leeway to a workplace ro-
mance. But can real love develop on
the nine to five? Maybe it should be
all work and no play, then again, there
is that possibility of business mixing
strictly with pleasure.
There are more than just the elements of broken hearts or
the chance at happily ever after when
considering entering into a romantic conquest on the
worksite. It’s an issue that is not only built on lovers but it
also includes foundations based in liberty and popular cul-
ture. To me, the possibility of soul mates meeting at their
place of employment and having a successful relationship
sounds wonderful, especially if the industry in which em-
ployed is stable and profitable. However, it is easy to ne-
glect the facts that some feel employers compromise
rights when enforcing rules against dating, which could be
viewed bad in more than one way. On top of that, relation-
ships that do not consist of strings are constantly por-
trayed in movies, television shows, plays and songs in a
popular way which affects dating colleagues in a diverse
way as well.
Some can make a workplace love affair work. If I had to
guess, I would have to assume that it must take a whole
lot of patience and more than the love of Jesus, (that is
love thy neighbor of course) to make a workplace rendez-
vous work . For these couples, convenience may play a
large role. Working the same schedule and clocking out at
the same time is a thing of dreams for those couples that
just adore being attached to the hip. Yet still, for those
couples that do not mind having time apart, alternating
shifts at the same company would be ideal. A relationship
backed by a shared job security blanket is a plus as for
most financial security is a factor in their liaison. Two
gainfully employed people that have adoration for each
other is also good for the economy (especially during holi-
days) because people with dispensable money buy things;
typically, people that are in a relationship buy things not
only for their significant other but also to impress their
companion. There are dating and wedded couples that
work or have worked together on the job successfully not
only in blue collar but also within white collar and the en-
tertainment industries.
However just as there are married couples working to-
gether, there are also numerous amounts of divorcees that
were once married to a person that was or is a coworker.
For this reason, some companies enact anti-romantic frat-
ernization rules that will likely result in unemployment if
broken. This could work, but then again, this could be a
depraved thing in two ways. First, you have to consider
how much authority you think your employer should have
over your life off of the clock. Do I think that employers
should have that much say in an employee’s personal life,
especially since most of my bosses generally displayed a
“leave home at home” attitude? Well, too much control is
always a bad thing right? Then you have to consider what
could happen if you do not decide to rebel against these
fraternization policies and end at a job where you have to
ROMANCE AT THE
WORKPLACE
60
do the right thing by following heart-influenced rules.
There is the possibility of missing out on that Eddie Mur-
phy, Halle Berry, bring it right back to you, earth-
shattering, deep, love’s gonna bring you home type of
love. You know, that has to be considered worse than a
bad thing, that’s just disastrous, terrible, catastrophic.
Then there is the ugly also known as the coworkers with
benefits beast. Although the notion of friends with benefits
has become a popular notion, the odds of such a relation-
ship ending in blockage and titter beef are high. Adding
the element of making money into the mist of such a deli-
cate situation could end terribly messy. Divide and con-
quer is an idea that can be implemented with success in
any situation, there is no greater divide that torn secret
lovers and nothing worse than having enemies on the same
team.
Love or relationship at work can be good, bad or ugly. A
successful drama free courtship could be a virtuous thing
in more ways than one. Both partners being employed to-
gether can affect both the relationship and economy posi-
tively. Employers trying to control its employee’s emo-
tions by restrict intimate relationships from blossoming
could be looked at by some as a ruthless device. The unre-
stricting of work romance but the implementation of the
wrong type of passion on the job can very easily get ugly.
However, all in all, I believe that the success or failure of a
work romance is contingent upon the people in the rela-
tionship. If there is patience and willingness to make a re-
lationship work, no matter the articles or obstacles, it can
work. I am not totally against love and the workstation as
it has worked fairly well for me in the past. For me, work-
ing together also affected the compassion we had for one
another as we understood what stresses we encountered on
the job which boosted the success of our time spent to-
gether. But, a romance on the job is not for everyone be-
cause love and money is cursed with good, bad and ugly.
61
62
by Kelly Craig
Everything familiar -- food, language, scen-
ery, transportation, culture -- is being left behind.
College students have decided to escape all
things familiar and live out of their comfort zone
by studying abroad through the bad economy.
According to VistaWide.com, a website known
for study abroad statistics, studying abroad has
increased nearly 130% in the last decade. In
2007/08, it said, about 262,000 American stu-
dents studied abroad in foreign countries.
There is no question unemployment has soared.
Not only America, but Canada, most of Europe
and Asia have been hit by the recession.
Amid the economic squeeze, how can studying
abroad even be an option for college students?
Rosemary Orr, a junior at Ramapo College, is
currently studying in London, England, where the
economy has been hurt as it has in the United
States. Throughout her experience, she realizes
how the economy is plummeting in England like
the United States. “Tuition is so outrageous that
if you're going to be in debt for 10 years after
graduation anyway, might as well tack on two
more years of debt and go to Europe,” she says.
“Also, there's financial aid and scholarships to
help you go abroad now, but after college it'll
probably take years to find a good enough paying
job or a job at all to be able to pay for a trip
abroad so might as well do it while you can.”
Michelle Cox, a senior at Ramapo College, is
spending her fall semester in Ireland. “Well for
me it was the experience,” she said. “The econo-
my sucks here too, but I wasn't going to let it
hold me back from an experience of a lifetime.
At home- you work with what you have and get
through it.”
Studying Abroad Even in the Current Economy
63
Cox described her itinerary: “Germany for a week, Brussels,
Italy, all over Ireland and I’m headed for Scotland, Lon-
don... and Spain! I travel every weekend. I was originally
planning on going with $3000 and then someone told me
that she studied abroad and to bring $5000,” she added, “so
I worked as much as I possibly could and had close to that.”
“I’m borrowing a little from my dad,” Cox said. “but I tried
to budget as much as I could.”
According to VistaWide.com, more women study abroad
than men. About 65% of participants each year are female,
35% male.
Patrick Dwyer, a sophomore, says students study abroad “to
experience a different culture, to have a resume builder, and
to get away from America. People feel that the economy
will pick back up, so they will pay off when it does.
“I think studying abroad is an awesome opportunity regard-
less of the condition of the economy, assuming there are no
money issues with the person doing it. The experience alone
is worth it,” says Alexander Ucci.
Kate Godfrey, Study Abroad Advisor of Ramapo College,
says, “Students have the opportunity to experience cultures
outside their own. Kids are too sheltered. Cultures open
their eyes to the world. It is a chance at independence and to
learn. There is still a strong desire, and there are more
scholarships now than 20 years ago; they’re more accessi-
ble,” she said.
Millions of dollars
are donated in schol-
arships to help stu-
dents study abroad.
These scholarships
are very accessible to
all college students
no matter the institu-
tion. Public, private,
community, four-
year, and even graduate schools participate in studying
abroad programs and encourage students to apply for schol-
arships.
Sheldon Nguygen, a sophomore at Rutgers University says,
“The experience is priceless...not to sound corny.”
“Traveling and seeing new things and meeting new people
and learning is not something you get to do every day, so
people take advantage of it,” she says.
Frank Santoriello of Penn State says, “it's an opportunity to
see the world. When you get a job you won't have the time
to travel or have the opportunities presented to you by uni-
versities. If you can get out of the U.S. and get credits at
the same time you're golden. Sometimes that experience is
worth the money you have to spend to do it.”
Junior Marisa Magrino points out, “Students were never
rich to begin with. Does the economy really affect them?
There are always loans, which they were probably going to
take out to pay for school anyway. Also, if the economy is
bad, and study abroad is about the same price or just a little
bit more than a normal semester, than its really like a bar-
gain vacation.”
“Students have the
opportunity to
Experience cultures outside of
their own. Kids
are too sheltered.”
-Patrick Dwyer
64
According to transitionsabroad.com, a site about studying
abroad, The Institute for the International Education of Stu-
dents (IES), www.iesabroad.org, surveyed alumni from all
IES study abroad programs from 1950 to 1999.
Regardless of where students studied and for how long, the
data from the more than 3,400 respondents (a 23 percent
response rate) shows that studying abroad is usually a de-
fining moment in a young person's life and continues to
impact the participant’s life for years after the experience.
Though students are abroad to learn, over 90% said the ex-
perience increased their self-confidence. They also said the
experience served as a catalyst for increased maturity and
had a lasting impact on their personal worldview. The trips
have influenced subsequent educational experiences. Stud-
ying abroad experiences helped students better understand
their own cultural values and biases. Trips influences one
to seek out a greater diversity of friends and continues to
influence interactions with people from different cultures.
Tera Duffer of Missouri State University, an ISA, Interna-
tional Students Abroad, student is quoted on http://
studiesabroad.com/parents/comments/
fromStudents#Florence:
She said:
“I learned more from the past four months of studying
Spanish here in Argentina than I learned in five years of
high school classes and two semesters of college classes.
The ISA staff are so helpful and easy to talk to, I can’t say
enough how strongly I would recommend this program.
“Not only did I learn the language I came here to learn, I
really came to love the culture and really gained perspec-
tive on the United States and how I feel about how things
work in this world. I would pay the money all over again
for the amount of mental epiphanies and realizations I had
on this trip.”
66
67
68