By: Meagan Kinley

Are you trying to think of a way to make your wedding sweets stand out? If you have been searching for that perfect idea look no further! For your wedding, do the unexpected. Dump the cake and have your baker fix you up with a few dozen batches of cupcakes! Yes, wedding cakes are pretty but do you really want your special day to be just like all your other friend’s weddings? Be daring and choose different. Cupcakes are so cute and are the picture perfect way to serve your guests just the right portion of cake to delight their sweet tooth. Because let’s face it, with that dance floor calling, who has time for a fork?

And if you think about it, cupcakes make a lot of sense for weddings. Not only are there more design possibilities, but also they are a lot cheaper than an expensive multi-tiered cake (that if we are being honest, most of the time goes uneaten). A lot of couples also think that if they opt for cupcakes, they lose the “cutting the cake” moment of their wedding and that just isn’t true. They also think that they won’t have anything to eat on their one-year anniversary. With today’s ingenuity, many newlyweds have chosen adorable cupcake stands to display their eatable art on, and still proceed to “feed each other cake” just like in the traditional wedding format. And just like cake, cupcakes can be stored and saved for that special anniversary celebration (although if we are honest . . . it never tastes quite the same). So if you have been on the fence about which to choose – let cupcakes take the cake for your special day.

. . . And if cupcakes are just not cutting edge enough, there are other options as well! If you can think it, most bakers can do it and that is exactly true for the adventurous couples that choose to have non-traditional delights on their wedding dessert table. If you are among the few who want to defy what’s been done then these delicious treats will strike your fancy. Some popular trends that have been spotted are pop cakes, cheesecake cakes, strawberry shortcake (in a jar!), macaroon cakes, doughnut cakes, brownie cakes, cinnamon roll cakes, and even croquembouche! So no matter what your vision is for your special day, think outside the cake pan and choose a dessert that reflects the daring souls of you and your new sweetie.

Brides Maiden Name: Sarah Frioux

Groom’s Name: Zyon Zate

They met: We met less than a week before deploying to Afghanistan together for 6 months.

Rehearsal dinner at: Stonewood Modern American Grill

Date of wedding: August 1, 2015

Church: None. We had both wedding and reception at EPIC. Our officiant was Kimberly Bashor of Hitching Hearts.

Reception venue: El Paso Import Company

Wedding day weather: Sunny, 96 degrees

Number of guests:  70

Approach to wedding planning: We started with a very vague idea of what an Up-themed wedding would look like. But we knew that we wanted it to be bright, fun, and enjoyable for our guest and ourselves. We set no limits. If we didn’t want to include something, then we didn’t, no matter how traditional. We were very lucky to have Angelica Razo plan our wedding. She took this vague idea and gave us all kinds of examples so we could explore what we really wanted. After meeting the first few vendors, we realized how talented they are and could see that the theme really sparked their imaginations. So, we told each of them what we were thinking, but encouraged everyone to create something unique and special.  Again, we tried not to set limits and wanted to see what they would create.

Pre-wedding celebrations: We had our rehearsal on Thursday and a party at our house the Friday night before the wedding. It was the first time most of our family and friends had met each other and gave everyone a chance to socialize before the day of the wedding.

Inspiration: This was truly a family affair. Our children were included in every aspect of planning. Our goal was to have an amazing time at our own wedding and create an event that was really representative of who we are.

Wedding theme and why chosen: Up is one of our favorite movies and one of the first we watched together (in Afghanistan, of course). The first 15 minutes is the most amazing love story and is exactly how we want our marriage to be. It was also a fun way to get the children engaged in the planning.

Colors: Cobalt blue, orange, fuchsia

Flowers: All of the decorations, including the arch for the ceremony, were done by Laura Carrillo. There were a lot of roses and hydrangeas, all in very bright colors. There were also a lot of non-floral decorations, like balloons and pinwheels and confetti.

Menu: Catering was done by Rudy Valdes and his team from Crave. We chose to use food stations. Because our kids were part of every step of planning, we let them each chose a station. Judy chose a macaroni and cheese station with various toppings. Evan loves sliders, so his station had 2 varieties of sliders. The steak and potatoes station was Zyon’s, and Sarah had a taco station.  The bar included a custom drink, strawberry ginger lemonade, which could be served with or without alcohol.

Wedding cake: A beautiful 4-tier cake, again with a layer for each of us. Confetti cake with raspberry filling for Sarah, marble with chocolate ganache for Evan, chocolate with cookies ‘n cream filling for Zyon, and strawberry cake for Judy. Sarah got one extra item, a table of cannolis from Ardovino’s Desert Crossing.

First dance song:  “Everything” by Michael Buble

Wedding favors: Chocolates from Chocolat

Advice: There’s only one goal on the wedding day. Get married! Everything else is details. Our priorities were to end the day married, full of delicious food, and having spent time with our loved ones. So we made a deliberate choice to let go of some details and trust that our vendors had it under control. Our job was to focus on why we were there and we’re proud to say we actually remember our own wedding.

If you knew then what you know now: We would plan for more free time with our family and wedding party. We would have loved just one more day to enjoy their company and remember why we asked them to be with us on our wedding day. We would also have had a plan to contain the confetti. 6 months later, we are still finding random confetti pieces in our house.

Wedding summed up in 3 words: Best day ever.

Honeymoon: Wine Country Inn, St Helena (Napa), CA

Vendor List 

Wedding Planner: Angelica Razo

Florist: Laura Carrillo

Music: NC DJ Productions

Food: Rudy Valdes, Crave

Wedding cake: Melissa, Honey Bee Cakes

By Samuel Horstman

They often say that a wedding is the happiest day for the bride, but what about the groom? Planning the big day is a task that is often appointed to the bride to be, leaving the groom in the shadows until it’s time to say those two words. From color schemes, floral arrangements, the theme and the reception, it seems that a groom rarely gets a say in his special day.

Planning a wedding isn’t something men want to sit around and plan but when it comes down to the big picture, we do not want to feel uncomfortable in front of friends and family when the time comes to say “I Do.” Now ladies, I am not saying we completely want to take over all of the planning but when it comes to our part in the wedding, I think we are more than capable to manage it (just don’t let us get out of hand). Planning a wedding together not only minimizes stress but everyone will have fun in the end.

Here are some simple steps the groom can “man up” their part in the wedding without overshadowing what the bride has in place.

By: Krysta Ayers

The thing about weddings is that you can always strive to go bigger. It’s an event that happens once in your life, like a Quinceñera or a Sweet Sixteen, so having an extravagant wedding is the norm these days. From food displays to photo booths to chandeliers and destinations, weddings have become more and more elaborate. This applies to the more personal details in a wedding as well, like the wedding dress.

You may have heard about having a second wedding dress, especially if you’ve seen the show, “Bridezilla.” You have your ceremony dress and then, in a fashion-forward diva move (it is your day, after all), you change into a more breathable dress for the reception. Now you can thank celebrities such as Chrissy Teigen and Kim Kardashian for upping the ante and introducing the third dress. Yes, a third dress, another thing to include in your wedding budget when starting the planning process for the biggest day of your life. There’s the over-the-top gown you wear to the ceremony, the elegant piece you present during the reception and then the fun, more moveable dress you can dance in during the after party. With so many costume changes, you’ll feel like a celebrity at your own wedding – as you should.

The third dress is perfect for any bride-to-be. For those of us that are indecisive, this is an opportunity to say yes to all of the dresses. You can wear a traditional design and also end your night in something trendier, like the chic pantsuit that is all over bridal runway shows right now. Chrissy Teigen opted for a floor-length red dress to strut her stuff in with her gorgeous husband, John Legend. Kim Kardashian chose to come out in a sleek white mermaid dress as her third dress at her wedding with Kanye West. Basically, anything goes. Go short for maximum leg movement, or keep it glamorous with a floor-length number.

This obviously isn’t feasible for everybody – or maybe for those that want designer dresses for all three designs. Depending on personal style and preference, the different dresses you appear in could range from a Cinderella gown to something simpler or bohemian for your third dress. Like any trend in fashion, you can manipulate it to fit your own personal style.

If you still want to be able to change your look throughout the night but panic a little at the thought of a wardrobe change (or the money), fret not because there’s other ways to switch up your look throughout the night that won’t break the bank. Try a wrap around skirt that you can remove to reveal pants, or a shorter skirt, add a top hat, add or remove gloves or change your heels. Adding your own personality into each detail, you’re sure to be unique, look great, and get compliments on the style changes.

With wedding concepts and trends constantly changing over the years, you can implement this current dress trend and potentially hand down one or all three of your dresses to your future daughter(s). Your wedding photos will be interesting to look at and share when you see the different styles and wardrobe changes you went through on your big day. Imagine standing at the altar in a classic wedding dress, the one you’ve pinned onto your Pinterest board when you and your fiancé first started dating, cutting the cake in a strapless mermaid cut and then taking celebratory shots and dancing in a feathery mini dress – and it doesn’t even have to be white if you follow the likes of Chrissy Teigen. Why wear only one when you can wear three dresses? Seems excessive at first, but how fun does a long night of playing dress-up sound? It’s your wedding and you can have three dresses if you want to.

By: Natalie Eckberg

A love of what makes the Sun City unique was celebrated in newlyweds Mariam Yazdi Watford and Matthew George Watford’s stunning wedding.

“Classic El Paso chic,” said Mariam. “That was what we were going for, and what I feel we achieved.”

Indeed. All decisions — from the choice of venue to the cuisine to the color palette — was defined and informed by the couple’s desire to showcase the assets of the region they call home.

“Matt grew up in Maryland but when he moved to the area, he just fell in love with El Paso,” said Mariam. “He fell in love with the culture – how warm and welcoming it is. There is so much potential here, and he loves the architecture of downtown El Paso. So that became our vision — displaying all of that in our wedding. We wanted to exemplify El Paso’s classic elegance that is located in downtown while highlighting the beauty and history that El Paso has offer. We knew that we wanted to do that not just for Matt’s friends and family that would be coming in for the wedding, but even for those that were from El Paso.”

The couple met at New Mexico State University, where they were both studying nursing. Six months after they began to date, Matt proposed to Mariam in another city beloved by the two: Boston.

We were having dinner at a restaurant that was at the very top of a building, and it was easy to tell that he was getting nervous,” she said. “After dinner, he took us to Boston Commons Park. There are so many gorgeous trees, and Matt picked one. Then, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.”

It was really beautiful,” the bride continued, her voice warm at the memory. “His opening statement was that he knew it had always been my dream to go to Boston, and while he hadn’t planned on that being his dream, my dreams were now his and we would work towards our dreams together. I started crying immediately.”

After graduating, the two moved to El Paso where they began their wedding planning in earnest. The two chose to start their marriage and their love letter to the city at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  The beautiful historic landmark, which was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day on November 29, 1917, is a blend of Byzantine and Romanesque architecture.

Walking down the aisle to her groom at the gorgeous Cathedral surrounded by family and friends felt spiritual and surreal, said Mariam, who was walked down the aisle by both her father and her mother.

“With every step, I had a different feeling,” she said. “At first I was nervous and clinging to my parents. Then, I began to feel amazed to see everyone who was there — I felt so appreciative of all who had come to celebrate and witness our love. And with the final steps, I saw Matt. He was in tears, and seeing him I began to cry instantly. At that moment, I just wanted to run to him and kiss him and hold him tight. Being at the altar with him — about to become one in marriage — felt so symbolic. We did it in the traditional way — both of our parents giving us away — and it felt right. We linked arms and whispered to each other: ‘We’re here. We did it. I love you.’”

After the ceremony, Mariam found herself confronted with a surprise from her new husband: a horse and carriage ride to the reception, which took place at on the rooftop of the Plaza Theatre, in the Alcantar Sky Garden.

“That ride over was perfect for reconnecting and regrouping,” she said. “It was exactly what we needed. During that time, we just melted in each other’s arms and shared all the feelings that had been building up.”

Arriving to the Plaza Theatre, Mariam and Matt felt proud and excited in the way their vision was unfolding. The Spanish Colonial Revival style Plaza Theater, designed by Dallas architect W. Scott Dunne, was completed in 1930 and reopened to the public in 2006. It stands as one of El Paso’s most beloved landmarks. The Alcantar Sky Garden is a rooftop reception area that boasts binational views and downtown scenery.

The 120 guests were greeted by hors d’oeuvres that reflected the flavors of the region — delicacies like jalapenos dressed in bacon and feta cheese stuffed mushrooms — and an elegant and understated decor that allowed the beauty of the venue to shine through. The bride and groom chose a neutral palette with a baseline color of cream with brown and accents of muted pink and gold. Dinner — guests had a choice of green chile southwest chicken breast or steak with a side of rice pilaf and vegetables — was timed to begin at sunset.

“The venue itself was so gorgeous,” she said. “We had really wanted to main focus to be on the environment. And El Paso sunsets are so gorgeous that we wanted that featured. And it was so perfect. Guests were getting up and taking photos against the skyline.”

Friends and family were treated to live music courtesy of local jazz band Grau as well as fun history and trivia games. El Paso Question and Answer cards were placed throughout the venue. By taking the card to Wedding Coordinator June Martin, they were then treated to a little history lesson.

“It was important to both of us that our wedding guests have a good time,” Mariam said. “And they did.”

Planning for the biggest event in their lives was a humbling experience to see the way in which people wanted to help.

“Our wedding coordinator did so much work,” Mariam said. “She was incredible and used her own personal time and helped with decor from her own home. It meant so much. What’s funny is that I didn’t think I needed a wedding coordinator at first. I’d been to weddings. I know the deal — but having her fill in all the gaps that couldn’t predict was well worth it.”

Friends and family helped a lot, too, said Mariam — as well as showed their love in incredible ways. Lauren, one of the bridesmaids, spent days in a Chicago airport trying to catch the first flight to El Paso after her original flight was cancelled due to an area incident. She made it minutes before the ceremony, having dressed at the airport. Another bridesmaid created the bouquets. The Maid of Honor, Anna, crafted a special speech that captured all of Matt and Mariam’s qualities as well as their special love story.

The wedding party was made of loved ones who had been part of the couple’s lives for years, and included both bridesmen and groomsladies (friends of the opposite sex that the two wanted to honor as having a special place in their lives.

“Our parents also supported us tremendously,” the bride continued. “They did everything they could to make sure it was the best day of our lives.”

Mariam uses the word magical to describe the day.

“I had a picture in my head as to how the wedding would be during the planning process,” she said. “And it became more vivid as time went on and we got closer to the wedding. You see all these pieces come together. And how it actually goes is a little different sometimes — but in all the right ways. There are things that you can’t control but it will all flow as it is meant to. And looking back, I wouldn’t change a single thing. Some things were perfect. Some weren’t. But they all came together perfectly. I loved everything and wouldn’t change a thing. It was beautiful and perfect in its own imperfect beautiful way.”

Photographer: Cristina Navarro Photography

Stylist: Jessica Avila

Flowers: Debbie’s Bloomers

Catering: Plaza Theater (Alcantar Sky Garden)

Tables: Alcantar Sky Garden

Décor: DIY/Wedding Coordinator

Wedding Gown: Ella Blu

MOTB: Dillard’s

MOTG: Dillard’s

Coordinator: June Martin

Cake: Jazzy Creative Cakes of El Paso (sugar artist)

Music: Grau Jazz, FM Junkies

By Amanda Pracht

When people think of working out, they usually imagine themselves suffering from heat stroke in a puddle of sweat, just trying to survive. Some individuals enjoy being in a gym and really pushing themselves to achieve a certain work out, but not everyone finds it rewarding or enjoyable to be in a set area. Some of us need a little more excitement and thrill to our weekly workout routine. The city of El Paso has some beautiful thundering mountains so why not put them to good use?

Many El Pasoans venture into the vast area on a daily basis. Some do it purely for enjoyment, some for fitness and some do it for both. Hiking is another alternative in fitness and provides as effective an outcome as working out in a gym. Many people like to scale the great heights of the mountains, but even staying on more level ground can get your heart pumping. While some folks like the solitude that the mountains offer, it is best to take a friend along or even join a group of people for safety reasons.

Although hiking doesn’t have to be a rigorous task, longer hikes produce better benefits. For instance, a two and a half hour hike lowers the risk of colon and breast cancer, reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke and reduces the risk of Type 2 Diabetes in adults.  Some of the benefits for children include reduced risk of depression, better bone health, reduces factors of heart disease and helps them focus better in school.

Journeying into the rocky area helps your mind and soul escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  Just like the forest and the tundra, the desert can also be captivating. Whether it’s watching the sunrise or a beautiful sunset, there is something therapeutic about taking in the sights of the mountains. Weekly hikes will improve your physical health while renewing your mind.

El Paso has some of the most beautiful mountain ranges that include The Lost Dog Trail, Franklin Mountains State Park, Thousand Steps Trail and Monks Trail. So let’s grab our hiking shoes and water bottle and take a hike!

The world of art and fashion usually collide in a seamless way. With intricate detail and focus on the final product, both of these worlds provide society with something to talk about—and something “pretty” to look at. For our Fashion Issue, we popped into the El Paso Museum of Art to photograph the stylish pieces that can be purchased at local boutiques. Add some personal style to your wardrobe and artfully rule the world of fashion. The following “Looks” can be found at Armoire, V&X Boutique, J.Luxe and GAL Fashion.

Models: Edlyn Quintana, Kevin Burns

Photographer: Dav Anmed

Photography Assistant: Jennifer Means

Associate Stylists: Krysta Ayers, Chaz Wilson

Hair: Nicholas Reyes

Make Up: Maddy Gruno

Location: El Paso Museum of Art

By: Irais Urias

There is no better time than fall for decorating. It’s the season of hosting family and friends and celebrating the holidays. Setting up your table is an important step, and no better way to do it than by getting creative, fun and switching up the way you do fall centerpieces this year.

There are various ways to take it to the next level and make your fall centerpiece the focal point it should be –  and it is quite simple! Warm hues, like oranges and browns, are good to keep in mind when decorating your table. Here are some helpful points:

When decorating with candles:

• When thinking of adding some candles, glue some cinnamon sticks all around them and then tie bows around them.
• Get some small pumpkins and cover them on a tray with several wine glasses. At the bottom of the wine glass, which should now be at the top, put a candle and you get a simple yet unique fall center piece.

When decorating with leaves and pines:

• Instead of putting flowers on a base you can collect several leaves from different sizes and put the leaves in the water instead of the flowers.
• Get different transparent vases and collect pines from different sizes. Simple put them all on the bases and tie a bow around the base.

And there you have it! Simple and easy ways to rock a gathering this fall season getting right to the center of things. 

By: Jacqueline Aguirre

Dave’s Pawn Shop, just up South El Paso street, right across music venue Tricky Falls, stands the last false-front store that first opened in the 1950s as a surplus store. Upon first approaching the store, a life-sized Elvis statue greets you with his signature dance move frozen in time. The windows in which the King of Rock ‘N Roll stands between display the neon signs and eye-catching jewelry just enticing you to walk on in.

One step into the store, and you discover—this is not your ordinary pawnshop, it’s a gallery full of some of the most interesting things—from the famed Pancho Villa’s trigger finger, to a full sized mummy, Dave’s is a collection of oddities.

As if this pawnshop couldn’t be anymore be unique, on Sundays storeowner, Clay Baron, prepares for the transformation from Dave’s Pawn Shop to Live at Dave’s Sessions.

“I wanted to do something really cool, local El Paso,” Baron says.

For Baron, who first filmed local artist Hope Riot playing a pawned guitar in his shop, to later hosting local band Lunas, this was only a small spark of what was to come.

After bringing in friends to take over the project, Baron expresses excitement over the new venture, “We have the video guys, the sound guys, and the musicians willing to do it, and the place. I’m more than happy to open up,” he says.

The three people behind the sessions at Dave’s include Javier Caballero who works with audio, and Rudy Parra and Frank Delgado, who both work on film. The collaboration stemmed from their preexisting interest in the collection store, and expressed desire to film bands in the shop.

“We realized that nobody in El Paso was really doing anything like this, it’s weird,” Caballero said.

After what was an “abrupt start” as Delgado mentioned, they all detail how quickly everything began to occur, and added that they were rolling with the punches and learned through experimentation.

Their main goal aside from developing a more refined video, is to present a positive light on the artists and on Dave’s Pawnshop through storytelling.

“We wanted to highlight the uniqueness of the shop, because not a lot of people know it exists, as well as the artists in El Paso,” says Parra.

Baron, who is present at every video session, is very inclined to move items in the store around, or fix lighting issues, while trusting the group to do anything to “make sure it’s done right,” he says.

Caballero, Delgado, and Parra communicate their gratitude for Baron’s passion to help shoot another great video, and even consider him part of their team. Baron, who involves himself in their efforts as much as he can, even picks up a camera at times to take still shots of the set.

Once everything is set up and there’s a game plan in place, they finally get to filming, Baron details that each time they film a band, people begin to stand outside behind the entry gate, peering in to settle their curiosity.

“As they’re playing, a lot of people come up to the door, and watch through the gate—it’s a lot of fun,” Baron said.

Curiously enough, the rest of the group also noticed the random people stopping by to watch. Caballero tells about a time in particular, while taking a break during filming late one evening, someone walked all the way into the store to check out the items inside, “The shop was obviously closed, and this guy just goes in, and starts jamming out with the band, it was kind of cool,” he said with a chuckle.

Their passion in having live sessions at Dave’s Pawn Shop has attracted a lot of attention from many people. With music from artists like Austin North, Foxy Mojo and Hot Shot Kixxx, and others who have already filmed in the shop, the team has earned thousands of views on YouTube. They enthusiastically vocalize the heed from other local artists interested in shooting a video of their band in the shop.

In their future endeavors, the team hopes to continue in their efforts of filming in the pawnshop, while highlighting other artists, and stories, while keeping everything local.

“We want to highlight El Paso as a city, and the businesses, as well as the artists,” added Parra who believes that Dave’s Pawn Shop is unique and fascinating, even calling it the “Ripley’s of the city.”

Live Sessions at Dave’s are set to release a new video featuring Alabama Deathwalk, and like Dave’s Pawn Shop, this project is something like you’ve never seen before.

By: Denise Nelson-Prieto

When you speak to Alabama Deathwalk founder guitarist, and lead vocalist, Eric Reed, it feels like you’re talking with an old friend.  He’s laid back, unassuming, and oh so humble. Despite the fact you’ll see the name of his neo-folk/ Americana outfit splashed on many a flyer, handbill, and poster promoting the local music scene, that fame belies the essence of Reed’s reason for playing music.

“Playing music is just a way for me to meet and share experiences with my friends and other people,” he said. “It’s a creative outlet.”

That outlet has led to four EP’s and the freshly-minted first full-length record “Steep Hills.” The album is a collection of new songs and some that have been in the works for the last several years. For instance, the track “Dallas” is a song that Reed wrote about five years ago. The number is an achingly, heart-wrenching foray into perceived lost love. For one rendition of the song, Reed, his girlfriend, and a buddy are gathered at a table and performing the song on an acoustic guitar and a typewriter. They submitted a video of this to NPR’s songwriting contest “Tiny Desk.”

The record was recorded at Reed’s friend Ross Ingram’s studio, Brainville TX. Ingram, who sharpened his recording skills at Sonic Ranch, and Reed busted out the release in two months in what termed a “fun challenge.”

“This record’s been on my mind for a while,” Reed said. “The last album I put out was already pretty minimal so I wanted to put out something a little bigger.”

A few of the tracks on “Steep Hills” were resurrected from a scrapped production Reed recorded on a four-track in his apartment last year.

“I decided I wanted to do a full record and wanted to have more options for sound than a four-track would allow,” he said.

The result is a 10-track amalgam of thematically rich, musically diverse songs, and a testament to the time, love and effort Reed and the accompanying artists dedicated to the album. Upon listening to the record you feel completely immersed and emotionally invested in the struggles, triumphs and endeavors of the characters in each song.

On the album are 20 different guest artists and musicians. Members from Sleepercar, Our Friend the Mountain and Back of a Car, along with many others, lent their talents to the creation of the record. Reed himself switched between guitar, piano, drums, synthesizer and even the accordion-like Indian instrument, a shruti box, to craft each song.

“While thinking about production for the record, I left space for people to put their fingerprints and personality on,” he said. “I had a loose idea of where people would fit kind of well.”

Shortly before releasing “Steep Hills” last month, Reed and drummer Josh Mendoza executed a two-week stint on the Western U.S. circuit, hitting cities like Tucson, Seattle, Denver, Missoula, L.A. and San Francisco.

The tour culminated in a CD release party at The Perch (formerly Bowie Feathers). Reed termed the show as a semi-farewell El Paso show because shortly after he moved to New Braunfels, Texas.

He said it was a poignant mix of emotions and exhaustion.

“I liked playing The Perch for this show because [it was] more personal and more intimate,” Reed said. “My home base is New Braunfels, so it was also kind of a goodbye show for me.”

Alabama Deathwalk is a project Reed started about nine years ago in an effort to transition from heavy metal and thrash bands to what he called a “natural shift” to more musically mellow, albeit emotionally harder hitting, Indie/Folk/Americana.

While in high school Reed came across three artists he deems pivotal in his decision to switch musical gears. He explained:

“There were a few artists in high school that blew me out of the water. I got a few “Bright Eyes” records, a couple records from Ryan Adams, and some Rocky Votolato. Those three totally redirected me; I was in heavy bands and was getting burnt out [because] I didn’t’ feel like I was part of the community; I was just playing shows. There were no people I could call if I was having a rough day.”

Alabama Deathwalk is versatile and unique, and at any given show you’re likely to see Reed playing solo on an acoustic or electric guitar, or any manner of instrument. He often plays with drummer Mendoza and brother Rod Mendoza, who plays bass.

I have really talented friends who are good at playing instruments, so I have [them] help periodically, but the last couple years the full band has been consistently the same friends,” he said.

Check out Alabama Deathwalk at https://alabamadeathwalk.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/alabamadeathwalk/

I’ll never forget sitting in the cinema, watching that infamous scene when Jack Nicholson accidentally walks in on Diane Keaton wearing nothing but her birthday suit. “Something’s Gotta Give” was, on the surface, a frivolous venture into the dilemma many women ‘After 50’ face with the alarming shortage of men their age who AREN’T looking for a younger squeeze to warm up to.

At first, I giggled with the rest of the audience. Who could keep a straight face as Nicholson literally covered his eyes and recoiled in horror at the sight of Keaton’s naked body parts, gently touched by time?

My husband laughed too and then, as we often do when we share an intimate joke, we caught each other’s eye and just for a second it seemed that he looked a lot like Jack Nicholson and before I could stop myself, I wondered if he felt the same way about walking in on me.

And why wouldn’t he?

50 shades of gray takes on new meaning as a woman ages. An older friend of mine once told me the hardest thing about passing her prime was that she felt like she’d literally faded away. I deeply regret now that I didn’t respond with more kindness then, because it’s a brutal blow when you wake up one morning, look back at your reflection and realize it’s true. It starts with our hair—in my case, even eyebrows need penciling in to mimic their once prominent definition. Before you know it, bits and pieces shift, lines deepen, skin pales, lips thin, the ability to wear killer heels, to rock shorter hemlines and to bare upper arms all becomes a contest between endless hours of self-inflicted diet and exercise, skid free precautions and tiring determination. For many of our battle weary sisters, it’s easier to slip into something a little more comfortable and embrace the shadows at the back of the room.

But all is not lost. For even in nature’s most challenging circumstances, come moments of unexpected revelation. Something really does ‘give’ because all the confidence, self-awareness, experience and wisdom one develops after decades of life will break through the clouds of doubt if we just take a deep breath and let them.

For one thing, women of a certain age understand their bodies and take pleasure and pride in being able to enjoy them. The allure of confidence witnessed as Keaton boldly flirted with Keanu Reeves on the movie screen is not as rare as Hollywood would have you think. We know exactly who we are and after years of wondering whether the other sex approves of our moves, many of us develop an attitude that simply doesn’t care whether old men want to waste their time on younger conquests. In fact, I honestly feel sorry for them—they have no idea what they’re missing.

Let me preface the next paragraphs with “I’m a happily married woman” BUT that’s no reason to shy away from the very best entertainment imaginable. And just because you’ve been playing reruns to the same sold out audience for a very long matinee, doesn’t mean it can’t be fun, fresh and sexy.

Freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want without worrying about grossing out your teenagers, gets top billing on my marquis. When there’s only two of you left, home becomes a private sanctuary, filled with endless opportunity. Drawn curtains, candles, chocolate covered strawberries, massage oil—the comfort of familiar habits and the mystery of new ideas blend exquisitely with the best turn on of all—unlimited time.

I asked a few of my friends, what’s changed in their sex lives and this is what they said.

“It takes a little longer to pull myself together than it used to, but now, instead of worrying about what I’ll wear or what I’ll say, I put on a little music and sip some wine while I’m getting ready. I don’t bother trying on dozens of outfits, I just dab my favorite fragrance on my wrists and across my cleavage, take a mental reading of how I feel at that moment and find the dress or the jeans that compliment my mood. I’m a lot less stressed about life and dating and it seems to be working because my better half can’t stop smiling.”

“I no longer give a damn about how often I have sex—I just make sure it’s the best sex either of us can remember having and hope neither one of us forgets it too soon!”

“Why do our children and our grandchildren and everyone else under the age of 50, think we’re too old to have sex? We have better sex now than we ever did when the kids were sleeping on the other side of the wall.”

“Sometimes we just kiss and remember. Sometimes we laugh till we cry. But we always know we’re there for each other, no matter where life takes us. Then the Viagra kicks in.”

“I recommend small surprises. Just one tiny detail that’s different can drive him crazy! And when he asks, ‘Where did THAT come from?’ Just smile and keep him guessing.”

“There is nothing more appealing than a woman who oozes self-confidence and knows how to walk through a crowd. If I know anything, it’s that the gentle sway of well-developed hips floating through a room can suspend conversation and finger foods in mid-air.”

So I guess, in conclusion, that sex after 50 is a lot like a martini. The burst of flavor and the warm sensation it creates as it slides over your tongue—the way you add just the right garnish to satisfy your personal taste—and always enhanced to perfection by the way you choose to stir it.