Style + Beauty

The Grooming Renaissance

Inside the Luxe Barbershop Boom and What's Next for Men's Self-Care Article and Photography by Travis Hager Across the globe, upscale barbershops are having a moment, and not just because they give a sharp fade. These sleek, stylish sanctuaries invite the modern man to get a haircut, yes, but also to luxuriate in an experience — a grooming renaissance redefining how men take care of themselves. We’re talking cocktail bars, skin consultations, beard treatments that sound like spa services, and...

Travel

The Wellspring

Clean Water Climb Founder Mike Navolio Shares His Higher Purpose Article by Alex Gray | Photography by Provided Mike Navolio is the kind of man you would follow up a mountain. Not just because he does this for a living, or rather, for his retirement, but because it’s evident from the moment you meet him that his many expeditions skyward have left an indelible mark on his soul. Dressed in multi-pocketed cargo shorts, his nonprofit’s official polo, and sneakers, the tan, beard-clad, 73-year-old...

Sports + Recreation

The Adventurer's Itinerary

4 Bucket List Trips to Book Now Article by Travis Hager | Photography by Travis Hager & Provided 1. Dive with Whales in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico Observe gray whales up close on a tour along Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Enjoy a scenic drive from Loreto to San Ignacio Lagoon, stay in private cabanas, and venture out on multiple whale-watching excursions that allow you to witness breaching and spy-hopping. 2. Around the World Flight by Private Jet with National Geographic Spend 25 days...

Arts + Culture

Bronze Metal Winner

Sculptor Craig Campobella's Art Stands Tall Article by Jean Ciampi | Photography by Provided Meet nationally recognized and award-winning Texas sculptor Craig Campobella.  His creation, “The Texian,” is the 13-foot-tall centerpiece at the Lone Star Monument and Flag Park in Montgomery County. Campobella was the only sculptor at the prestigious Booth Museum of Western Art as part of the Toast of Texas Exhibit in 2022, and his Marty Stuart sculpture “The Pilgrim” will soon be permanently placed...

Life + Culture

Raising Boys

4 Things Your Sons Need to Hear Before They’re Grown Article by Travis Hager | Photography by Adobe Stock I had lunch with a couple of my mentors last week. As they both know, one goal of mine is to help the next generation of boys become responsible, functioning, and mature members of society. Why is this one of my goals? I remember 15-year-old me, an avid reader of everything. I remember looking around, reading, and trying to watch and emulate those around me I admired. Being the late...

Food + Beverage

Dude Food

Proper Food for Proper Dudes Article by Joel Gray | Photography by Provided Have you ever finished a round of golf slightly exhausted, with sun-bronzed skin, hankering for something hearty? Chances are, the club just isn’t going to cut it. Today, you need something a little more grandiose — a little more manly. Whether you’re a scratch golfer, a casual hobbyist, or just a guy’s guy, we have some local staples that will continue to bring you relaxation and refreshment long after the 18th hole. ...

Auto + Marine

From Details to High Trails

Leading Edge Car Care Goes Off-Road in Style Article by Travis Hager | Photography by Provided It wasn’t just Joe Diffie — every boy born of Texas clay and sun-bleached dreams once knelt on carpeted plains, guiding cherry-red Hot Wheels through a thousand imaginary miles. For Paul Roebuck and Kevin Bayer, that world of chrome fantasy didn’t end at adolescence, or at all. It simply got bigger: plastic wheels turned into steel with the founding of Texas Best Classics,a restoration sanctuary for...

Food + Beverage

Austin Simmons Talks Beef

The Lauded Chef on Pursuing Passions and His Restaurant Future Article by Laura L. Green | Photography by Provided In February, Chef Austin Simmons bought his first horse, a chestnut-colored, fully trained cattle horse named Tiki that Simmons describes as his new best friend. Tiki helps Simmons work the cows in his new enterprise as cattle breeder and rancher. Any given day across ranches in Walker, Leon, Brazos, and Brazoria Counties, you’ll find him hard at work pouring sacks of feed...

Arts + Culture

Cody Johnson, Authentically Country

The Artist, Entertainer, & Uncompromising Deal Maker Article by Alison Kartevold | Photography by Jay Trevino and Provided Cody Johnson longs to be instrumental in country music’s future, and his career is well on its way to achieving this goal. Cody started playing music in small-town honky tonks across Texas, including a few right here in Montgomery County. Now that he is topping the charts, winning awards, and performing worldwide, he hopes others will recognize the efforts he made to...

Travel

Fairhope, AL: Your Perfect Mother-Daughter Getaway

This Small Town Combines Southern Charm with Coastal Serenity Article by Laura L. Green | Photography by Various The best mother-daughter trips are those that do not have a frenetic pace — no need to set an alarm, catch a tour bus, or take the perfect Instagram photo. Instead, the point of traveling with Mom is to simply be together and savor an itinerary that unfolds naturally. Fairhope, Alabama lends itself to this easy-does-it vacation mindset. Located along the Eastern coastline of Mobile...