The historic town of Port Aransas has all of the charm and color to make it a perfect family destination with the excitement that you and yours are craving. Gregory Carr, development manager at Palmilla Beach Resort & Golf Community described the community as “fun, eclectic, and funky.” Port A — as it is fondly known by the locals — has 18 miles of uninterrupted beach with spectacular Gulf views and beachfront living. Palmilla Beach Resort is the ideal home or vacation spot for ocean and nature lovers alike.
Located in the ideal Gulf coast town, this beach community easily paints a picture of luxury with modern yet traditional architecture, high-end dining, and top-notch amenities. Walking through the development is a serene and safe experience. The tumbling ocean waves add to the relaxed atmosphere that one feels. Overall, the resort is “an environment where memories can be made,” says Carr. He also made note of how the community comes together whether it’s at the pool, on the beach or just in their backyards to create a welcoming environment.
The Real Estate
Palmilla Beach is well-established and always expanding. There are plenty of real estate options for vacation renters and those looking to make Port A their home. “It’s a lifestyle community,” says Carr, pointing out that most of the community are in rental properties. According to Palmilla Beach’s website, more than 75,000 people visit Port A during peak season. This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of a popular destination and generate extra income while securing your perfect vacation home. Tiffany Holmgren Zuniga, sales executive at Palmilla Beach says, “Port A has the fastest growing rental market in Texas.”
Real estate options include:
- Homesites
- Homes
- Condominiums
- Cottages
- Townhomes
Black Marlin Bar & Grill
The on-site restaurant is elegant with a high-end menu and taste, but it is surrounded by a comfortable beach atmosphere. The relaxed feel, friendly staff, and delectable cuisine make for the perfect summer afternoon. Choose from a variety of fresh seafood, such as lobster imperial or seared scallops. Then, end your meal with a sweet treat that is made in house with top quality ingredients. The Black Marlin is a gathering place for great company and exquisite food. “It’s the perfect comfort food,” says Zuniga.
Palmilla Beach Golf Club
Previously an 18-hole course, with a high difficulty level, the course is now undergoing some major changes that are going to appeal to more than golf enthusiasts. The new additions will make the course less challenging, kid-friendly, and entertaining for the whole family. “These new improvements are going to be for the whole family,” says Carr.
Once completed, the course will accommodate a range of golfers, from experienced to new players. After construction, The Playground will feature “an 18-hole putting course featuring an authentic, all-grass putting play with grass greens, bunkers, dunes, music, and access to food and beverage that will appeal to avid golfers, families, and children,” according to Palmilla Beach’s website.
A three-hole, short course will also be offered. This will serve perfectly as a warm up or simply a relaxed, quick game. Another addition will include the events lawn, which will accommodate games, competitions and concerts. The new improvements will include music, food and beverages that will help make this area an entertaining activity for the whole family.
Photos courtesy of Palmilla Beach Restort & Golf Club
Sunflower Beach Resort & Residences is a beach development that has easy access to the Gulf of Mexico and makes an impression with luxury details and a friendly community.
Sunflower Beach Resort & Residences in Port Aransas, Texas greets you with sun, open spaces, a crisp ocean breeze, and comfort. The newly growing beach community offers a variety of luxury real estate options that will attract families and more. A permanent residence here appeals to those who crave the year-round nice weather, proximity to the beach, and the small-town feel. Equally appealing is the option to generate an income with a great rental program that is successful throughout Port Aransas.
The Beach Club
The main amenity at Sunflower — The Beach Club — is now open and the whole family will relish in the specialized perks. A luxury pool is included along with cabanas, an event pavilion, and a kid’s lounge. The separate adult pool and the Bar & Grill are what make The Beach Club ideal for everyone. Ryan Ritcher, from on-site sales at Sunflower Beach Resort & Residences, says, “The club is the perfect way for the whole community to enjoy themselves and get to know each other.”
Ashleigh Robertson from on-site sales also speaks to the sense of community at Sunflower Beach, “It’s a big family here. This is the kind of place where it’s safe enough to send your kid to school on their bike.”
Ritcher explains that at the sales center they make it a point “to really get to know each individual buyer and understand what they’re really looking for.”
Real Estate
Real estate options include custom homes with modern and approachable design. Coastal lots are available with stunning natural features and easy, driveable access to the beach.
The Camp is another interesting investment that is being offered. According to Sunflower Beach Resort & Residences, “The Camp is thoughtfully designed to take you from the warmth of the Texas sunset to the intimate glow of your own fireplace. Each cabin at Sunflower Beach offers attention to luxury that you won’t find anywhere else on the coast. From its seamless indoor/outdoor spaces to camp-inspired amenities, this collection of cabins offers one-of-a kind architecture, style, and floor plans. Modern poolside condos are in the works and for all these options preferred builders Keystone, Newport Custom Homes, and Conner Coastal are available.
Features
Community Features that you and your family will love include, a sweeping and well-kept lawn, parks and play areas, pleasant streets to stroll down, unforgettable ocean views and stunning dune preserves.
Sunflower’s location in Port Aransas is an added bonus for those settling in or just visiting. The delectable cuisine that is available, the friendly beaches, golf cart accessibility and local culture makes this a fun beach destination that is only continuing to grow.
“Port A is one of the last really authentic beach towns and it’s only going to grow,”
Cinnamon Shore in Port Aransas, Texas withstood the unforgiving winds of hurricane Harvey and came out on top.
The strict building standards, the lock-and-leave storm procedure and more are a testament to the development’s dedication to creating a durable and safe place to live. “Residents and guests can relax because they can just lock their doors and leave if there is a storm,” says Jodi Peters, managing real estate broker at Cinnamon Shore. But once you visit you won’t want to leave.
Upon entering the community that is Cinnamon Shore, the modern yet cozy architecture catches your eye yet melds perfectly with the carefully incorporated natural elements. “The dunes are really special. Not every beach has this beautiful, thick greenery that separates the homes from the water,” says Peters. The undeniable Southern beach tones immediately make you feel as if you’re at a serene beach getaway.
Clean white accents are crisp against beach tones, and modern design ties the community together and sets a standard within the community that doesn’t feel stiff or forced.
Despite the closeness to the beach — most balconies offer spectacular views — the residences are built 11 to 13 feet above sea level and adhere to building codes and regulations that have been tested and have proven to be reliable and sturdy.
“It’s a safe area that is perfect for families and empty nesters,” says Jeffrey Hentz, president and CEO of the Port Aransas/Mustang Island Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau. With that distinct feeling of safety, the community seamlessly incorporates amenities that will have guests feeling as if they’re at a coveted resort. However, rather than scooting away from other guests and fighting over seats around the pool, the community encourages getting to know the other residents, without sacrificing the necessary privacy for a relaxing vacation or stay.
Areas like the fire pit — a popular gathering point with smores to accompany peaceful nights, the community pool, the social circle, and the great lawn provide endless opportunities to meet people or enjoy a serene evening by the water. “Small things like the fire pit bring everyone out and together,” according to Hentz.
The balance that Cinnamon Shore has created is the perfect formula for success.
The sense of safety as if you’re in a neighborhood where you’ve lived your whole life doesn’t dull the excitement or variety of activities and nightlife that are available within the development or just a short trip into town away. Lisabella’s within Cinnamon Shore is the perfect evening dining venue. The rest of Port A offers a variety of cuisine ranging from authentic Italian food at Venetian Hot Plate to the “you catch it, we cook it” option that is offered at several local restaurants.
Nature is a big part of Port Aransas and Cinnamon Shore has taken special care to include Hummingbird Park, a fishing pier, Lake Colby and Lake Gavin and, of course, easy access to the Gulf of Mexico for those looking to get away from the big cities. “The pier is a popular spot in the afternoons. It’s the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a summer night,” says Peters.
Cinnamon Shore might be your next permanent home, vacation spot, or rental that you’ll fall in love with.
Real estate options include homes, condos, cottages, homesites, and penthouses.
—Cottages nestled around sunset park range from $585,000 to $689,000.
—Condos are available with one to four beds.
—Four bedroom penthouses are also available with current prices in the range of $790,000.
—Various beach homes are available with options for up to 5 beds and 6 baths.
Cinnamon Shore has already proven its success, but there are big plans for expansion already underway. “It’s the original seaside village on the Texas coast,” says Peters. “It just keeps getting more beautiful and intricate with every detail.”
Cinnamon Shore South is going to be a 300-acre New Urbanist community and will include two luxury pools, views of a Texas-sized lake, and vistas of both the Gulf of Mexico and the bay.
Photos by Shannon Lafayette/ courtesy of Cinnamon Shore
Photo courtesy Jack Oughton.
DUE TO THE EVER-CHANGING MOOD OF HIGH-END DINERS, HOTEL MANAGEMENT CONTINUES TO ADAPT TO NEW AND EXCITING CHALLENGES WITHIN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE SECTOR OF LUXURY TRAVEL. IN A RECENT POST BY TEXAS MEETINGS + EVENTS, EXECUTIVE CHEFS AND MANAGEMENT MEMBERS DISCUSS TRENDS WITHIN THE WESTERN REGION OF US THAT ARE BECOMING UNIVERSALLY SEEN IN HOTELS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
LOCAL SOURCING & AUTHENTICITY
“Traveling is all about experiencing a new culture, and that includes fare from the region guests are visiting,” says James Morin, executive chef at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa located in San Antonio.
“We see a lot of guests enthralled by the culture of our Lone Star State, and they want to experience that unique Texas flavor in authentic cuisine.”
Showcasing the sourcing of ingredients and partnerships with local suppliers is a shift from previous priorities. The George R. Brown Convention Center also works to showcase its local partners by prominently featuring their branding in restaurant and café experiences, according to Chris Bupp, general manager of Levy, the exclusive food and beverage provider for the convention center.
Photo by Jack Oughton.
One example of this is the convention center’s relationship with local company Java Pura as a coffee vendor. “In telling people about it, it’s roasted down the street and it’s available across Texas,” Bupp says. “What a great story to tell, and consumers love hearing about it.”
Photo by Vishnuvardan.
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES & DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
Chefs at multiple hotels and resorts spoke about an increased desire to develop menus with healthy options for attendees. For breakfast, often groups are looking for healthy options and “light action stations,” as they “want to see how the food is prepared,” says Christof Syré, executive chef at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas.
In regards to particular ingredients, grains such as quinoa, farro and sorghum have gained a new spotlight, as well as cold oatmeal and avocado toast topped with smoked salmon or a poached egg. Salmon has been a strong ingredient for Ruffy Sulaiman, executive chef at Hilton Americas-Houston.
“When we do a lot of tastings, each time we have salmon in the tasting, salmon always wins,” Sulaiman says. He credits the interest in salmon because it’s loaded with Omega 3 and appeals to most health-conscious eaters.
Coinciding healthy options are dietary restrictions, a complicated but rewarding challenge that the hotel industry finds itself constantly working toward accommodating, says Sulaiman. “It allows us to be as creative as possible to make sure that we take care of those folks.”
GOODBYE BUFFETS, HELLO POP-UP EXPERIENCES
Long buffet lines are going by the wayside, according to Sulaiman, as event planners are now sticking with smaller plates to continue the “less is more” trend. Sulaiman has developed different pop-up food experiences that highlight various cultures represented in Houston, including an Indian station with chicken Marsala and lamb shashlik and a pho station to represent Vietnamese culture.
To learn more from these inspired experts from the Lone Star state, visit Texas Meeting + Events’ post!
Photo courtesy Swastiverma.
The Lone Star State’s forward-thinking, artsy capital has its own distinct personality, one that fuels imaginative residential architecture.
By Roger Grody
Photo courtesy of Patrick Wong/Atelierwong.com
Austin is unlike any other city in Texas, and its residents proudly embrace an eccentric, defiant attitude. A vibrant music scene, progressive politics, trendsetting cuisine, and a technology-driven economy make this metro area of two million one of America’s most dynamic. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that Austin has developed its own exciting architectural traditions.
Kevin Alter, founding partner of Alterstudio Architecture and the Sid W. Richardson Centennial Professor at the School of Architecture at the University of Texas (UT) in Austin, suggests the city is developing a strong tradition of modernism. He reports that 20 years ago there was little interest in the movement, but modern architecture’s ability to connect to the outdoors — it suits the region’s scenic Hill Country nearly year round — has endeared it to Austinites. He also cites attitudes of new residents from other regions of the country (Alter himself is a transplanted New Yorker), the draw of UT and a growing technology industry presence as fueling modern design.
“There are a lot of very good architects in the city, given its relatively small size,” says Alter, asserting there is more interesting residential architecture in Austin than in the giant metropolises of Houston and Dallas. “There’s also a youthful optimism in Austin, so people aren’t looking back in history for inspiration.” Contrasting Austin to more traditional, less architecturally tolerant cities, Alter suggests, “Because of that optimism, there’s not a ‘looking-over-your-shoulder’ mentality here for property owners interested in building modern residences.”
Photo courtesy of Paul Finkel
Real estate broker Brian Linder is a licensed architect and founder of The Value of Architecture, a multi-city network of real estate professionals specializing in architecturally significant homes.
After establishing that niche in Los Angeles, Linder expanded his practice to Austin, appreciating both its family-friendly lifestyle and wealth of exceptional architecture. “Buyers here are willing to pay a significant premium for homes designed by signature architects,” says Linder.
The specialty broker reports one the most desirable neighborhoods in Austin is the trendy South Congress (SoCo) district, where the original housing stock is being replaced with exciting modern architecture. “The area is popular with urban expats from cities like New York, San Francisco and L.A., and buyers are taking their accrued appreciation from those places and investing in good design,” says Linder.
Representative of the top architectural firms in town are Bercy Chen Studio, Jay Hargrave Architecture, Chioco Design, and Minguell-McQuary Architecture.
Austin architects, according to Linder, soften the sometimes austere modernism found in L.A., noting their work emphasizes texture through incorporation of native materials. “Elements like site-gathered stone and reclaimed lumber or brick add a more human scale defined by those materials,” he says. While modernism is becoming the city’s preferred style, there is also ample demand for contemporary farmhouses, a theme promoted by local developers.
One of the priciest current listings in Austin is a striking modern home encompassing 5,400 square feet of living space, offered at $8.5 million. The design, from prominent local firm Dick Clark + Associates, features panoramic views of the city skyline through 60 feet of retractable floor-to-ceiling glass in a living area that opens onto an infinity-edge pool.
Offering a distinctly different lifestyle is a 558-square-foot penthouse-level condominium at the Seaholm Residences in downtown Austin, listed at $399,000. Built on the site of a former power plant, this project helped energize demand for high-rise living in Austin and The Independent, designed locally by Rhode: Partners, will be the tallest residential tower west of the Mississippi when completed. Professor Alter reports that as recently as 2005, investment in downtown condominiums was anemic, but young professionals now arriving in town relish the city center.
“We want to make sure we create spaces that fit our clients, beyond aesthetic or stylistic preferences, beyond basic function,” says Sean Guess, founding principal of the Austin firm Faye and Walker. While he does not view his work as reflecting a particular signature, Guess is among those talented young architects contributing to Austin’s evolution as a city increasingly identified with modern design.
“I tend to focus on the essence of a form, stripping away extraneous information, and carve out spaces from those fundamental forms,” says Guess. Raised in nearby Temple, Texas, Guess suggests that despite Austin’s reputation as the Lone Star State’s least-Texas place, the city’s spirit of risk-taking and independence — certainly reflected in its architecture — is very much the product of the Texas ethos.
“This is a very eclectic community that attracts a great variety of people and backgrounds, which results in creativity and diversity in its architecture,” says Guess of Austin. Among the architect’s acclaimed projects is the home he designed for his own family, dubbed the “Elephant House” because its wrinkled grey corrugated fiber-cement facade is evocative of elephant hide. Some interior walls are clad in clear-coated plywood, making Guess’ novel use of everyday materials reminiscent of Frank Gehry’s early work.
Photo courtesy of Patrick Wong/Atelierwong.com
“I appreciate modern architecture that reflects tasteful, principled design,” says Linder, who is less inspired by facsimiles of Tuscan villas. He is kept increasingly busy in the Texas capital, as Austin’s exceptional architects work overtime to meet demand from buyers with a passion for innovative residential environments.
Judi Wright
Ebby Halliday Realtors
1415 Legacy Drive, Suite 100, Frisco, TX 75034
214.597.2985 | judiwright@ebby.com | www.judiwright.com
Judi Wright and The Judi Wright Team have been named “Best Realtor in Dallas,” by D Magazine for 11 years. Experience and responsiveness matter when buying or selling a home and Judi and her team handle all the details so buyers and sellers can relax. Whether you own an estate property or a first time home buyer property, the team’s focus and attention to your property and needs is the same. You will never be just a number to The Judi Wright Team. The team utilizes both print and digital marketing extensively to promote listings. Judi is an inaugural member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing and was one of the first Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialists in Dallas. Make the “Wright” choice for all the right reasons!
Featured Listing by Judi Wright
PLANO, TEXAS
5716 Seville Court
Magnificent country estate home on 1.14 acres with grounds, a pool/spa and tennis! This home offers 11,262 square feet, 7 bedrooms, 6 full and 3 half baths, a study, outdoor living center and more!
$2,399,900
Judi Wright originally appeared as an Elite agent in the Unique Homes Spring ’18: Elite edition. See her page here.
Nunzio DeSantis, who designed more than 60,000 hotel rooms during his 34 years with global architecture firm HKS, opened a new hospitality architecture firm in Dallas with next generation architect and son Marc DeSantis.
Award-winning architect Nunzio DeSantis and his son Marc DeSantis have launched a specialized hospitality architecture firm, Nunzio Marc DeSantis Architects. Located in Dallas’ ultra-chic Design District, NMDA brings architectural individuality to international resorts, hotels, spas and restaurants.
In only nine months since opening, NMDA has secured the work of nearly 30 different projects in some traditionally hard barriers-to-entry locations, such as Santa Fe, New Mexico, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Charleston, South Carolina. While many firms are constantly looking to increase breadth of projects, NMDA goes against the grain with its commitment to staying small and focusing solely on hospitality.
Among other accomplishments, Nunzio — who designed more than 60,000 hotel rooms during his 34 years with global architecture firm HKS — played an integral role in the Cabo San Lucas hospitality boom. He designed notable resorts that have shaped the destination, including Las Ventanas al Paraiso, One & Only Palmilla, Esperanza Auberge Resort and Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort.
Co-founder and designer Marc DeSantis’ architecture training at the University of Notre Dame and years at Robert A.M. Stern Architects in New York brings a structured and classical perspective to NMDA. The discipline gained under Stern’s tutelage shaped Marc’s aesthetic and attention to detail, which he imparts on the agency’s younger staff. “Many young architects today are taught about form, not how buildings are put together,” he said. “We teach young designers what makes a building real.”
Photo courtesy of Liane Swanson