Tips Not Included

By Jessica Sepulvado

When people get hungry and decide to go out to eat rather than cook or drive through the window of a fast food restaurant, they are not only providing business for that particular industry but they are contributing to the paychecks of bus boys, hostesses and even the kitchen staff. However, there is one group of people who do not have the luxury of a set income and rely solely on that customer’s decision to come in, sit down and eat--the servers of that restaurant.

Servers in the majority of restaurants get paid under minimum wage; a whopping $2.13 an hour, and then use tips to bring the total income up to minimum or above.

“$2.13 doesn’t pay the bills,” says Krista Chapman, 22, of Nacogdoches Texas. “Your gratitude and your thanks won’t buy my dinner, so tip.” Krista is a college student at SFA and an employee at La Carreta Mexican restaurant. She has been a waitress for four years .

Then there is tip sharing. Joseph Devine of ezine said, “One of the big issues in tip sharing comes up when those that directly earn tips share their tips with those that don’t earn tips. For example, requiring the servers and bartenders to share their tips with the busboys or cleaning staff of the restaurant. Yes, they help the overall atmosphere but they don’t actually bring in tips. The biggest problem with this system is that the tips aren’t tips anymore if they are used to even out salary. They are then salary except they can’t be fully depended on” (http://ezinearticles.com/?Issues-in-tip-sharing&id=2614857).

Dalton Thumann, 19, and also an employee at La Carreta said, “if you don’t work to earn the pay, you don’t deserve a part of it.”

Some would disagree that tip sharing to busboys is not as bad as it seems, even if they get paid an hourly minimum wage much greater than a servers. “If everyone does their job, it’s not an issue,” says Dani Ontiveros, 21 and a server working at Asian City. She has only been employed there for 7 months but she has had the job title of waitress or four years now. However, in Dani’s opinion, tip sharing “sometimes cheats the server depending on if you have lazy coworkers or even lazy management.”

There is no getting out of tip sharing your busboys or a hostess and if either of them fail to do their job, you get skipped several times or the busboy doesn’t seem interested in cleaning your table, they still get partial of what you sell.

Tip share is based on the total amount of food each server sells. At least that is how the system works at La Carreta. Three percent of all total sales is taken out and divided between three different people from that shift. The bartender, the hostess and the busboy/chipper each get one percent of this three. The only exception is when there is no hostess or busboy at the time or alcohol sales are at zero. If that is the case then the three percent is split between the other two possible options.

People sometimes ask how much a good tip is. “Offer up 15 percent to 20 percent of your total bill. Keep in mind that the amount you tip reflects the total price before any coupons, gift certificates, etc. Just because you get a discount does not mean your sever did not serve you the full order. If you are part of a party more than eight people, you should offer an amount closer to the 20 percent marker, if not more depending on the needs of the guests of your party. If, for example, one of your guests insists on getting the salad dressing on the side, extra bread more water and no avocado, then you definitely want compensate the server who extended service to include these extras,” suggests an Essortment website – Proper Tipping Etiquette (http://www.essortment.com/all/propertippinge_rmuv.htm).

When asked what to tell a customer who doesn’t tip, Ontiveros answers, “I look at all tables as a business opportunity. My opinion is most likely the same as any other server. They (customers) come in not to just eat but to be waited on. They are providing me with a job and then not paying for my services.” Ontiveros only has to pay 1.5% of tip share, but there is also no bartender and no hostess. That 1.5% goes to one person, the busboy/dish washer. She believes that this is a “very fair” amount.

When it comes to the statistics of how many people don’t understand the waitressing business, Ontiverous says, “I never look at a table negatively, but those that do know how it works; those are the people I’m going to make my money from.”

Five Dates on a Dime

By Heather Freeman

Five Dates on a Dime

As the oldest town in Texas, Nacogdoches is a place full of history, making it the perfect place to do some learning and exploring with that special someone. And to top it off, there are a handful of things to do that are guaranteed not to empty your pockets.

Whether your idea of a good date is something educational like a historic tour of some of the oldest structures in Texas, or relaxing, like a day at the lake, you are sure to find something in the Piney Woods. Put a few nights aside for these next five date ideas; you’ll enjoy them, and even more you’ll enjoy not hearing your significant other complain about not going on enough dates.

Bowling is, of course, a great pastime to enjoy with family, friends, coworkers, or just about anyone. It usually isn’t the cheapest way to spend a Friday night, but the quaint bowling alley in Nacogdoches hosts specials throughout the week to appeal to students. My favorite is the special on Tuesday, the $2 day. From 5 p.m. until when they close at midnight, everything costs only $2. So you and your date can rent a pair of bowling shoes, spend the evening devouring juicy burgers, and bowl the night away all for under $20. According to an employee, “We have daily specials everyday from Monday to Thursday, like half off the original price and $2 burgers” Plus, doing active or competitive activities together can help a couple develop a stronger bond. “Working up a sweat might not seem that romantic, but it’ll keep your blood pumping and will make you feel more connected.” (www.cosmopolitan.com).

Now, a date idea that’ll appeal more to the man in the relationship who really prefers kicking back and watching Monday Night Football; the only thing separating his eyes from the plasma screen being a mountain of greasy hot wings. There’s no better place locally to accomplish this date idea than Flashback Café. And maybe they had these greasy fingered sports fanatics in mind when they made their delicious wings $.25 each all day on Mondays. And the best part of this date is that the guy in the relationship will appreciate his lady participating in such an important aspect of his life, watching sports; getting buffalo sauce all over your fingers and face is optional.

As long as 25 miles isn’t too long of a drive for a wonderful date idea, then the Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin is next on the list. This quiet, hidden treasure is the perfect place to relax and get lost admiring the 500 species of reptiles, birds and mammals that live here. And compared to the zoos in bigger cities like Dallas or Houston, the admission price is great. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday with an affordable admission of only $5. So this is the perfect date for a couple that likes to explore outdoors as opposed to a typical dinner and movie. “The landscape of this zoo is beautiful and the layout is such that you may go all day and only see a few other people, which is great for couples.” (www.tripadvisor.com).

The next two choices are ideal and each is a must-do in Nacogdoches now that the holiday season is right around the corner. The first is perfect for people who like to participate in Halloween festivities. Every year, the Nacogdoches Christ Episcopal Church School is home to a pumpkin patch with thousands of pumpkins. There were 1,800 pumpkins delivered to the church this past weekend. The patch is open to the public every year and they encourage community members to come take pictures with the pumpkins and maybe buy a few to take home. “The pumpkin patch looks so pretty and festive, especially once the sun starts to set,” said an SFA student who attends every year. This is the perfect way to spend a relaxing day. You don’t have to pay to admire the huge patch of pumpkins and you can take pictures of spending a unique evening like this together.

And of course, after Halloween and Thanksgiving come Christmas. The Christmas celebration in downtown Nacogdoches is like no other. The “Nine Flags Christmas Festival” doesn’t begin until the end of November, but would definitely be an important date to mark on the calendar. Each year, the festival includes different activities that appeal to adults and children so there will definitely be something for everyone. Just a few of the festivities include carriage rides, pictures with Santa featuring live reindeer, a new Christmas lights display, and holiday shopping in Main Street’s beautiful shops. All of these activities lead up to the lighted Christmas parade and fireworks on December 4.

So grab your special someone and practice your pose for your Santa photo, and until then, you have plenty of other cheap date ideas to spend together.

5 Fictitious Foods I Want to Eat Today

By A.J. Bradshaw

I’ve always wished that I could submerge myself in the environments of my favorite movie, television and book characters. I wanted to drop ACME anvils with Bugs Bunny, fight and live in the sewers with the Ninja Turtles and cast spells with Harry, Ron and Hermione at Hogwarts. How fun would it be to dress like they dress, talk like they talk, and maybe most importantly of all, eat like they eat? Here is a list of my personal favorites that I wish were in my pantry right now.

1. Krabby Patty- SpongeBob SquarePants

He may live in a pineapple under the sea, but man does he know how to put together a delectable-looking hamburger. According to Nickelodeon, the Krusty Krab’s staple consists of seaweed seed buns, patty, cheese, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, pickles, lettuce, onions and a secret sauce that very few creatures under the sea know. Creator Stephen Hillenburg, who studied marine biology in college, once said about SpongeBob, “But most sponges in the ocean are sedentary: They attach themselves to a rock and sit and filter-feed the rest of their lives, and reproduce, and that's about it. Not that they are not interesting, but they are not . . . mobile. They don't cook Krabby Patties!" Good thing for all of us that he does, because we now all know the first place to stop and eat next time we visit Bikini Bottom.

2. Wonka Bar- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Yes, there were streams of chocolate, Everlasting Gobstoppers and snozzberries too, but the quintessential Wonka treat was the original Wonka Bar. What if Wonkavision truly existed, and you could just reach out and grab one from your television? The candy bar is manufactured and sold today by the Willy Wonka Candy Company, a subdivision of Nestle that was started in 1971 to coincide with the first film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic novel.

3. Bertie Botts Every Flavor Jelly Beans- Harry Potter

Earwax, vomit and rotten egg, along with cherry, lime and compost are just a few of the numerous flavors of the famous (or sometimes infamous, depending on which flavor you choose) jellybeans of Harry Potter’s wizarding world. Ron always said in the books that he swore he had a friend that had found a bogie-flavored one once. Though eating a bogie-flavored jellybean is not on my bucket list, it would be pretty great to be able to have every flavor in the world all in one box. For us Muggles, these are now created and sold by Jelly Belly, and can be bought specifically at Universal Studio’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida, where they have recreated fan-favorite stores and locations like Hogwarts castle, Ollivanders Wand Shop and the Three Broomsticks and Hog’s Head pubs. About the parks, Tom Williams, chairman and CEO for Universal Parks and Resorts, said, “We have created a place unlike anywhere else in the world.”

4. The Never-Feast- Hook

One of my favorite movies growing up was Hook, the tale of a grown-up Peter Pan living in the real world and having to return to Neverland to rescue his children from the dreaded Captain Hook. And my favorite part was by far the Never-Feast. After a long day of training, Peter and the Lost Boys sit down together to enjoy what Peter expects to be a full-course dinner. At first, he is disappointed; because he finds out they are all using their imaginations to pretend there is food. He even says at one point, “Eat what? There is nothing there. Gandhi ate more than this!” But once he begins playing with them and using his imagination, the make-believe food becomes real! The multi-colored pudding, the gleaming turkey legs, the fluorescent pastries, the chesses with smiling faces, and top it off with the creamy popo drink, and you have the most delicious-looking meal a 4-year-old has ever seen. Even though the Lost Boys end up wasting it all in a no-holds-barred food fight, the meal would make anyone want to dine at the table located second star to the right and straight on till morning.

5. Alamo Beer- King of the Hill

To finish her off, we need to take a swig of Arlen’s favorite adult beverage. I know it’s not a food, but any product that anybody could enjoy daily while standing in the alley in front of their house makes me want it now. They do nothing, but stand there with a cooler, occasionally venting their issues or saying, “Yep.” It amazes me. The frosty brew that refreshes Hank, Dale, Bill and Boomhauer actually exists locally in San Antonio, Texas. Neither was based on the other though, as creator Mike Judge once pointed out.

Though I’m sure there is many that I’ve missed, that’s my list. Maybe someday I’ll concoct my own Never-Feast or eat a ketchup-flavored jellybean, but for now, I’ll just enjoy thinking about these fictitious foods and maybe try to dream up some of my own. Please write to me and let me know what your list looks like at bradshaw.austin@gmail.com.

Hats Off to Collector

By Jason Morgan

If you go by the number of championship rings then you would have to agree that the New York Yankees are the most prolific baseball team of all time. With 27 world championships under their belt you could probably guess that they also have a pretty strong fan base.

It is obvious that Matt Taylor is a pretty big Yankees fan because of an odd collection of his. He collected what the players wear every game, a hat. But not just some hats, any and every one he could get his hands on; around seventy-five.

Taylor said that these hats come from "past and present players when he goes to batting practice before a home game, from online stores, and pro shops."

This is where he got most of them. Ever since Taylor was a small child he loved watching his favorite baseball team and try his best to "look the part of a Yankee."

Taylor said the hat he cared for the most is the first one he ever received which was from his grandfather. "It just meant a lot to me because it was the first game I ever went to when I was six...it had pen-stripes all down the side and of course it was that Yankee white and navy blue," he said.

This reporter personally did not think it was that big of a deal to have 75 different hats from the same team, but when I looked it was looked somewhat possible. Every year Major League Baseball teams have an online site where you can buy team memorabilia, for men there are on average six different hats with 32 different teams to choose from (mlbshop.com).

Going back to Mr. Taylor though there were only four major hats to choose from this past year, the World Series Championship being one of them. So while this collection may be a bit odd it could be seen as impressive.

Hobbies and collections can be sometimes be seen as having some kind of small obsession or in some cases even an addictive personality (wikipedia.com). Taylor said, "Obsession and addiction and definitely a possibility," when it comes to his New York Yankees.

Story in the Lou

By Veronica Ivey

Most all our lives we’re told by wiser and more daring icons that the best things in life are always the ones that involve the biggest risk. In my personal opinion I believe the best moments in life are the ones that almost don’t happen.

Spring break 2008, I was 20 years old and a sophomore in college. The previous spring break I did the boring thing for a college student and went home. This year while everyone hit the gyms and tanning beds preparing themselves for a wild week on the beach, my friend Jenny and I sat indoors buffing up on song lyrics and trivia about our favorite band. Story of the Year. We were definitely going somewhere this year.

Why? Well it was simple. They were performing one show that season that we were old enough to attend (not 21 yet), of their latest released album.

Story of the Year is not really a commercially popular band, they are not a household name, but that doesn’t mean their fans aren’t die hard. They die hard, they travel far, and they live fast. They have a message board forum on their site, where the members there are like family. Sure you’re known by your screen name, but still important. Thug Life was the cute girl who you’d never thought would be into rock music that was from Chicago. Ron Burgandy was the pilot school attendee who went to Auburn in his spare time. C-los had his own rock band out of the Dallas metro area.

Piero is the most famous out the “boarders.” He was almost as famous as the band members themselves. He was the crazy French Canadian who every summer would live out of his car and follow the band around the states on tour.

He kind of started a trend of meeting the boarders online; since he traveled city to city he would meet each respective boarder at their hometown show.

One day I got a PM from Heather from Jersey, about a show that was going to happen over spring break in Missouri, Story of the Year’s home state.

I got my friend Jenny on the phone and we looked at our financial situation and realized the funds just weren’t there. After begging our parents and reasoning with them that every college kid needs a good spring break and promising them we wouldn’t be trashed on a beach for a week, we each manage to scrape up enough for show tickets and airfare.

The night before our 7 a.m. plane ride, we stayed out all night in Houston and had our friends drop us off at the airport, we knew there was no turning back. The kids coming from spring still had stained stamps on their hands from the clubs and festival bracelets. The kids going were buzzing on their cell-phones in groups heading towards sunny destinations. We were by ourselves going to the mid-west, to meet strangers from Story of the Year’s fan club, each with only about sixty dollars to our name for three days. How much do we love this band again?

We arrived in St. Louis scared out of our minds. The thoughts of internet kidnappers and stalkers only occurred to me after I was already stuck in another state. But the adrenaline rush and the anticipation of the show traveled through my veins pushing out the fear like the perfect antidote.

We met up GinaoftheYear and Heather…L! with an awkward introduction and a handshake. Two girls from Texas and Two girls from New Jersey meet in the Midwest for rock show…sounded like the beginning headline of a horrible news story.

Once we were in the car and the music was blaring all was well. I just soaked in the terrain of White Castles and 7-11’s signs we weren’t in Texas anymore.

St. Louis was scary. Twice I just got grabbed on the streets by men, all four of us girls got chased by a homeless man at the gate to the west, and more than once Jenny and I got lost because our “southern stroll” did not match the east coast shuffle of the jersey girls.

Finally it arrived. What is risk? Going to another state with only a 20 year old girl and a small fist full of cash as a resource, what is pay off? Walking up to the venue, passing the line at the merchandise table saying “Hi” to the merch guys and they know you by your screen name. Dropping off your jacket like you’re an old friend and then meeting up with the band, like they’ve been waiting to see you. My heart melted when Phil Sneed the guitarist hugged me calling me “Doll” as he mused at the fact that we flew from Texas to the show.

I screamed my lungs out at the show and even though all of this was for about 45 minutes of pleasure, all the danger, all the struggle, just made that moment more memorable. It was more than just catching your favorite band when they come to town; it was about the adventure to get to them, to meet up with fans and to connect with them on a level that’s pure. These are the moments that are life.

Macy May

By Heather Wealot

Nestled quietly at 114 N Church St. in downtown Nacogdoches, lies Macy May Shopping and Specialty Retail. An understated boutique, Macy May is a treasure trove of select, unconventional gifts and goodies. Owner Rebecca Welch, 43, took a few minutes one afternoon to share her entrepreneurial experience.

An SFASU graduate of December 1989, Welch earned a degree in Interior Design. She moved to Dallas and spent 15 years working with Ann Sullivan Interiors before returning to Nacogdoches. Welch then worked at Nacogdoches’ own Greer’s Interiors for six years. It was then that Welch decided it was time to strike out and start a business of her own.

“I was 42, and I figured it’s now or never,” Welch said.

According to the blog titled “Nacogdoches,” found at nactx.blogspot.com, the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce honored the opening of Macy May by holding a ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 20, 2009. From the beginning, the store seemed to garner much publicity and popularity. Lufkindailynews.com reporter Janice Ann Rowe noted that just nine months after Macy May opened, the store was awarded the title of best new business by the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel’s “The Best of Nacogdoches 2010.”

Welch even remarked on the quick success her store achieved.

“People from the community were so supportive,” she said. “It really exceeded my expectations.”

Welch’s pleasant surprise of her triumph can be partially credited to the distinctive niche Macy May fills. After spending over 20 years working in the interior design field, Welch moved to retail in order to prosper without competing against established, local interior design stores.

“The people at Greer’s are my friends,” Welch said, “ and I didn’t want to compete with anybody.”

Macy May was opened to serve women of all ages, and provide them with those rare little items towns like Nacogdoches do not have regular access to. With products ranging from Brighton jewelry, to Yellow Box shoes, to sorority items, Macy May does just that, one SFA student remarked.

“I’m absolutely in love with Yellow Box flip flops, and I’m so glad there’s a place I can shop for them here,” Jane Chiriboga, Round Rock junior, said.

Despite Macy May’s diverse range of products, Welch commented that most of her clients are local women. With her exclusive line of sorority pieces, Welch expected that college-age women would be her main client base. Perhaps due to the presence of already-established Greek stores in the area, she has attracted a more mature, consistent clientele.

“It turned out that mainly local women came here, and the sorority girls were just icing on the cake,” Welch said.

Some sorority girls, however, make it a point to shop at Macy May.

“When I picked up a little sis last year, I went straight to Macy May’s,” Naurene Free, Seabrook senior, said. “I can get a lot of stuff from other Greek stores, but I know I will always find really chic, individual pieces here.”

In addition to the more prominent brands such as Brighton and Vera Bradley, Macy May also carries small-name brands including Tea Forte, which specializes in herb and spice infused teas; PSA Essentials, which provides personalized address labels, stamps and notecards; and the MOR cosmetics line from Australia, which was featured in O Magazine. Rowe also noted the variety of Macy May’s selection in her column for dibollfreepress.com.

Macy May is open from 10 to three, Monday through Saturday. The store can be contacted at (936) 205-5911, or via email at shopmacymay@yahoo.com.

Local Store Sells History

By Regina Bost

Some say every picture tells a story. Well, so does every coin, baseball card and porcelain doll, a small number of the items that can be found in the Nacogdoches Antique Market.

The Nacogdoches Antique Market keeps history alive by selling antique and vintage items. Owned by Bonnie Worley, the store has been open for three years.

The store is divided into sections with 38 different vendors. Each dealer has his or her own interests, allowing for a wide variety of objects spanning different periods of time and ranging in style. For example, one dealer sells signs, oil and gas memorabilia and sports memorabilia, while another dealer’s main focus is religious items.

Almost all people, whether they are an avid antique shopper or someone just browsing, can find an eye-catching item in the store. Crockett resident Debbie Garner, who referred to herself as an “antique gazer,” said she looks for old oak furniture, glassware and picture frames.

“Old things have a warm feeling,” Garner said.

Mark Delaney, the store manager, has worked at the store since its opening.

“I’ve been buying, selling and collecting since I was 13,” Delaney said, revealing his passion for antiques. “Finding a great antique or vintage piece is like finding treasure,” Delaney said.

Delaney’s favorite item in the store is an oil painting on tin of St. Rita. He said that most often, items are actually vintage, not antique, a word that is mistakenly

overused to describe something that is old.

“The general rules for an item to be a true antique is that it is at least 100 years old and not mass-produced,” Delaney said.

According to www.wisegeek.com, “Others may use the terms retro or classic to describe reproductions made to resemble actual vintage items.”

Some examples of antique items in the store are a piece of hand-painted porcelain

by a Paris artist in the 1870s, a three-piece, hand-painted, sterling silver and enamel dresser set and Rookwood pottery.

Rookwood Pottery was founded in 1880. According to www.justartpottery.com, “Rookwood Pottery's initial work demonstrated an Oriental and European influence. Throughout the years they mastered such diverse styles as Victorian, art nouveau, arts and crafts, and art deco.”

Delaney pointed out interesting vintage items in the store, such as a 1940s pistol and a Depression-era syrup pitcher. Other items for sale include books from the 1800s, albums, jewelry, silver, furniture, cameos, glassware, salt and peppershakers, retro toys and signs. These are only a fraction of the things that can be found in the store.

Although some people buy antiques as an investment, focusing more on the maker than the actual piece, many buy antique and vintage items for nostalgic reasons.

“People buy their memories,” Delaney said. “They remember their mother or grandmother having an item. They associate that item with the good memories they had of growing up and of family members they cherish.”

Carolyn Thomas, a native Nacogdoches resident, said she likes shopping for

antiques, especially at the Nacogdoches Antique Market.

“They always have a good selection. I like Victorian things, and I know they’ll

have what I’m looking for,” Thomas said.

Thomas added that the store is especially great because of the welcoming feel and

the nice, knowledgeable people, such as Delaney.

The Nacogdoches Antique Market is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays at 412 E. Main. They also buy antique and vintage items, so give them a call at (936) 559-9798 if you have something you would like to sell. So whether you are a collector or someone looking to rekindle fond memories, stop by the store to see what “treasures” can be found.