All posts filed under: Around Town

15 Dog Friendly Restaurant And Bar Patios in Houston

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The official start to fall has arrived and we are finally experiencing more pleasant temps in Houston! Ahhh…..Patio weather! Those fleeting couple of months where us Houstonians actually want to sit outside and enjoy the beverage of our choice, some grub, and people watching. Who better to invite for dinner, or brunch, and drinks than your dog? Don’t you think he (or she) would love to join you on a patio somewhere, drinking something cold, and mingling with other dogs and dogettes! Who can say no to that face! Thanks to the foundation of Paws on Patios in 2010, Houston restaurants can obtain city permits to allow dogs at outdoor tables. This initiative finally put Houston in line with other Texas cities that already had a similar permit program in place. Woof woof!! You love your dog, don’t you? Take that puppy out for some fun! Here are some Houston area restaurants and bars that welcome your furry friend. Just check ahead with these establishments to make sure their dog policy hasn’t changed. And, if you have …

10 Things That We Learned From Hurricane Harvey

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We are about 12 days post Hurricane Harvey here in Houston and we are far from being recovered! That will take weeks, months, and as some even say, years… The flooding rains of harvey were unimaginable. There are still roads and neighborhoods under water to this day! There are curbs covered with debris, furniture, appliances, and personal belongings, among other things. There are still people displaced and in need and will continue to be for months to come. We are volunteering our time and giving supplies to those that need it. Our communities have come togehter in BIG ways! And many have come from far away to help us. Thank you! Minimal worries are it’s taking extra long for people to get to work and to get out to help because the roads that ARE open are packed because other roads are closed. There is no denying that there is still a long, long road ahead of us! But I am pretty confident that WE WILL RECOVER SOONER RATHER THAN LATER! Here are 10 things that …

Harvey May Have Destroyed A Lot of Things in Houston But Not Our Humanity!

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Harvey, you suck! You brought unimaginable devastation into our lives! You were scary. You were unpredictable. You were relentless. You wreaked havoc for 4+ long days in Houston and our surrounding areas. You destroyed homes, lives, and infrastructure. People were left stranded on rooftops, in their attics, clinging to anything they could waiting for rescue. No food. No water. No end in sight. You took so much from us! But with all that you brought you also brought out the best in people! You brought out the humanity in people! People in our communities and even people from far and wide have come together to help the thousands in need of rescue. Things that that might normally come between us have been forgotten. Race. Religion. Gender. Political party. Sexual orientation. Socioeconomic status. None of this matters! What matters is human life! Helping your neighbors. Helping complete strangers. Thank you to all the first responders whose “job it is to help” by putting your own lives on the line to help others. And thank you to …

Around Town: Helen In The Heights Brings The Tavernas Of Greece To Houston

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This past Friday my friend Courtney and I enjoyed a late lunch at Helen in The Heights. Courtney and I have been friends for a few years and share a passion for travel, great food, and discovering new places. You should check out her Insta @Hiptrip52 for traveling on trend in Texas! Back to Helen… Nestled in a 5-story red brick building known as 1111 Studewood Place Helen is a modern Greek taverna offering traditional Greek cuisine and regional Greek wines. This sister restaurant to Helen Greek Food and Wine is just shy of 4 months old, but this ‘little sister’ holds it’s own and more with it’s taverna style menu and vast all Greek wine list! Upon entering Helen you’ll feel welcomed by the fabulous interior designed by Erin Hicks. Stained concrete floors, red brick walls, rustic chandeliers, exposed air ducts, inviting banquettes, and even a wall of faux greenery in the rear of the restaurant. Designer Erin Hicks was aiming for “a traditional taverna feel with deep blues, brick, whitewashed wood, and replicas …

Miso Hungry! Celebrate Sushi Day!

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Hello friends! Kon’nichiwa! That’s Japanese for “hello”! It’s a beautiful, but HOT day here in Houston. It’s Father’s Day and it is also International Sushi Day! Do you remember the first time you had sushi? I do. I was out in Los Angeles with a friend. I was 19. Coming from a small-ish town outside of Houston sushi wasn’t on every corner like it is in a big city. I remember trying California rolls, tuna rolls (tekka maki), fresh salmon (sake), and eel (unagi), among other things. While it wasn’t love at first bite, I was definitely hooked ( pun intended ;)) and wanted to try more! Both of my kiddos had their first experience with sushi by the time they were 5! Although they started with california rolls, they have begun to like many other things and are starting to experiment more. Proud mama 🙂 These days, sushi is everywhere: the airport terminal, the strip mall and even your local supermarket. A spicy tuna or salmon roll is as easy to come by as a …

Around Town: Brasserie du Parc

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Lunch with a great friend is always a good idea. Lunch with a great friend at a great restaurant is even better! A few weeks ago my friend Bridgette and I had the pleasure of dining at the recently opened Brasserie du Parc in downtown Houston. We try to get together for lunch and catch up at least every other week. And we always make a point to go to a restaurant that neither of us has tried yet. It’s easy to have somewhere different to go each time as Houston is booming with new restaurants. What’s hard is getting to all the new restaurants! I guess if I dined out at least 2 or 3 times a week I could keep up 😆 Easier said than done with 2 kids at home and keeping up with all of their activities! Anyway, back to Brasserie du Parc! Brasserie du Parc is the newest restaurant from the owners of Etoile Cuisine et Bar that is located in Uptown Park. This Parisian inspired bistro occupies the first …

Around Town: Etoile Cuisine et Bar

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Did that gorgeous bowl of mussels (moules) stop you in your tracks? You can enjoy this delectable dish and more at Etoile Cuisine et Bar! Tucked in a corner of bustling Uptown Park, Etoile is not a new restaurant in Houston, but it has held it’s own and continues to please after 5 years! It’s a sophisticated French eatery with a modern farmhouse interior boasting chandeliers, gorgeous wood accents, and a muted color palatte, and serving traditional & seasonal French fare. There is also a nice patio area to dine on when the weather permits, like the day we were there. While all the new restaurants in town are getting mentioned on blogs and websites I thought that Etoile Cuisine et Bar deserved a little “re-recognition” too 🙂 The Story… “The owners of Etoile, Chef Philippe Verpiand and Monica Bui, have created an inviting, warm European environment where fine French food is front and center. “We want to dispel the notion that French food is heavy and pretentious,” says the team, recently transplanted to Houston from San Diego, where they …

What’s Happening in Houston This Weekend: Bayou City Art Festival

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It’s that time of year again! Time for the 46th Annual Bayou City Art Festival in Memorial Park. And, it looks like it is going to be a fabulous weekend for strolling through Memorial Park enjoying great art, music, food, and fun at one of the nation’s top 10 outdoor fine arts festivals! Friday, March 24 to Sunday, March 26 Established in 1972, the Bayou City Art Festival happens twice a year. The spring and the fall. The festival is located in Memorial Park in the spring and downtown Houston in the fall. The Bayou City Art Festival showcases hundreds of artists and their work. Everything from photography (traditional & digital), metal works, sculptures, leather goods, jewelry, paintings, and much more. There’s definitely something for everyone and all different tastes! A portion of the festival’s proceeds will go to support the work of six Houston area nonprofit partners, who will also have representatives on site at the event. A Cause to Give us Paws Escape Family Resource Center Fresh Arts  Lawndale Art Center Museum of …

Around Town: Macaron by Patisse and Bite Macarons

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Attention macaron lovers: It’s National Macaron Day! Pierre Hermé declared the first “Jour du Macaron” in 2005, to bring the French delicacy into the international spotlight and raise money for his charity. It has since become an international phenomenon. If you are a macaron aficionado feel free to skip this part 😊 If you are not a macaron aficionado then read this: A macaron is a sweet meringue-based confection made with egg white, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder or ground almond, and food colouring. The macaron commonly consists of a ganache, buttercream or jam filling sandwiched between two cookies. The name is derived from the Italian word macarone, maccarone or maccherone, the meringue. The related macaroon is often confused with the macaron. In English, most bakers have adopted the French spelling of macaron for the meringue-based item, to distinguish the two. This has caused confusion over the correct spelling. Some recipes exclude the use of macaroon to refer to this French confection while others treat the two as synonymous. The two food items are different, …

Around Town: The New Grotto Ristorante in Downtown Houston is a Must!

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If you’ve lived in Houston for any length of time you’ve probably dined at the Grotto’s located at Loop 610 and Westheimer. It’s kind of a Houston landmark! Well now there is a new Grotto in town located downtown on Avenida Las Americas and she’s a beauty! This past Friday my friend Holly and I decided to go take in some of the sights downtown as our great city is in preparations for hosting Super Bowl LI this coming weekend. Hungry, as usual, and so many great times with friends are spent over food and a great glass of wine, we decided to pop into the new Grotto. I was impressed from the minute we walked in. It is a gorgeous, industrial, but warm atmosphere. Taupe-y grey stone floors mingling with graphic black and white tiles. Light woods. Dark woods. White subway tile. Taupe-y grey brick. Steel grey metals. Stainless steel. Exposed pipes. Edison light bulbs. Large black framed picture windows and pops of green from succulents. There is also an expansive outdoor patio, which features sleek fire pits, TVs, and a front …