Shoot Some Hoops This Weekend at Willow Park

Looking for a place to get outdoors near 2411 Washington? Visit Willow Park, a friendly neighborhood park with something for everyone. From its well-maintained basketball courts to its swing sets for the little ones, your entire family or group of friends can enjoy a day of fun in the sun.

If you want to get in a bit of alone time, Willow Park also offers paved trails around the park’s perimeter that are great for walking or jogging. There is a picturesque gazebo that makes a great place for an afternoon picnic or to relax with a good book while watching the kids play, as well as nearby barbecue grills for more elaborate lunches. The sand volleyball courts and tennis courts are fun for more active visitors, and the park even contains bleachers where fans can cheer on their friends during the big game.

Willow Park
10400 Cliffwood
Houston, TX 77035
www.yelp.com/biz/willow-park-houston

Kick Up Your Heels at Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon

Looking for a true taste of Texas to add to your weekend agenda? Plan a night out to Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon, an authentic country dance bar not far from 2411 Washington.

There are line dancing lessons on certain nights of the week so that newbies can brush up on their skills before the weekend, while on Saturday nights, you’ll always find a DJ playing classic country tunes to a large crowd of dancers. If country music isn’t your thing, Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon also offers Latin dancing on select evenings, and there’s karaoke in the separate Esquire Room. You may even want to try your luck with a bingo game on weeknights.

Drinks are easy on the wallet, and there’s a small menu of American foods to give you ample fuel for dancing. You may even enjoy having your meal outside on the sunny patio on a warm Houston evening.

Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon
11410 Hempstead Highway
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 677-0828
www.neonbootsclub.com

Sip, Savor, Repeat at Boomtown Coffee in Houston

Boomtown Coffee is a hip and friendly coffee shop that’s well-liked by coffee aficionados, but just as welcoming for those who don’t know a thing about their morning brew. If you like good coffee in an unpretentious atmosphere, you’ll love this bright and sunny café that contains its very own artisan coffee roaster on site. All of Boomtown's unique coffees are sourced from responsible growers and importers and roasted right in the shop to ensure the freshest, most flavorful cup possible.

If you get hungry while visiting, Boomtown Coffee also offers a complete menu of café favorites, including daily quiche, breakfast tacos, and homemade granola for breakfast, hearty soups, and croissant sandwiches for lunch and many vegan and vegetarian options for those with restricted diets.

Whether you’re meeting a friend or catching up on work, Boomtown Coffee is a great place to get caffeinated.

Boomtown Coffee
242 W. 19th Street
Houston, TX 77008
(713) 862-7018
www.boomtowncoffee.com

There Are Over 50 Ways to Get a Workout at Your Body Center

Take on a fitness challenge at Your Body Center, a yoga and Pilates studio in Houston’s Heights neighborhood. Knowledgeable and encouraging instructors make for a great experience, and many students realize significant weight loss and fitness improvements within a month. Over 50 classes are offered each week, and all skill levels are welcome. Classes include Yin, Forrest, and Vinyasa yoga styles, as well as Pilates ball, band, and cardio classes.

Your Body Center has two large studio spaces with walls of windows that let in plenty of natural light. One is kept hot for the specialty classes, like hot yoga. Unlike traditional Bikram, the instructors practice along with the students and encourage you to listen to your body, taking breaks as needed. Rates are reasonable, and new students can take advantage of special discounts. Mat and towel rentals are available. The center also offers therapeutic massage and other bodywork services.

Your Body Center
3605 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 874-0800
www.yourbodycenter.com
www.yelp.com/biz/your-body-center-houston-3

Norton Fitness: Personal Trainers That Go Above and Beyond

Looking to get into shape? Consider signing up for fitness sessions with Norton Fitness, a personal training company serving Houston, Texas. The personal trainers at Norton Fitness undergo rigorous screening and training before they meet with clients. Each trainer must not only be nationally certified, but also insured, highly educated in the field, and personable. Having met these initial requirements, trainers are still required to pass another Norton exam that encompasses all the fundamentals of personal training, from diet and weight lifting to rehabbing bodies and medicinal approaches to fitness. And they must re-take the test every six months in order to stay on as a trainer, thus proving they haven't fallen behind as the various fields continue to advance.

Needless to say, Norton Fitness's trainers are more than equipped to propel any client toward their fitness and health goals. After an initial assessment, trainers create a one-of-a-kind workout plan designed specifically for the individual. They always take into account existing health conditions and other potential roadblocks, so clients only partake in safe exercises. With continuing education from nutritionists, doctors, a chiropractor, and even a psychologist, the trainers always come up with fresh ways to make fitness fun.

Norton Fitness
Houston, TX 77008
(832) 779-1902
www.nortonfitness.com

www.yelp.com/biz/norton-fitness-houston-2

Strengthen and Lengthen at YogaOne Studios Midtown

One of five YogaOne Studios throughout Houston, YogaOne Studios Midtown was established in 2008 to offer a range of yoga classes in a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere. In fact, the YogaOne mission is "to co-create a positive space, filled with positive people, that is positively life changing through the practice and path of yoga."

Here, new and experienced yogis practice their positions within two modern studio spaces, each of which reflects the company's eco-friendly ethos through sustainably sourced bamboo flooring, no-VOC paints, and a BYORWB (Bring Your Own Reusable Water Bottle) policy. Instruction is offered in flow-based styles of yoga and hot yoga, the latter of which is bolstered by a custom heating system.

A single drop-in class at YogaOne Midtown will cost you $18, while class packages offer quantity discounts. Regulars recommend taking advantage of the $30 for 30 days pass, an introductory offer that entitles new yogis to test out an unlimited number of classes over a one-month trial period. For more info, check out the YogaOne Studios class schedule.

YogaOne Studios
3030 Travis Street
Houston, TX, 77006
(713) 522-0876
www.yogaonehouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/yogaone-studios-houston-3

Get in Touch With Mother Nature at Bear Creek Pioneers Park

Whether you’re looking for a new place for your morning jog or an outdoor area where you can play pickup baseball with friends, you’ll find all types of outdoor activities at Bear Creek Pioneers Park. This spacious, well-maintained park spans 2,168 acres of beautiful Texas landscape, and it features convenient paved roads and parking lots that make it easily accessible for visitors.

Once inside the park, you’ll find miles of walking and jogging paths, as well as equestrian trails for horseback riders. Tennis courts and volleyball courts are perfect for a pickup game, while soccer, baseball, and softball fields offer places for local leagues to play. Take a visit to the small zoo to visit the emus, ostriches, and buffalo, then venture over to the wildlife habitat to check out the area’s local wildlife inhabitants.

Bear Creek Pioneers Park
3535 War Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77084
(281) 496-2177
www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/Bear-Creek-Pioneers-Park/20090

Java Lovers Will Feel Right at Home at House of Coffee Beans in Houston

Looking for a perfect cup of coffee near 2411 Washington? Visit House of Coffee Beans, a local coffee roaster that specializes in one unique brew each day. While you won’t find the large selection that you would at the grocery store, each trip to House of Coffee Beans means that you’ll discover a premium, complex batch of coffee that you might not normally try. In addition to the batch of the day, you’ll find specialty holiday blends and cold brew coffees that are just as delicious.

If you’re looking for coffee on the spot, the friendly employees will happily prepare individual cups of each daily brew so that you can taste them before buying a whole bag. With an attractive retail area displaying the daily coffee batches as well as mugs, brewing systems and other coffee accessories, House of Coffee Beans is a great place to pick up coffee for home or a gift for a java-loving friend.

House of Coffee Beans
2348 Bissonnet St
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 524-0057
www.houseofcoffeebeans.com

iT’Z Houston: Playtime For People of All Ages

If you’re struggling to find fun, creative ideas for a child’s upcoming birthday party or other special occasion, iT’Z Houston might just be the answer! This fun-filled play place is a combination arcade, upscale bowling alley, pizza buffet, and much more, which makes it a great time for visitors of all ages.

The colorful restaurant features a full-service bar for of-age guests to enjoy a beer or a cocktail while watching the big game, while the all-you-can-eat pizza buffet provides an affordable lunch for the whole family. There are an impressive number of seating options throughout the wacky, brightly lit dining area, and the restaurant opens up into the futuristic bowling alley, complete with leather sofas and glowing neon lights.

The arcade is a wonderland for kids of all ages, while the private party room, bumper cars, and amusement park rides are just the icing on the cake at this Houston facility.

iT’Z Houston
18355 Tomball Parkway
Houston, TX 77070
(832) 678-2151
www.itzusa.com/itz-houston-home

Nothing Sweetens Up Your Morning Like Fresh & Best Donuts

Fresh & Best Donuts is a Houston institution that locals love, and it’s truly a must-try for doughnut fans in the area. With a wide selection of traditional styles made fresh every morning, you’re sure to find exactly the kind of doughnut that you love.

Stop in for a classic glazed, chocolate, or vanilla, or even try a few different styles in the form of miniature doughnut holes. Fresh & Best Donuts is also famous for its giant doughnuts, which are twice the size of normal doughnuts. If you’re craving something more savory, you’ll also find sausage and cheese-stuffed kolaches, ham croissant sandwiches, and boudins just like the ones in New Orleans. Add a strong coffee or a frothy cappuccino to your order and you’ll have a delicious breakfast at a low price!

Fresh & Best Donuts is open 4:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.

Fresh & Best Donuts
5214 Bellaire Boulevard
Bellaire, TX 77401
(713) 592-0301
www.yelp.com/biz/fresh-and-best-donuts-bellaire

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