Shop, Eat, Take a Spin on the Carousel at The Woodlands Mall

In need of a little retail therapy? Treat yourself to a shopping spree at The Woodlands Mall, a mall boasting both indoor and outdoor shopping areas. Anchored by Nordstrom, Macy's, Dillard's, JCPenney, and Forever 21, this mall offers a wide variety of retailers and specialty stores. Think Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Coach, Vera Bradley, Williams-Sonoma, Fossil, and many more.

The mall is clean, and dining options are available. If you have children in tow, take them for a ride on the carousel located on the second floor.  Parking can be a challenge here, but valet service is only $5, cash. The Woodlands Mall is open Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Woodlands Mall
1201 Lake Woodlands Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 363-3409
www.thewoodlandsmall.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-woodlands-mall-the-woodlands

Amerigos: Classy Italian Food in The Woodlands

For nearly twenty years, Amerigos has offered fine Italian dining in The Woodlands. Chef Arturo Orsorio has been with the restaurant since its opening in 1994 and has received numerous accolades, including being named as one of Houston's top 10 chefs in 2006 by H-Texas magazine. Combining locally sourced ingredients and quality imported goods, the menu features many seafood options. Try the most popular dish, Linguine Pescatore, with a medley of shellfish tossed in a sherry cream tarragon sauce and served over handmade pasta.

In addition to fresh fish, there are several steak, veal, and chicken dishes, all of which get equally rave reviews. With its classy, fine-dining ambiance, Amerigos is fitting for a romantic date as well as a business lunch. The full bar boasts an impressive wine list; savor your meal over a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc while taking in sounds of the piano bar entertainment. Meals can get a bit pricey, but generous portions will satisfy any appetite

Amerigos
25250 Grogans Park Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 362-0808
http://amerigos.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/amerigos-grille-the-woodlands

Three Cycling Apps for Smartphones

There’s an app for just about everything, and now there are even apps to help better your bike rides. These cycling apps will help you to plan routes, track your miles, burn more calories and stay on course, all from your mobile device.

Map My Ride
Created for the iPhone, Map My Ride is an all-inclusive cycling app for both recreational cyclists and those riding for exercise.  This simple app uses GPS and an interactive map to plan your route and then track your speed and distance throughout your ride. After you’ve arrived at your destination, Map My Ride will also provide charts detailing your ride summary and a calculation of your calories burned.

Strava Cycling
Strava Cycling is a simple, no-nonsense app for cyclists who want the basic features without any of the bells and whistles. This app has an accurate map for planning your route and following along as you ride, and it even calculates miles ridden and feet climbed as you go. Strava also offers ways to connect with friends and even join virtual clubs for sharing tips and support on every ride.

B-icycle
With apps for Android, iPhone and Windows operating systems, B-icycle is a widely-used cycling app with a variety of helpful features. It boasts a stylish interface, accurate GPS, statistics like speed and calories burned, and it even allows you to operate your iPod and phone features without closing the app.

The Hen House: A Houston-Area Destination For Fiber Arts Supplies

If you’re in to quilting or knitting, or if you want to learn, The Hen House in Spring is the place for you. This 6,000 square feet retail store is packed floor to ceiling with quilting and fiber arts supplies. Those that enjoy knitting and crocheting will be amazed at the yarn selection with everything from simple skeins to luxurious wools. Quilters will love the sewing supplies and colorful selection of fabrics. The Hen House regularly offers classes for beginners and experienced crafters. For those that aren’t crafty themselves, but appreciate artisan goods, they sell handmade gifts like candles, cards, jewelry and knitted items.

The Hen House
6915 Cypresswood Drive
Spring, TX 77379
(832) 482-2591
www.yelp.com/biz/the-hen-house-spring

White Flamingo: Elegant & Original

Head to White Flamingo. Although it’s located in a strip mall, the elegant Victorian-style decor will blow you away. Tables are set with white linens and fresh flowers, and there is live piano music on Friday and Saturday nights, making it perfect for a romantic date. Meals start with complementary cheese-topped bread that customers love just as much as their entrees. The menu offers lunch sandwiches, full size pasta entrees, and an array of fish, steaks, and chops. Try the Cajun seared Mahi Mahi and the Chicken Alfredo. Service is attentive without being overbearing, and prices are quite reasonable for the quality and portion. White Flamingo also has several private rooms that can accommodate wedding receptions and other celebrations.

White Flamingo
24307 Aldine Westfield Road
Spring, TX 77386
(281) 907-0778
www.yelp.com/biz/the-white-flamingo-spring

Black Walnut Café: Happy Hour So Nice, They Do It Twice!

A regional chain known for its fast food-meets-sit down dining concept, Black Walnut Cafe has several area locations, including The Woodlands. Order at the counter before filling your drink and choosing your own table. This relaxed, self-service concept is convenient for those looking for a quick and casual meal. Black Walnut Cafe's cozy ambiance and classy decor make it an inviting spot to sit a while and enjoy a snack.

100 menu choices range from small bites to full size entrees, with many salads, sandwiches, and pasta. Try the Fish Tacos or the Grilled Cheese Burger — a beef patty between two grilled cheese sandwiches. Breakfast is a favorite at Black Walnut Cafe; stop by for the morning happy hour from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, for deals on breakfast favorites and cocktails. (Happy hour gets an encore from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.) If you enjoy a late brunch, the breakfast menu is served until 4 p.m. on weekends. Don't pass up the fresh baked goods and gelato!

Black Walnut Cafe
2520 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 362-1678
http://www.blackwalnutcafe.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/black-walnut-cafe-the-woodlands

Caught on Film: Ross McElwee’s Documentaries

You'll probably love or hate Ross McElwee's documentaries. Personal, plotless, and invariably first-person, these films meditate on relationships, history, and time in utterly unique ways. McElwee's films also achieve the tricky feat of calling attention to the camera's artifice and making the camera disappear. You can watch many of McElwee's films on Netflix; here are four to see:

  • Time Indefinite. Marking a marriage, a funeral, and a birth, Time Indefinite attempts to use filmmaking as a means to comprehend the many important events that punctuate human lives and make them meaningful.
  • Sherman's March. Beginining the film as a journery to trace the path of General Sherman's march through the south, Sherman's March gets derailed early and often by events in McElwee's personal life. In the process, the movie explores how human beings' plans are almost always interrupted.
  • Six O'Clock News. Six O'Clock News meditates on how the camera can present us with strange and unique visions of the world. The film often feels like an experiment in reality TV before reality TV existed.
  • Bright Leaves. Another meditation on the artificiality of film, Bright Leaves explores McElwee's family history of tobacco farming, a neglected Hollywood drama, and the state of North Carolina.

See Why Americas’ Steak Has Been Ranked Among the Country’s Best

Love meat? Head to Americas, a Latin American restaurant owned by the reputable Cordua family. The father-son team is famous for their Churrasco steak, ranked as one of the top 20 steaks in the country by Esquire magazine. This char-grilled center cut tenderloin is served with a crispy yucca cake, pickled onions, and Béarnaise sauce. For a truly pan-American meal, start with Americas' flight of four difference ceviches. If you have room for dessert, regulars recommend the Tres Leches, which is almost as famous as the steak. 

Cocktails are a must at Americas as well, as the full bar specializes in unique drinks, like the Ginger Tequila Punch with orange, ginger, and cinnamon. Bar 1492 transforms from a lounge to a club on Friday and Saturday nights. If you're more of a morning person than a night owl, Americas' Sunday brunch buffet has you covered with a wide selection that ranges from breakfast favorites to Latin American samplings from the main menu. Americas will validate parking in the nearby Marriot garage.

Americas
21 Waterway Avenue
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 367-1492
http://www.cordua.com/americas
http://www.yelp.com/biz/americas-the-woodlands

Get fit!

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Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It can help:

  • Control your weight
  • Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease
  • Reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
  • Reduce your risk of some cancers
  • Strengthen your bones and muscles
  • Improve your mental health and mood
  • Improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls, if you’re an older adult
  • Increase your chances of living longer

With all those benefits, why not get moving? All it takes to get started is to put on some sneaks and visit our fitness center that’s conveniently located right here.

Thank you for choosing to call us home!

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Welcome to your resident portal.

To facilitate our commitment to providing a high level of service, we’ve created this community website just for our residents.

This site was established to improve communication as well as build a sense of community. It gives us a centralized place to post notices about upcoming events or specials offered by our apartment community. In addition, well be posting information that will help you get more familiar with the resources in your neighborhood, including nearby restaurants and things to do.

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