Start Your Day With a Stack of Pancakes at Sunny Side of the Street

It’s challenging to not find yourself charmed by a breakfast joint when the logo is a sunburst—made of bacon! At Spring’s Sunny Side of the Street, chefs Michael and Tony Kusuma are hard at work on making the most important meal of the day the most delicious meal of the day, as well.

The breakfast menu is chock full of classics such as thick Texas-style French toast, customizable three-egg omelets, and buttery old fashioned biscuits topped with sausage gravy. For the more adventurous, sample some “Future Classics” like apple cheddar flapjacks, blueberry custard baked French toast, or curried butternut squash shirred eggs. While the breakfast selections dominate, the lunch menu also shines with fan favorites and Southern signatures like the self-explanatory chicken waffle toast sandwich and the Korean pulled-pork sandwich served with Korean cabbage slaw and spicy barbecue sauce.

Sunny Side of the Street is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, with lunch available after 11 a.m. The early bird gets the worm in this case, as tables tend to fill up fast, particularly on the weekends.

Sunny Side of the Street
4915 FM 2920 Road
Spring, TX 77388
(281) 355-8888
www.sunnysidetexas.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sunny-side-of-the-street-spring

Grab a Burger and the Kitchen Sink Shake at Grub Burger Bar

If you’re looking for an indulgent meal with no calorie counting allowed, Grub Burger Bar is the perfect treat in The Woodlands. This hip, upscale burger restaurant features reclaimed wood furnishings, high, vaulted ceilings and an open dining room filled with lots of natural light.

The incredibly decadent burgers are served with tall stacks of onion rings and perfectly seasoned skinny fries, but they’re balanced out by Ahi tuna salads, lean turkey burgers and fresh, homemade tabouli. There are also veggie burgers for guests who don’t eat meat.

The milkshakes at Grub Burger Bar are just as popular as the burgers, and they come in styles like Dirt and Worms, the Kitchen Sink and salted caramel. Of-age guests can even enjoy alcoholic milkshakes in any of the restaurant’s flavors. If you’re looking for a restaurant that the whole family will love, you can’t go wrong with Grub Burger Bar.

Grub Burger Bar
2417 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 907-9001
www.grubburgerbar.com
www.yelp.com/biz/grub-burger-bar-the-woodlands

How to Keep Leafy Greens Fresher Longer

Don’t you just hate it when you attempt to buy a healthy batch of vegetables at the grocery store, only to have them go bad before you can even eat them? By using these simple tips, you can learn how to prolong the lifespan of your veggies and keep your greens fresher for longer.

  • Don’t leave leafy greens on the counter. While many types of produce (such as apples and potatoes) are okay when left out in the kitchen, leafy greens are much delicate and require cooler temperatures for safekeeping.
  • Wash them. As soon as you get your greens home, wash them with an all-natural vegetable cleanser and dry with a salad spinner to remove any chemicals, dirt, or pests.
  • Remove bad leaves. If you notice any brown spots on your greens, carefully remove them to prevent them from spoiling the whole bunch.
  • Don’t store them on a shelf in the refrigerator. Because everything in your refrigerator is not created equally, greens cannot by stored in the same way as, say, Chinese food leftovers. Instead, place them in the designated crisper drawer.
  • Plan how you’ll eat them. To prolong their lifespan further, plan to eat fresh salads using greens first and sauté or stir fry them once they near their wilted phases.

Leafy Greens [FreshDirect.com]
How to Store Leafy Greens in the Fridge [The Sprouting Seed]
How to Store Your Leafy Greens to Make Them Last Longer [Eat Local 365]

George Mitchell Nature Preserve: 1,700 Acres of Natural Beauty in The Woodlands

Even the most inexperienced hiker will enjoy spending the afternoon at the George Mitchell Nature Preserve, a scenic and fun-filled outdoor retreat in The Woodlands. This well-maintained park encompasses 1,700 acres of preserved natural areas managed by the Montgomery County Spring Creek Greenway, which connects more than 12,000 acres of forest in the area.

Inside the preserve, you’ll find a 2-mile-long hiking trail that offers a bit of a challenging hike through the lush, green forest, as well as an additional 3 miles of mountain biking trails for avid bikers. These safe and secure trails are covered in natural, sustainable tracks that offer proper support and footing without taking away from the beauty of nature. If you prefer to walk along the water, the Bedias Lake paths are also great options, offering a bit more leisurely stroll through this verdant park.

George Mitchell Nature Preserve
Spring Creek Greenway
The Woodlands, TX 77380
www.thewoodlandstx.com/parks/george-mitchell-nature-preserve.php

Meyer Park: 180 Acres of Green Space in Spring

With its 180-acre expanse of open green space and its many exercise stations and paved trails, Meyer Park is especially beloved by the runners in the Spring area. The park is very large and full of numerous different amenities, including gazebos and picnic stations that are ideal for an afternoon lunch outdoors.

Here, you'll find an impressive 26 soccer fields for pick-up play or organized community leagues, as well as two softball fields and a well-maintained basketball court. Outdoors-y visitors love feeding the ducks at the small duck pond and fishing at the three-acre lake, which is stocked with bluegill, catfish, and large-mouth bass. Meyer Park also offers playgrounds to accommodate little ones.

Meyer Park is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. There aren’t many lights in the park, so be sure to plan your visit before the sun goes down.

Meyer Park
7700 Cypresswood Drive
Spring, TX 77379
(281) 353-4196
www.hcp4.net/Parks/meyer/index.htm
www.yelp.com/biz/meyer-park-spring

Grub Burger Bar: ‘Cause You Just Can’t Beat a Perfectly Grilled Burger

Sometimes, you crave a juicy, grilled burger and just nothing else will do. When that craving strikes, Grub Burger Bar is the place to go in The Woodlands. This local favorite burger joint is a bit more upscale and modern than most, but some say it serves some of the best burgers in town in a fun, laid-back atmosphere.

The restaurant’s industrial decor and spacious, open dining room will leave you lots of room to relax and enjoy a hearty meal, while the large bar area makes a great place to grab a cold beer or a glass of wine before dinner. There is a walk-up counter that makes it easy to place your order and grab a seat, and regulars recommend starting every meal with an order of the giant onion rings. Burgers come in styles like the Texas Luau and the Lockhart Legend, but you’ll also find chicken, salmon, and vegetarian options that make equally tasty alternatives to the usual beef.

Grub Burger Bar
2417 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 907-9001
www.yelp.com/biz/grub-burger-bar-the-woodlands

Bring Spring in Bloom with These Crepe Flower Tutorials

Whether you’re decorating for a bridal shower, a child’s birthday party, or you simply want to spruce up your home for the spring season, crafting crepe flowers is an easy project that really makes an impact. These blossoms look beautiful, but they last a lot longer than the real thing! Here are three great tutorials for creating crepe flowers at home.

Martha Stewart’s DIY Flowers [marthastewart.com]
Martha Stewart’s website includes a number of different ways to make various types of crepe flowers. The single-petal method produces lush, full blossoms, while the tulip version is great for creating a bouquet of life-like flowers to display in your home or give as a gift.

Crepe and Watercolor Flower Tutorial [craftberrybush.com]
If you’re interested in creating the most realistic crepe flowers possible, this is the tutorial for you. It involves first using crepe paper to form the petals themselves, then gently painting the petals with watercolor paints to create the gradation that you find on a real flower. By spritzing the petals with water, you can even get them to curl a bit in a truly realistic way.

DIY Crepe Paper Flowers [thebridescafe.com]
This simple tutorial is perfect when you don’t have a lot of time, but you still want to get beautiful results. All it takes is a bit of crepe paper, floral wire and tape and some microbeads to form the flower’s center.

Design Your Own Dessert at Cups Frozen Yogurt

Satisfy your sweet tooth at Cups Frozen Yogurt on Hughes Landing Boulevard. This dessert cafe offers a menu of up to 24 fro-yo flavors, as well as up to 50 different toppings. Mixing and matching flavors is no problem here, and samples are available so you can test out a flavor before commiting to a whole cup.

The self-serve layout of Cups means that you can customize your cup of fro-yo precisely to your liking. Watching your waistline? Go for a fat-free yogurt, and top it with chunks of fresh mango, strawberries, and kiwi. Craving something more decadent? Opt for a tall twist of chocolate fro-yo topped with pieces of candy bars and a dollop of whipped cream!

Vintage posters and photographs cover the walls of The Woodlands location, harkening back to the glory days of Malibu. Comfortable seating is available inside and out if you just can't wait to dig in to your tasty treat.

Cups Frozen Yogurt
1950 Hughes Landing Blvd
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(832) 482-0173
www.cupsfrozenyogurt.com

Collins Park: Enjoy the Outdoors in Spring, Texas

Located just a short trip from Avana Grogan’s Mill at Cypresswood Landing, Collins Park has 55 acres available for fun activities.

The park's four baseball and five softball fields mean that there's almost always a game here. And many of them are lighted for night play! For other pursuits, check out the basketball pavilion, soccer field, skateboard park, and volleyball court. Between the two playgrounds, there are plenty of spots to have a picnic, and grills are available, too. Bicyclists can enjoy Cypresswood Trails, while walkers and joggers can take advantage of Gourley Nature Trail.

Collins Park is open Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Collins Park
6727 Cypresswood Drive
Spring, TX 77379

www.facebook.com/pages/Collins-Park/153750157983427?rf=283999544947435
www.yelp.com/biz/cypresswood-trails-spring

Start Planning This Weekend’s Brunch Early at Black Walnut Cafe

For brunch fans in The Woodlands, Black Walnut Cafe is a must-try eatery for your lazy Sunday mornings (or afternoons). This popular brunch spot serves a decadent menu of morning libations and egg-based dishes, as well as fresh salads, tacos, pastas and other new American favorites. Sample the lobster eggs Benedict or the Tex Mex omelet and pair it with a mimosa or a Bloody Mary to cap off the weekend in style, and be sure to sit outside on the sunny patio if the weather permits.

For lunch or dinner, try the Santa Fe salad or the homemade lasagna paired with a glass of wine or a craft beer. Desserts like Boston cream pie and various types of cakes also taste great with a hot cup of coffee to end the meal. Inside, Black Walnut Cafe has a country club atmosphere, complete with red leather stools along the handsome bar, high ceilings and rustic dining tables that will make any meal feel comfortable and relaxed.

Black Walnut Cafe
9000 New Trails Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 362-1678
www.blackwalnutcafe.com
www.yelp.com/biz/black-walnut-caf%C3%A9-the-woodlands-3

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