Collins Park: Enjoy the Outdoors in Spring, Texas

Located just a short trip from Avana Six Pines 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

Windy City Grill and Pizza: Enjoy a Taste of Chicago

When the rest of the world thinks about Chicago-style pizza, most think deep dish. Windy City Grill and Pizza in Shenandoah is looking to correct that assumption by serving thin-crust pizzas with some interesting choices of toppings: Crab meat, shrimp,and even Canadian bacon make an appearance on the pizza menu. Windy City also offers Chicago-style hot dogs, pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, and a small selection of salads and desserts.

The owner and chef is known to come around and chat to customers while they enjoy their meal and share stories gathered during his 40 years in the restaurant business.

The sleek eatery is conveniently located in a shopping center en route to The Woodlands mall, with plenty of parking and can accommodate large parties with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Windy City Grill and Pizza
1500 Research Forest Drive
Shenandoah, TX 77381
(281) 651-5194
www.windycitygrillandpizza.com/home

Learn How to Manage Clutter — Not Hide It!

If you find yourself tucking away all of that extra clutter every time you clean your home, you may wonder how you can get rid of it for good. Instead of managing the clutter in your home, these smart, space-saving tips will show you how to control your clutter by getting rid of it completely.

  • Take an assessment of your clutter. Where do you notice clutter the most in your home? Is it in the junk drawers in your kitchen, the entryway area or your bedroom closet? Make note of those places where clutter always seems to accumulate so that you can focus the majority of your energy there.
  • Invest in storage systems. If the current storage systems in those areas just aren't working, it's time to reevaluate them. If clothes are always tumbling off of the shelves in your bedroom closet, add some affordable plastic drawers from your local home goods store; if you're always tripping over shoes in the doorway, add a stylish shoe rack.
  • Get rid of clutter-prone areas. Those junk drawers that are always overflowing? Get rid of them! If you don't have that go-to spot for disposing of those unused items, you'll be forced to really think about where they go — or if you need them at all.
  • Make it a part of your routine. If you don't usually think about where to put certain items, you might want to start. A big part of keeping a clean home is developing clean habits, so before you toss those shoes or that extra junk mail aside, take pause and deal with it right on the spot.

Taste What Makes Moyz Crafted Street Food a Local Favorite for Mexican Fare

Moyz Crafted Street Food is a local favorite for authentic Mexican cuisine. Whether you’re stopping for breakfast, lunch, dinner, a late-night snack, you're sure to find something quick, easy, and delicious.

Grab a delicious breakfast taco, or go for a classic carnita, chicken taco, steak quesadilla, or chicken tostado. As a bonus, try the famous hand-made burgers, often called the best in town. Every dish is made from scratch with fresh ingredients, a ton of flavor, and the perfect amount of heat (try the habanero sauce if you like spice).

While it’s called street food, it’s also called crafted because you’ll find nothing but high-quality, authentic flavors and recipes. Visit Yelp for local favorite dishes and some sneak peeks at dishes – that is, if your mouth isn’t already watering enough.

Moyz Crafted Street Food
25330 Richard Road
Spring, TX 77386
(832) 298-3843
www.yelp.com/biz/moyz-crafted-street-food-spring-2

Aim for a Hole-in-One at Shankz Black Light Miniature Golf

Looking for an out-of-the-ordinary activity in The Woodlands? Check out Shankz Black Light Miniature Golf! Shankz is exactly what you’d expect from its name: an indoor mini golf course illuminated by black light. The 18-hole course is submerged in darkness and accented with neon props spanning 6,000 square feet of play area.

During peak visiting times, guests can all ahead up to two hours in advance to be added to the waitlist for the next tee-time. Cannonball and arcade games are also available at Shankz.

One round of golf costs $8.99 for adults, $7.99 for kids 4-12 years old, and $2.99 for children under 4. If you want more, a replay round is available for $3.99. If your kids are big fans of Shankz, you can host a birthday party or private event all year long.

Shankz Black Light Miniature Golf
3091 College Park Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77384
(936) 273-4569
shankzgolf.com

Order the Lobster Benedict at Black Walnut Café in The Woodlands

Black Walnut Café serves contemporary American-style food to the residents of The Woodlands. The fast-casual restaurant has locations throughout Texas, and weekly-featured specials keep the already-expansive menu new and fresh.

There is a great variety of cuisine at Black Walnut, from classic American dishes, like burgers and sandwiches, to internationally inspired fare, like a New Orleans-inspired pasta dish and Asian barbecue salmon. Brunch is always a popular choice, with many visitors boasting about the lobster Benedict and breakfast enchiladas.

Black Walnut Café's twice-daily happy hour special runs Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. On weekends, there tends to be a line of people waiting for a table, so if you’re planning to attend on a weekend, be prepared to show up early or wait your turn!

Black Walnut Café
9000 New Trails Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 362-1678
www.blackwalnutcafe.com

Create a Chic and Stylish Entryway With These Pro Tips

Your entryway has the power to wow or bore guests as soon as they step into your apartment, so it's important to make sure you spend ample time on its interior design. If you're just getting started glamming up your entryway, here are a few tips that should help get the ball rolling.

  1. Create a vignette. First things first: find an entryway table. That's where you'll put your hallway vignette. It's part functional, part aesthetically pleasing. Include a tray to collection your keys and loose change when you walk in, but also add strictly decorative touches such as candles, flowers, and other odds and ends that reflect your style.
  2. Add a mirror. When you're working with a cozy entryway, you can really expand the space (without knocking down any walls) by just hanging a mirror. Find one that fits in with the rest of your aesthetic, perhaps a round, vintage mirror for last-minute touch-ups before you walk out the door, or maybe a more contemporary square mirror if that jives better with your minimalist decor elsewhere.
  3. Glam up your walls. Creating a gallery wall is a surefire way to engage your friends as soon as they walk through the door, especially if you create that gallery wall using personal photos in artfully mismatched frames. You can also use mirrors of different shapes and sizes, however, for the ultimate space-creating effect.
  4. Throw down a runner. When you're interior-designing, don't forget about the real estate underfoot, either. Spruce up your floor with a chic, colorful runner.

How to Style an Entryway [The Everygirl]
Small Apartment Entryway [Pinterest]
21 Ways to Enhance an Entryway [Real Simple]

Unleash Your Inner Picasso at Pinot’s Palette in The Woodlands

If you’re looking for a fun night out with a bit of a twist, check out Pinot’s Palette in The Woodlands. At Pinot’s, guests get a full-on art lesson while they enjoy drinks and snacks. Locations have been popping up across the country as this unique way of spending a night out has grown in popularity over the years.

Interested parties can go on Pinot’s Palette’s website and sign up for whatever class they’d like to participate in, based on the painting that will be created that night. The Woodlands location is BYOB, so visitors are encouraged to bring their own drinks and snacks to enjoy while their instructors lead a step-by-step painting class. All art supplies are included in the ticket, which will cost you $30 for a 2-hour class and $38 for a 3-hour class.

No art experience is necessary, and the entire spot is available to rent for parties!

Pinot's Palette
3091 College Park Drive
Suite 123
The Woodlands, TX 77384
(936) 321-2787
www.pinotspalette.com/woodlands

Jax Burgers: A Popular Spot for Burgers and Shakes in Spring, Texas

Why go to one of those typical burger chains, when you have Jax Burgers in your own backyard? If you’re looking for a welcoming place with good food, you’ve come to the right place at Jax Burgers! Come up to the counter and order a tasty meal. The hamburgers are fresh and the toppings terrific. Try the Baja Burger or Texas Burger with special sauces. And you won’t find a burger with guacamole any better than Jax’s Guac Burger! And you don’t just get fries, you can get tasty garlic fries, tangy Cajun or Buffalo fries, and even Sweet Potato Fries. With selections for the kids and thick shakes, everybody leaves happy from Jax Burgers.

Jax Burgers
4334 FM 2920
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 288-7711
www.jaxburgers.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jax-burgers-fries-shakes-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

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