Hubbell & Hudson Kitchen: Soups, Salads and Sandwiches to Make Lunch Easy

When you’re out and about in The Woodlands and looking for a casual place to stop for lunch, Hubbell & Hudson Kitchen will make your midday meal easy and delicious.

This laid-back eatery serves a casual menu of new American classics, including mostly soups, salads and sandwiches made with fresh, creative ingredients. There is a large salad bar filled with healthy toppings, as well as a wide variety of burgers in styles to suit anyone’s tastes. Sandwiches like the Seoul pork and turkey Brie make unique lunch options, while eggs Benedict and French toast make equally tasty choices for breakfast or brunch.

Hubbell & Hudson Kitchen is set up a bit like a market on the inside, with a coffee bar, a fresh produce section, to-go soups and sandwiches and even a gelato counter that makes the perfect dessert once you finish your healthy lunch.

Hubbell & Hudson Kitchen
4526 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 203-5650
www.hubbellandhudson.com
www.yelp.com/biz/hubbell-and-hudson-kitchen-the-woodlands

Ploy Thai: Traditional Cuisine

Head to Ploy Thai Cuisine in Spring for traditional Thai favorites like curry and noodles. If you like a kick to your curry, order the Panang as it is quite spicy. For a noodle dish, choose the house specialities with charcoal pork or lemon grass chicken. Ploy specializes in seafood dishes, and the Poh Taek soup is a Thai take on Bouillabaisse with a sweet and sour broth filled with shrimp, scallops, calamari and mussels. Ploy Thai attracts a crowd for its lunch special that offers your choice of entree and unlimited appetizer buffet loaded salads, soups, and finger foods. Indulge yourself but don’t expect a take out box — they have a strict policy against doggie bags during lunch.

Ploy Thai
1500 Research Forest Drive
Spring, TX 77381
(281) 465-8399
www.ploythaicuisine.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ploy-thai-cuisine-spring

Home Beauty Treatments You Can Make Yourself

Nothing feels better than getting a facial or a fresh blowout, but unfortunately, these types of beauty treatments can be pretty pricey. Luckily, you can mimic their results in your own home at Avana Six Pines, often by using common items that you already have. Here are a few rejuvenating beauty treatments that you can make yourself.

  1. Create a nourishing hair mask that restores each strand by combining common foods from the refrigerator. Simply mix together one egg yolk, one tablespoon of mayonnaise, 1/4 of an avocado, and two tablespoons of olive oil, and then let the mask sit on your hair for one hour before rinsing.
  2. Give yourself an at-home sugar scrub that sloughs off dead skin and leaves your body feeling smooth and rejuvenated. Combine equal parts coconut oil and brown sugar with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, then rub it all over the next time you’re in the shower.
  3. Do a DIY facial using a mashed banana mixed with two tablespoons of heavy cream, one tablespoon of honey, one tablespoon of flour, and one tablespoon of water. Let the mask sit on your face for 10 minutes before rinsing. The banana reduces redness and adds smoothness, while the heavy cream is very soothing and leaves a soft, supple feeling behind.

10 All-Natural Beauty Fixes [Woman’s Day]
Crazy Beauty Tricks That Really Work [Whole Living]
Our Favorite All-Natural Home Beauty Treatments [Fitness Magazine]
10 DIY Beauty Treatments [Seventeen]

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion: Watch Your Favorite Band from the Lawn

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is said to be one of the best places to catch a concert in The Woodlands, offering a wide array of nationally touring acts from a variety of genres. The well-maintained outdoor facility features a large pavilion covering a spacious stage and stadium-style seating, as well as a standing area for those who want to get as close as possible to the stage.

If you don’t want to spring for the higher ticket price, save some money by purchasing lawn seats and spreading a blanket out on the grassy lawn to watch the show. With a great sound system, numerous food and beverages vendors and a lively, fun-filled atmosphere, you’ll love spending a summer evening watching live music at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

For a complete list of upcoming shows at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, visit the venue’s website.

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
2005 Lake Robbins Drive
Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 363-3300
www.woodlandscenter.org

Big Texas Saloon: Put On Your Dancing Boots

Looking for something fun and out-of-the-ordinary to do this weekend in Spring? Put on your best pair of boots and head down to Big Texas Saloon, a traditional Texan dance hall featuring live music and dancing all night long. The popular bar features live country and rock n’ roll music from local acts and nationally touring musicians, as well as other fun seasonal events, like the Halloween Costume Contest.

The dance floor is always filled with people two-stepping to the music, but if you currently have two left feet, Big Texas Saloon also offers Texan dancing lessons that will make you feel like a local in no time. Learn how to do the two-step or the polka at these fun, all-ages lessons, and then show off your dancing skills during the next big night out at Big Texas Saloon.

For a full list of upcoming concerts, visit the Big Texas Saloon website.

Big Texas Saloon
19959 Holzwarth Road
Spring, TX 77388
(281) 353-8898
www.bigtexassaloon.com

Belly Up to the Reclaimed Wood Bar at Fielding’s Wood Grill

Try one of the hippest eateries in town for lunch or dinner when you visit Fielding’s Wood Grill. This casual eatery may have a rustic décor, but its ambiance is very modern, from the iPad bar to the expansive selection of craft beers and cocktails. The sleek leather booths make the perfect spots for a laid-back work meeting, and if you’re looking for place for a first date, you’ll love to pull up a bright red stool at the reclaimed wood bar.

Fielding’s Wood Grill offers an upscale menu of responsibly sourced American fare, including gourmet burgers made of 100 percent natural Black Angus beef and even homemade buns. Milkshakes are made from scratch using Milk King Dairy milk, while healthy eaters will love the restaurant’s green salads and items from the rotisserie and wood grill.

Fielding’s Wood Grill
1699 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(832) 616-3275
www.fieldingswoodgrill.com

Tackle Spring Cleaning With These Helpful Tips

The change from winter to spring is typically accompanied by a desire to have a bright, clean home. You're tired of the dingy, cold effects of winter snow and ice, and everything just feels a bit less than fresh. If you’re planning a spring cleaning routine but don’t know where to begin, these seven tips will help you get started.

  • Set all clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time.
  • Change the batteries in things like smoke detectors, remote controls, and alarm clocks.
  • Flip or rotate your mattress to ensure that it lasts for years to come.
  • Protect hardwood floors against scratches by adding padded, adhesive discs to the legs of chairs and tables.
  • Clean the refrigerator using a few teaspoons of baking soda diluted in hot water. Also be sure to toss out expired or unused food items.
  • Wash pillows to prevent seasonal allergens common in the springtime from accumulating inside.
  • Re-stock cleaning supplies to prepare yourself for any number of household messes and spills that come with the spring season.

Spring Cleaning [Martha Stewart]
28 Spring Cleaning Tips [Country Living]

Bear Branch Park: Outdoor Fun for Everyone in The Woodlands

Take a step out of your daily routine and into the great outdoors. Bear Branch Park is great for a day trip with the family or a picnic with your friends. The park comes complete with activity areas and covered pavilions, which means you can work up a sweat in the sun playing basketball, volleyball, or tennis, then lounge under the roof of a gazebo with a cool drink.

Wheelchair-accessible with plenty of restrooms available, Bear Branch Park is perfect for everyone. Kids will love the swimming pool and play areas complete with swing-sets and slides. Those looking for exercise will enjoy the track surrounding the soccer field, while those looking for a more relaxed activity can head to the disc golf course.

Bear Branch Park
5310 Research Forest Dr
The Woodlands, TX 77381
www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/33

Puffabellys: Country Entertainment & Country Cookin’

For an evening of Country music entertainment, head to Puffabellys in Old Town Spring. Located in a building reminiscent of a railroad depot and serving country-food pub grub, its a fun destination. Since 1995 Puffabellys has also been showcasing live music by regional artists.

You can enjoy the tunes and snack on the complementary peanuts – tossing the shells on the floor is encouraged and expected. Even f you don’t care for country music, come for the down home cooking! Texas-sized entree platters like hanger steak, and grilled lemon pepper catfish and shrimp satisfy hungry diners.

Check their website for upcoming events and daily specials, with different deals available throughout the week.

Puffabellys
100 Main Street
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 350-3376

www.puffabellys.com
www.yelp.com/biz/puffabellys-old-depot-restaurant-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

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