Founded by settlers in the early 19th century, Spring began as a hub for railroad development and industrialization in Texas. As the economy flourished, Spring also became a destination for trade and business. Much like the rest of the United States, Spring was hit hard by the Depression in the 1930’s and took time to rebuild. The town subsequently reemerged several decades later and grew into a hotspot for festivals, events, and tourism in Texas. Today, Old Town Spring is recognized as one of Texas’ leading attractions. Visitors can wander the streets to feel history or visit the local Spring Historical Museum to learn more of the town’s journey.

These days, Old Town Spring is most well-known for its quaint, welcoming storefronts and businesses that maintain an old-timey feel along Main Street. It also garners attention for annual gatherings, including the popular Texas Crawfish & Music Festival and PetFest, an adoption event that places furry friends with loving families.

Old Town Spring
405 Main Street
Spring, TX 77373
www.oldtownspring.com
www.yelp.com/biz/old-town-spring-spring

Picky eaters in The Woodland find solace at Genghis Grill, where you can build your own stir-fry bowl with more than 80 available ingredients. In five easy steps, you will create your own meal before handing it off to grill masters who cook it atop a sizzling, circular grill. The five-step process includes choosing a protein, spice, veggies, sauce, and a starch. Depending on what you create, your meal may consist of Asian fusion, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Thai, vegan, or Korean fares.

If you can’t choose what to make, you can build one of the restaurant’s signature bowls. Choose from such house creations as pineapple teriyaki chicken, steak and broccoli, firecracker scallops, and spicy Thai tofu. If you don’t wish to participate at all, you can order a chef-made bowl from your table. Along with signature bowls, Genghis Grill serves infamous, signature cocktails in fishbowls!

Genghis Grill
9300 Six Pines Drive
The Woodlands, TX
(281) 363-4745
www.genghisgrill.com
www.yelp.com/biz/genghis-grill-the-woodlands

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/mac.rj

Meat is an important part of most people’s diets, and it can take up quite a large chunk of your grocery budget. Unfortunately, meat is also difficult to store and has a shorter shelf life than other groceries. Here are a few tips that will help you to store meat properly and make it last longer!

1. Keep your refrigerator at the proper temperature. In order to store meat in your refrigerator, it should be kept at or below 40 degrees. If you plan on freezing meat, the freezer should be kept at or below 0 degrees.
2. Timing is everything. In order to safely store cooked meat, you must refrigerate it within two hours of eating. If you’re storing it raw, be sure to refrigerate or freeze it immediately.
3. Store it in the proper containers. Be sure to refrigerate or freeze meat in a shallow container that is barely bigger than the meat itself. This will ensure that it becomes cold as quickly as possible and isn’t exposed to any air.
4. Be cautious about freezing. Freezing meat is a great way to make your meat last longer, but you need to be cautious about freezer burn. Be sure to wrap meat thoroughly in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or wax paper before storing the meat in the freezer.

Storage Times for the Refrigerator and Freezer [Foodsafety.gov]
Meat in the Refrigerator: How Long Does It Last? [Foodsafety.gov]
How to Store Food Properly in the Freezer and Fridge [Lifehacker]
Food Storage 101: Where and How Long to Keep Your Favorite Foods [Lifehacker]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/honorphotobar