With vibrant painted murals, a gleaming curved wooden bar, and walls stacked with wine bottles, Grotto Ristorante is a lively setting for a flavorful dinner.

Settle in by the fireplace indoors or out on the patio and get your party started with a glass or bottle of wine and an antipasto, like mussels marechiaro with white wine and fresh tomatoes, the scampi grotto with mushrooms, or the mozzarella in padella with tomatoes, garlic, and basil. Pizza and pasta are featured on the menu, along with entrees like shrimp paillard with jumbo lump crab, roasted bell peppers, and lemon sauce, and snapper Siciliano with Roma tomatoes, garlic, shrimp sauce, and lump crab.

Grotto Ristorante is open every day. Stop by for weekend brunch for a sumptuous feast!

Grotto Ristorante
9595 Six Pines Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 419-4252
www.grottorestaurants.com
www.yelp.com/biz/grotto-ristorante-the-woodlands-2

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/becre8tive

Between family, friends, work, and errands, there's typically little time left in the day for cooking a wholesome, healthy meal. Whether you're cooking for one or preparing a feast for your entire extended family, these time-saving cooking tips can help you stretch those seconds in the kitchen.

1) Keep your cabinets well-stocked.
Before you make a trip to the grocery store, do a quick assessment of your cabinets. Are you low on essentials such as rice, flour, cooking stock, basic seasonings, and pasta? Keeping these kitchen staples on hand will prevent hiccups in your meal planning process down the line. Consider printing this handy grocery checklist from Martha Stewart.

2) Plan ahead.
Establishing a meal menu for the week will not only make dinner prep easier, it'll also help you save money. Scan the newspaper for coupons, then flip through your grocer's circular for any notable bargains. Afterwards, plan a menu based around the food that's on sale. For instance, if chicken is being offered at a discount, capitalize from the deal by creating a chicken-centric menu for the week. Assemble oven-ready dishes, such as casseroles and soup stock, that you can freeze and eat at a later date.

Menu Planning: Save Time In The Kitchen [Organized Home]
Save Time in the Kitchen [Martha Stewart]
5 best time-saving cooking tips [EatingWell]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/cyclonebill

The Riva Row Boat House is one of The Woodlands’ most popular community amenities. Located within walking distance of both Market Street and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, this beautiful, rustic boat house offers residents a way to rent kayaks and experience a unique view of the Woodlands Waterway.

Both single or tandem kayaks are available, and they cost just $15 to $20 for the first hour. Guests are able to determine their own route down the waterway, and if you choose to row all the way to the end of the route you’ll find a beautiful lake right next to North Shore Park. Whether you go solo, with a date, or even bring your dog along for the ride, the Riva Row Boat House offers the perfect outdoor activity for a hot Texas day.

The Riva Row Boat House is open year round, though its hours are different throughout the year. Check the informative website for more information about kayak rental times and rates.

Riva Row Boat House
2101 Riva Row
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 210-3965
www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/index.aspx?nid=360
www.yelp.com/biz/riva-row-boat-house-the-woodlands

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/L'eau Bleue