Develop Strength and Flexibility at Express Hot Yoga

While Express Hot Yoga offers a few traditional 90-minute bikram-style yoga workouts, this studio stays true to its name by specializing in condensed, 50-minute classes. Regulars at this The Woodlands business say the studio itself is airy, clean, and beautifully maintained, which allows you to focus entirely on the poses—and be aware that you'll need to focus in order to get through a full 26-pose workout in just 50 minutes!

If you've never done hot yoga before, you'll likely find that the 50-minute classes are a great introduction to the bikram method. The studio recommends you arrive prepared to sweat, with a hand towel and plenty of water to drink.

Express Hot Yoga
1201 Lake Woodlands Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 363-2989
www.bytw.com
www.yelp.com/biz/express-hot-yoga-the-woodlands

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

Turkey 101: The Basics of Cooking a Thanksgiving Turkey

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the whole family, you want to make sure that the turkey comes out perfectly. It may take a bit of effort, but cooking a browned, flavorful turkey is possible if you adhere to a few strict guidelines. Here are some basic instructions for cooking a Thanksgiving turkey.

  1. Buy the right size bird. Allot 1 to 1.5 pounds for each dinner guest. For example, if you’re hosting 10 family members for dinner, a 12-pound turkey should be just the right amount.
  2. Thaw completely. Cooking a turkey that is still frozen inside is one of the most common turkey mishaps, so be sure to let your turkey thaw for at least one full day for every four pounds. If it’s still frozen on the day of, soak it in cold water for 30 minutes for each pound of meat.
  3. Remove the neck and giblets. This is the most unpleasant step of the process, but it will be much more unpleasant if you forget to do it.
  4. Roast. You should roast a 12-pound turkey for about 3 to 3.5 hours, less time for a smaller bird and more time for a larger one. Test the turkey’s doneness by using a food thermometer. Once the inside meat reaches 180 degrees F and the stuffing reaches 165 degrees F, it’s completely done.

Cooking Questions: Thanksgiving [AllRecipes]
How to Cook a Turkey Perfectly [How to Cook a Thanksgiving Turkey]
How to Roast a Turkey [Martha Stewart]
How To Cook a Turkey: The Simplest, Easiest Method [The Kitchn]

Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts: A Community Art Gallery

One of the most delightful art spaces near Avana Woodridge, the recently renovated Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts is a museum that's always in transition. Because there are no permanent exhibits, there are always different things to see at the facility. The late Pearl Fincher was a local community leader, and this museum is a great tribute to her legacy. There are three major galleries that so far this year have brought amazing exhibitions, and the Community Gallery features exhibitions from local elementary, middle, high school, and college students. With upcoming exhibits that focus on local art and architecture, there’s always something interesting around the bend. The museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays until 8 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free, but a $3 donation per person is suggested.

Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts
6815 Cypresswood Drive
Spring, TX 77379
(281) 376-6322

www.pearlmfa.org
www.yelp.com/biz/pearl-fincher-museum-of-fine-arts-spring

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

Sunny Side of the Street: Breakfast and Lunch in Spring, Texas

Looking for a flavorful spot to stop in for breakfast and lunch? Head to Sunny Side of the Street for some tasty food served in a cheerful setting.

Stop by in the a.m. to get your day started with an Old Fashioned Waffle served with whipped cinnamon butter, Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes, Biscuit & Gravy, or a Three Egg Omelet. Fans of their Blueberry Custard Baked French Toast say it’s a party in your mouth. Apple Cheddar Flapjacks are also a fave. The lunch menu features a Sunny Side Salad with mixed organic greens, spiced walnuts, dried cranberries, crispy goat cheese, wildflower honey & white balsamic vinaigrette. Other options include a Chicken Waffle Sandwich with fried chicken sandwiched between two waffles, and a Fried Green Tomato Sandwich with basil pesto.

Sunny Side of the Street is open every day in Spring, Texas.

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-2

How to Display Your Child’s Artwork—Creatively!

If your budding artist creates so many priceless paintings that your refrigerator is looking a bit cluttered, it may be time for a new way to display his or her art. There is a wide variety of ways to hang kids’ art in your home, and they’ll still even help you to stick to your current design scheme. Here are some of the top things to do with kids’ artwork.

  1. Hang a clothesline of art. Using a thin, clothesline-style rope, you can easily hang your little one’s paintings on the wall and transition them as often as you please. Simply fasten the rope at either end, attach a few clothespins and hang the artwork freely throughout.
  2. Turn a painting into a postage stamp. If your home is already filled with your child’s artwork, why not show his or her paintings off in other creative places? There are a number of different sites that enable you to scan and upload any photo you choose to a fully functional, U.S. Postal Service-approved postage stamp.
  3. Create a matching series. Give your child some watercolor paints in a few complementary colors and let him or her go wild. Afterward, frame the paintings in elegant white frames to create a gallery-worthy series that’s perfect for display.
  4. Turn it into a large canvas. Through the magic of the Internet, you can now scan your children’s artwork and have it printed on a large, high quality canvas in any shape you choose.

3 Ideas for Displaying Kids’ Artwork [Real Simple]
Kids + Art! [Babble]
What to Do with Kid Art [Parents.com]

Shag Spa and Salons: A Cut Above the Rest in The Woodlands

When residents of The Woodlands need to beautify, they head to Shag Spa and Salons, a one-stop beauty shop for hair, skin, and nails. This full-service salon even offers advanced cosmetic procedures, such as laser hair treatments that promise thicker-feeling tresses.

Stylists use such products as TIGI, Moroccan Oil, and Kerastase to cut, color, condition, or smoothen hair, while skin specialists slather skin in Dermologica products during facials, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion. Meanwhile, massage therapists promote relaxation and detoxify the body using fluid strokes and kneading, and nail technicians tend to hands and feet with cuticle trimming, skin softening, and nail painting.

The Shag Spa and Salons team boasts employees with more than 20 years of experience each, and many of employees here hold special certifications and training in New York, London, and Scotland.

Shag Spa and Salons
4747 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 296-7424
www.shagspaandsalons.com
www.yelp.com/biz/shag-spa-and-salons-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

Don’t Skip the Skinny Fries at Grub Burger Bar

You can rest assured that anything you eat at Grub Burger Bar in The Woodlands has been carefully crafted in-house from fresh ingredients. That begins with its patties, a blend of chuck and brisket that the kitchen team grinds each morning. The burger buns take even more manpower, as they're pulled piping hot from the oven every single hour. Chefs create their own sauces and salad dressings, slice their own cheese, and generally tackle every other task they can on-site.

According to Yelp reviewers, you can taste the hard work in every bite. Even the skinny fries that accompany Grub's juicy burgers win rave reviews. Still, the burgers play a starring role at Grub. Try the classic Front Porch burger if you're only interested in the essentials: lettuce, tomato, mustard, and mayo. For something a bit more lavish, order the OMG. It's actually topped with the skinny fries, as well as a healthy portion of Texas chili, cheddar, chopped onions, and mustard.

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

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