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Miller Outdoor Theatre: Culture Under the Stars

March 11, 2014 by

Spend some time outdoors at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston’s Hermann Park. In operation over 90 years, the theatre hosts a wide variety of concerts, plays, and performances, all of which are free. If you prefer covered seating, you’ll need a ticket; otherwise, most theatre-goers spread a blanket on the grassy hill facing the stage. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy! Alcohol is permitted provided it’s not in a glass container. For those who want the convenience, a concession stand offers refreshments and picnic supplies.

Check the theatre's website often for an updated performance schedule. Plan to arrive early, as parking can be challenging and you’ll have better luck finding a spot. Or, take METRORail and the theatre is just a five minute walk. There are plenty of clean bathrooms at these family-friendly events.

Miller Outdoor Theatre
6000 Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(281) 823-9103
http://milleroutdoortheatre.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/miller-outdoor-theatre-houston

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Children’s Toys for Budding Engineers

March 4, 2014 by

Is your little one an engineer in the making? Does he or she love to build with blocks, draw houses, or explore how things work? If you want to instill a love for engineering in your child from a young age, these fun toys will help you do so.

Goldie Blox
Goldie Blox is a company whose goal is to get young girls interested in engineering. The brand’s building games feature strong female characters and help to build spatial reasoning abilities, allowing girls to create structures and machines, learn engineering principles, and build problem-solving skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. Girls ranging from ages four to nine can all participate in Goldie Blox games, though the brand also makes empowering clothing and tees for babies and toddler girls.

Lego Mindstorms
Legos have been around for generations, but the Lego Mindstorms line is a whole new idea. With a variety of products designed to help kids build and operate their own robots, Mindstorms uses 3D building instructions that prepare children for careers in engineering. Kids will learn logic and reasoning skills, and they’ll also become familiar with operating computers and mobile devices by controlling their robots through the Mindstorms app.

 

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The Houston Zoo: From Amphibians to Zebras

February 25, 2014 by

Plan a day at The Houston Zoo, and get up close and personal with everything from amphibians to zebras. Seemingly endless exhibits—including carnivorous cats, playful primates, and beckoning birds—will provide hours of entertainment. Exhibits are renovated to keep the animals comfortable, and the zoo is contracting new habitats for gorillas, which will return in 2015. The zookeepers are very knowledgeable, so make it a point to make it to one of their talks. Kids love the Giraffe Feeding Platform that elevates visitors to be face to face with these gentle giants. A 4-D movie experience is another family favorite.

Visitors find the zoo clean and well maintained, with a strong conservation and education mission. Admission is reasonable, especially compared to other big city zoos; adults are $14 and children are $10. (You can save a few extra bucks if you purchase the tickets at Fiesta Mart.) The Houston Zoo provides free parking, but it fills up fast on the weekends. 

The Houston Zoo
6200 Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 533-6500
http://www.houstonzoo.org
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-houston-zoo-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Martin Pettitt

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Underbelly: Fine Dining in Houston

February 18, 2014 by

With soaring ceilings, handcrafted walnut tables and an open kitchen that lets you watch the chefs work their magic, Underbelly might just be the perfect spot for a unique dining experience. The frequently changing menu takes advantage of what’s seasonal and fresh from local purveyors. Stop by for lunch to feast on Grilled Shrimp Salad with buttermilk dressing, Butter Biscuits & Chicken Gravy, or a Roast Beef Sandwich with Korean red chile mayo. The dinner menu features a tasty array of entrees like Seared Snapper with tomato confit, Korean Braised Goat with dumplings, Wagyu Satay with cold soba salad and Crispy Local Vegetables with caramelized fish sauce. Save room for dessert, as diners praise the Fried Strawberry Pie with toasted rice ice cream. Underbelly is open Mondays through Saturdays.

Underbelly
1100 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 528-9800
http://www.yelp.com/biz/underbelly-houston

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Happy Presidents’ Day

February 17, 2014 by

Remembering the courage and vision of past and present leaders, we honor and share the spirit of Presidents' Day together as a nation.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous

Happy Valentine’s Day!

February 14, 2014 by

Wishing everyone a day filled with fun and happy memories!

Filed Under: Miscellaneous

Enjoy a Romantic Fireside Dinner With a View at Backstreet Cafe

February 11, 2014 by

Set in a historic building dating to the 1930s, Backstreet Cafe in Montrose is the ideal place to toast a special occasion. Complete with working fireplaces, rooms overlook the restaurant's idyllic backyard, where guests are welcome to dine surrounded by camphor trees and arbors swelling with vines and shrubs.

Artfully-presented menu item include crab cakes, shrimp and grits, coffee crusted steak, and lamb chops smothered with sauce. Backstreet Cafe also boasts a comprehensive vegetarian menu that features mushroom taquitos with tomatillo salsa, jalapeno fettuccine with black beans and spiced with cilantro, and a cauliflower and root vegetable patty coated with saffron. 

Backstreet has private rooms and is a fabulous place to host your next event, be it for a birthday party, wedding rehearsal, or business lunch. It's suggested that guests make reservations to ensure they can be taken care of in a timely manner.

Backstreet Cafe
1103 South Shepherd Drive
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 521-2239
http://www.backstreetcafe.net/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/backstreet-caf%C3%A9-houston-2

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Two Online Financial Literacy Resources for Parents

February 4, 2014 by

Parents want to teach their children real world tools for managing their money, making smart investments and becoming financially literate. But there are so many topics to cover that it may seem overwhelming. Luckily these great websites provide accessible financial resources that children of all ages will understand:

Bank It
Bank It is a website created for parents to help teach children in grades 3 to 12 about real world money topics. It uses a number of financial literacy topics, workshop modules, and online tools to help kids become more knowledgeable about savings, investments, and more.

360 Degrees of Financial Literacy
This website, developed by the American Institute of CPAs, aims to help people of all ages become more familiar with personal finance. It covers life stages from teens to college students to homeowners, highlighting commonplace financial situations like buying a car or paying for a college education. Users can also browse the website by topics such as credit and debt, insurance and retirement planning to learn more about specific subjects.

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Burke Baker Planetarium: To The Stars

January 28, 2014 by

Have an interstellar experience at the Burke Baker Planetarium, located in the Museum of Natural Science. High-resolution video technology projects images of planets, stars, meteors, solar systems and galaxies on the domed surface of the theatre. Their computerized SkySkan DigitalSky Starfield projector is the most advanced in the world, providing stunning simulations of stars, planets, comets and nebulous objects. It lets you play astronaut with jaw dropping three-dimensional simulated flights through space. A state-of-the-art digital stereo sound system enhances the Dome Theatre experience with a variety of music and sound effects. Films like Stars of the Pharaohs take you back 6,000 years to ancient Egypt to see how astronomers aligned their temples and pyramids with the stars.

Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students.

Burke Baker Planetarium
1 Hermann Circle Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 639-4629
http://www.yelp.com/biz/burke-baker-planetarium-houston

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The Pass: Visit the Chef’s Table

January 21, 2014 by

The Pass seeks to create an experience where patrons feel they’re dining at the chef’s own table. Expertly attentive service, impeccable food and a casually elegant atmosphere have earned them kudos from happy diners. Pass through the secret entrance and prepare to be wowed by a chef’s tasting menu with 5 to 8 courses, with or without wine or cocktail pairings. You can call ahead or go online to find out the changing menu, or be surprised by the marathon of delectable delights presented to you. Courses might include Ham & Eggs, which is egg custard served in a can of caviar, layered with capers, salt, spices, & black caviar. By all accounts it’s a little bit of heaven in your mouth. Dinner is by reservation only.

Not far from Marquis Lofts on Sabine, it's open Tuesday through Saturday.

The Pass
807 Taft Street
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 628-9020
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-pass-houston

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