13 Celsius: Drink and Be Merry

At 13 Celsius, a wine bar in Midtown near Baldwin Park, the grape is respected. In trying to emulate the great wine bars of Europe, all of the wines at 13 Celsius are stored with care in a cellar constantly kept at a temperature of – what else – 13 degrees Celsius.

Not only that, each bottle remains untouched until it is brought up to drink, ensuring quality. What that means is that you will always get a great bottle or glass of wine when you come to 13 Celsius. The bar and lounge is also very cool, with a 40-foot bar and furnishings procured from a now-closed hotel. It’s a great spot to meet up with friends after work or to bring a date after dinner for a drink!

Visit the 13 Celsius website to learn more about this Houston wine bar.

13 Celsius
3000 Caroline Street
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 529-8466
http://www.yelp.com/biz/13-celsius-houston

Huynh: Vietnamese Fare Flavors on the Gulf Coast

Bite into the crispy spring rolls or savor the delicious broth of a splendid vermicelli bowl at Huynh, a family-owned Vietnamese restaurant that's been part of Houston's dining scene for more than a decade. Consistently named one of Houston's best Vietnamese eateries, Huynh complements its flavorful fare with an inviting atmosphere and friendly staff. Simple floral arrangements accent the lightly colored walls and carpet, creating a serene space to enjoy a meal with family or friends.

Authentic Vietnamese dishes here are replete with spice and texture. Come for lunch and feast on Huynh's mid-priced pho, a traditional Vietnamese soup that includes up to four meats of your choice. Dinner promises a feast of flavors when you order dishes like Dau Hu Xoa Thit Xay, a combination of diced tofu and ground pork with mushrooms, peppers, and onions to share with your favorite people.

Huynh Restaurant opens at 11 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Note that this popular eatery is closed on Sundays.

Huynh
912 St. Emanuel Street
Houston, TX 77003
(713) 224-8964
www.huynhrestauranthouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/huynh-houston

Don’t Forget to Vote!

Today is Election Day! Make sure you go out and vote today!

Treebeards: Your Lunch Spot

Looking for a real southern lunch? Come to Treebeards. Located right in the heart of the downtown, Treebeards brings the tastes of the South to your table. Check out the appetizers and soups, which features Cajun fare favorites like red beans and rice, shrimp etouffee, and three different styles of gumbo: duck, chicken and seafood.

The daily specials have down home favorites like meatloaf, catfish and pork chops. Fried chicken with gravy is a special every day! Make sure that you try the jalapeno cornbread, and save room for some classic desserts. Treebeards is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a perfect place for a relaxing lunch. Catering is also available.

Treebeards
315 Travis Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 228-2622
www.yelp.com/biz/treebeards-houston

How to Make Your Very Own Trick-or-Treat Bag

If your kids are eagerly anticipating October 31, you can extend the Halloween celebration a bit longer by helping them to create their own customized candy bags. Here are three simple and creative tutorials that will show you how.

Custom Candy Bag
For this simple bag, first find a favorite Halloween-related image online and print it out onto iron-on transfer paper. All it takes is a household iron to adhere the decal to a canvas tote bag, and your child will love that no one else has a bag like it.

Pillowcase Trick or Treat Bags
Pillowcases have been used as trick or treat bags for generations, but this fun DIY project gives them a spooky makeover. Have your little ones help you by tracing jack-o'-lantern or ghost faces onto black iron-on patches, then adhere them to a simple white pillowcase to fill with candy.

Quick & Easy Trick or Treat Bags
If you’re feeling especially crafty (and have basic sewing skills), this DIY treat bag involves using Halloween-themed fabric scraps to create actual tote bags for your little ghouls and goblins. Best of all, these bags are so sturdy that they can even be used for small school books or as a lunch sack.

Watch Cowboys Ride at Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

As the largest livestock and rodeo show in the world, the Sam Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo runs for three weeks in March and displays the top athletes competing bracket-style. There are twenty exhilarating performances nightly with high payouts awarded to each winner. Varied competitions include tie-down roping, bareback riding, team roping, and bull riding, among other engaging formats.

Food and live music are abundant throughout the grounds in addition to a petting zoo, hatchery, shopping kiosks, and a carnival. Plus, the facility presents numerous other annual events including concerts, horse shows, cook-offs, and county barbecues. Be sure to stop by the gift shop to pick up a Rosewood Divot tool, "Bowlegged H" Valet Key Ring, Aluminum Case with barbecue tools, or other unique gift.

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
8334 Fannin Street
Houston, TX 77054
(832) 667-1000
www.rodeohouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/houston-livestock-show-and-rodeo-houston-2

Cafe Piquet: Cuban Cuisine

Café Piquet serves up a splendid selection of authentic Cuban fare in a rustic indoor-outdoor setting. The expansive menu gives you plenty to choose from, including sandwiches, soups, salad and appetizers. You can get your meal started with a refreshing libation and an appetizer like Croquetas de Jamon – ham croquettes, Calamares Fritos – fried calamari, Tostones – fried green plantains, or Papas Rellenas – stuffed potatoes.

The classic Cuban sandwich, the Cubano, with Swiss cheese, ham, pork & mustard on a French roll, is always a great choice. Entrees include Pernil – oven roasted pork with garlic sauce, Ropa Vieja – shredded beef cooked in tomato wine sauce, Camarones Enchilados – shrimp Creole, and Pollo ala Plancha – grilled chicken breast.

Cafe Piquet is open every day in a spot not too far away from Metropole.

Café Piquet
5757 Bissonnet Street
Bellaire, TX 77401
(713) 664-1031
www.cafepiquet.net
www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-piquet-bellaire

Sip Sake, Nibble a Godzilla Roll at Uptown Sushi

Like your raw fish in an uber-modern, elegant setting? That’s what you’ll get at Uptown Sushi.

Settle in with a martini, sake, beer, or glass of wine and a yummy starter like chipotle yuzu prawns or tuna tataki. If a plate of beautifully crafted raw fish is your thing, order the Godzilla Roll with salmon, white onion, fresh jalapeno, and green Tabasco, or the Spicy Yellowtail Roll with jalapeno, avocado, spicy sprouts, yellowtail, parmesan, tamari. The entree menu features sumptuous fare like Shichimi Snapper with shichimi spice, garlic and miso-chipotle beurre reduction, and Curried Chicken Karaage – ginger marinated chicken, deep fried and sauteed in curry sauce.

Uptown Sushi is open every day.

Uptown Sushi
1131 Uptown Park Boulevard
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 871-1200
uptown-sushi.com
yelp.com/biz/uptown-sushi-houston

How to Find Pick-Your-Own Apples Near You

You’ve always wanted to take the kids apple picking, but finding an orchard seems a bit tricky. Fortunately, apple orchards are becoming increasingly popular, and they’re actually much more common than you might think! Here are two great websites that will help you locate places to pick apples locally.

Pick-Your-Own.org
Just like the name implies, this convenient website provides information about all of the different ways to pick apples across the country. Simply select our state’s name from the cumulative list, and the site will show you detailed information about the different facilities across the state. The orchards are even separated by county to make it easier to find one locally.

Local Harvest
This is a go-to site for all types of organic and local food information, but it’s also very beneficial for finding and researching information about apple orchards. Local Harvest’s interactive map enables you to browse by wide areas, and the site also offers information about upcoming events at the orchards. Once you find the closest place to pick apples, check the ratings from other members and read a full description of all of its facilities.

Theater Under the Stars: Light Up the Night With Live Theater

Take in a show preformed by the impressive company Theater Under the Stars at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Originally founded in 1969 in the open-air theater of Miller Park, this innovative company has grown into its now-permanent location under a sea of sparkling fiber optic stars, adding a magical atmosphere to each show produced.

Performing popular musicals such as Man of La Mancha, Evita, Jekyll and Hyde, and Flashdance, the talented actors and actresses draw a large crowd at each show. Theater Under the Stars has also expanded to include TUTS Underground, an intimate theater of 500 seats that produces shows that are slightly more counter-culture. Take advantage of the Cuisine & Culture package that includes a three-course dinner from one of four participating restaurants along with orchestra setting for a show at either venue. With so many options from one company, theater lovers of all stripes will appreciate all TUTS has to offer.

Theatre Under the Stars
800 Bagby Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 558-2600
www.tuts.com
www.yelp.com/biz/theatre-under-the-stars-houston

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