Fun Meets Sustainability at Discovery Green

Discovery Green in downtown Houston is a newer urban park that hosts many cultural activities throughout the year, from art shows to weekends dedicated to activities for Fido. As it's name implies, Discovery Green is a "green" park. Not only does the park employ a high-efficiency irrigation system and solar panels, Discovery Green earned a Gold rating from the LEED Green Building Rating System for its use of sustainable building methods and energy conservation.

Now for the really fun stuff: This park is a great spot to mix up your exercise routine with free classes that range from yoga to hoop dancing. In summer, kids love cooling off in the splash park fountains, and in winter, the ice skating rink draws a crowd to downtown. If you work nearby, the park is great for a quiet outdoor lunch.

Discovery Green
1500 McKinney Street
Houston, TX 77010
(713) 400-7336
http://www.discoverygreen.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/discovery-green-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Alexis Fam Photography

Get Your Fill of Breakfast Favorites at Baby Barnaby’s Cafe

Baby Barnaby's Cafe is a favorite spot for breakfast and lunch in the Montrose area. The space is intimate, warm, and decorated with posters. During peak hours there can be a bit of wait and parking is a bit scarce, so be prepared if you have plans after your meal. Luckily, customers can enjoy coffee while they wait for seats.

The menu has a large variety to choose from, so don't worry about pleasing picky eaters. Popular among morning diners is the healthy breakfast plate which features egg whites, wheat toast, fruit, and apple sausage and the fruity pancakes that rotate depending on the season. (Make a point to try out the potatoes, which are brown and crispy on the outside while staying tender and soft inside!)

For lunch and dinner, choose from entrees like baby back ribs with apples, chicken tostadas with corn salsa, a range of meat and vegetarian burgers, and deli sandwiches. The wide reaching selection will leave your whole group satisfied.

Baby Barnaby's Cafe
602 Fairview Street
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 522-4229
http://www.barnabyscafe.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/baby-barnabys-caf%C3%A9-houston-2

Cooking 101: Fail-Proof Recipes for Pasta Sauce

Making your own pasta sauce may seem like something reserved for only the most skilled chefs, but you’d be surprised to know how simple it really is. Forgoing the store-bought sauces in favor of making your own is also beneficial to your health, as it eliminates the added sugars and preservatives that are often found in jarred pasta sauces. If you want to try your hand at preparing a zesty, flavorful sauce at home, here are three fail-proof recipes.

World’s Best Pasta Sauce!
This traditional pasta sauce is a versatile option that you can use for years to come. It includes the staple ingredients like tomato paste and a variety of Italian meats, plus flavorful spices ranging from dried basil to fennel seed. Once the ingredients are blended together, everything gets cooked slowly in a large Dutch oven.

Great Grandma’s Pasta Sauce
If your own grandmother wasn’t much of a sauce maker, feel free to adopt this tasty recipe as your own. It uses simple ground beef, tomatoes, and Italian spices to give it a hearty texture that tastes straight out of the old country.

Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce
If you want to create a sauce that tastes like gourmet without the gourmet cooking skills, this recipe is the one to use. Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse shares his unique recipe that includes unexpected ingredients like hot sauce, balsamic vinegar, and an impressive amount of garlic.

Public Domain/Public Domain

Happy Father’s Day!

Today we want to take time to wish all the Dads out there a very happy day! We hope all the Fathers near and far have a great day relaxing with loved ones!

cutLoose: The ‘Do That’s Perfect for You

If you haven’t updated your ‘do in a long time, make an appointment at cutLoose in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood. Here, expert stylists get to know your hair and your preferences before picking up the scissors. They specialize in innovative styles and have the training and technique to do your ‘do right. You’ll walk out with a style that works for your hair type, face shape, and lifestyle, rather than an unflattering or sad attempt you might get elsewhere.

Despite the salon's excellent reputation and loyal client base, it’s easy to get a quick appointment here. Prices are steep, but you get what you pay for; most clients return time and again for years.

cutLoose
1711 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77098
(713) 520-7401
http://www.cutloosetx.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cutloose-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/jkrizni

There Are Over 50 Ways to Get a Workout at Your Body Center

Take on a fitness challenge at Your Body Center, a yoga and Pilates studio in Houston’s Heights neighborhood. Knowledgeable and encouraging instructors make for a great experience, and many students realize significant weight loss and fitness improvements within a month. Over 50 classes are offered each week, and all skill levels are welcome. Classes include Yin, Forrest, and Vinyasa yoga styles, as well as Pilates ball, band, and cardio classes.

Your Body Center has two large studio spaces with walls of windows that let in plenty of natural light. One is kept hot for the specialty classes, like hot yoga. Unlike traditional Bikram, the instructors practice along with the students and encourage you to listen to your body, taking breaks as needed. Rates are reasonable, and new students can take advantage of special discounts. Mat and towel rentals are available. The center also offers therapeutic massage and other bodywork services.

Your Body Center
3605 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 874-0800
http://www.yourbodycenter.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/your-body-center-houston-3

Happy Memorial Day!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday as we remember all those heroes who have served our nation.

Follow the Cask to Taps House of Beer in Houston

It'd be almost impossible to miss Taps House of Beer. In lieu of a front door, there sits a huge cask with an entryway carved out. Walk right through into Taps' open, industrial-style space. Much like the brew house's exterior, the interior is a little off-beat. Wooden picnic tables are scattered throughout the bar, complementing a framework of exposed wooden beams and walls of brick. A shuffleboard table, arcade games, and foosball reside inside, whereas cornhole, bocce ball, and ladder golf are outside. Needless to say, this isn't your typical late-night bar.

That fact comes into clearer focus with a glance at the bar's list of beers, which showcases more than 90 different suds on tap and many by the bottle. From classic Corona or Blue Moon to Strongbow, Bombshell Blonde, and Flying Dog Tire Bite, the brews land all over a spectrum that spans "Light and Easy" to "Amber, Pale, or Pils." Although beer clearly plays the starring role at Taps, a modest food menu offers a handful of shared plates such as Jack Daniels pulled pork sliders and pizzas.

Taps House of Beer
5120 Washington Avenue
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 426-1105
www.tapshouseofbeer.com

www.yelp.com/biz/taps-house-of-beer-houston

Greet a Snack Attack With These 5 Creative Popcorn Recipes

The typical movie theater buttered popcorn is delicious, but sometimes you just want a little something extra from your popcorn. These creative recipes will show you a variety of surprising toppings to spice up your snack, from sweet to savory and every flavor in between.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Popcorn [Swanky]
It may seem strange, but the sweet flavors from everyone’s favorite childhood lunch sandwich work just as well as a topping on your evening snack. Peanut butter and jelly popcorn takes only a few simple ingredients, and it even uses white chocolate for an extra boost of sweetness.

Nutted Popcorn [Real Simple]
Popcorn and nuts are both popular snacks, and this fun recipe combines the two into one filling bowl. Pecans, almonds, and pumpkin seeds stick to each popcorn kernel with a light, cinnamon flavored syrup, much like the kettle corn at county fairs and baseball games.

Samoa Popcorn [Babble]
Achieve the taste of the beloved Girl Scout cookie by drizzling toasted coconut, caramel, and chocolate over your salted popcorn.

Spicy Nutella Popcorn [Healthy Jalapeno]
Nutella is everyone’s favorite sweet spread, and adding spicy ancho chile powder takes this popcorn from a common snack to a gourmet treat.

Bacon and Cheese Popcorn [Popcorn.org]
Bacon is an increasingly popular addition to many dishes, and it works just as well on popcorn. In just five minutes and with a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy this bacon and cheese popcorn snack.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Wishing all the moms out there a wonderful day!

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