"If you're coming to Aladdin's bring your appetite," says one Yelp reviewer. And he's not alone: Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine is known as one of Houston's go-to spots for hearty, filling, and healthy meals. The garlicky hummus is made in-house and brightened with a quick squeeze of lemon, while the deep, smoky flavor of the roasted baba ghanoush provides a pleasing contrast to the hummus. Get an order of each accompanied by some warm, fresh pita bread for dipping.

Main dishes include spiced lamb gyros with grilled peppers, feta, and tzatziki as well as the restaurant's famous grilled kabobs in sirloin, chicken, lamb, and veggie varieties. Mix and match with one of the kabob combination platters, which also include dips and sides of your choice. This place is BYOB, so be sure to grab a bottle of your favorite wine to pair with your dinner.

Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine
912 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 942-2321
www.aladdinshouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/aladdin-mediterranean-cuisine-houston

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/stu_spivack

Who says office supplies have to be boring? Here are a few crafty ways to transform your basic pushpins and magnets into something eye-catching, playful, and perhaps a bit chic.

Bottle Cap Magnets and Thumbtacks [marthastewart.com]
Start saving up those used bottle caps, because you’re certainly going to want to try this adorable DIY project from Martha Stewart. Simply glue a small photo inside of each bottlecap, then use contact cement to attach them to the magnets and pushpins and create a tiny photo gallery.

DIY Gold Magnetic Letters [inspiredbycharm.com]
If you loved making silly words and phrases from those colorful magnetic letters as a kid, you’ll enjoy this chic, updated version just as much. Just cover those childish magnets with luxe gold spray paint for a modern, updated look.

Washi Tape Clothespins [designertrapped.com]
By covering affordable wooden clothespins with different types of colorful washi tape, you can create this fun project in less than an hour. Add adhesive magnets to the backs of each clothespin to use them on the refrigerator, or line them up on a wire to hang photos from a wall.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr jetheriot

If you’re looking for a fun, year-round activity that the whole family will enjoy, a visit to the Houston Zoo is a dependable choice. This spacious zoo is well laid out to create an enjoyable walking route through all of the various animals’ areas, and it offers a close-up look at everything from the creepy, crawly reptiles to the large elephants and giraffes. The paved paths are lined with shady trees and greenery to make a hot Texas afternoon a bit more bearable (no pun intended), and there are a number of indoor animal houses that enable you to tour the zoo even during bad weather.

If you have small children, the Houston Zoo also features a Kids’ Zoo that includes a petting zoo, animal-themed play areas, and playful sea otters that always seem to put on a show of their own.

The Houston Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Free parking is available on Hermann Park Drive, but note that these free lots fill up quickly!

Houston Zoo
6200 Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 533-6500
www.houstonzoo.org
www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g56003-d266874-Reviews-Houston_Zoo-Houston_Texas.html

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Roger Ahlbrand