Happy Veteran’s Day!

Today we pay tribute to the men and women who have fought, and continue to fight, for our freedom. Thank you, veterans!

Our New Facebook Sweepstakes Has Started! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

To enter the Sweepstakes, Like our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends December 31, 2013.

For mobile users ONLY, like our Facebook Page, and then click here to enter!

Blast Off with These Three Podcasts About Space

It’s almost impossible not to be fascinated by the vast mystery that is outer space. These informative, scientific podcasts will take you on a trip to another planet, around a moon, across a galaxy and even teach you something new about our own planet Earth.

Astronomy Cast
Astronomy Cast is a podcast tailored toward amateur astronomers and those who want to learn more about astronomy through fun, conversational discussions. With topics like the zodiac, celestial navigation, and astrophotography, Astronomy Cast might just leave you with your head in the clouds.

NASA Podcasts
Collector of much of our outer space knowledge, NASA shares its most current findings and space explorations with the general public through a variety of podcasts and corresponding videos. This Week @ NASA uses a news-style format to deliver summaries of the organization’s latest happenings to listeners, while the Earth podcast explores the newest advancements in the study of our planet.

Talking Space
Talking Space is a podcast created by space enthusiasts for space enthusiasts. Its passionate and enthusiastic team discusses topics such as the advancement of rocket science, the history of the space shuttle Atlantis, conferences like the 100 Year Star Ship Symposium, and current space launches from across the globe.

Reminder: Today’s Election Day

Be sure to get out and vote today!

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens: Uniquely American Art

The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is proof that American art and craftsmanship are second to none. Located in the former home and grounds of local scion Ima Hogg, take a guided tour and you get to see many of the rooms on both floors, especially the main rooms used to entertain. You’ll also see some of the rarest artifacts in the collection, especially many objects native to the Texas region. You’ll also learn about Mrs. Hogg and how her singular devotion has resulted in one of the best collections of uniquely American art and antiques. You can also give yourself a self-guided tour of the home and the beautiful surrounding grounds. The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
1 Westcott Street
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 639-7750
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bayou-bend-collection-and-gardens-houston

Happy Autumn!

With autumn upon us, we hope everyone is able to take advantage of all of the fun and festivities that the season has to offer. Happy Fall!

 

Zelko Bistro: Pair Great Food & Wine

At Zelko Bistro, the food, wine, service and atmosphere combine to create a classic yet casual dining experience. Zelko's located in Houston Heights, where the proprietor sets the stage for the experience by using fresh local and sustainable ingredients to craft a delightful menu. Then, the right wines are chosen to pair with each dish. And there are so many good wines here that the Houston Press awarded Zelko Bistro as the place with the best restaurant wine list! The selection of apps, salads, sandwiches and entrees will satisfy any diner for lunch or dinner. And try something from the expansive dessert list, like the Texas Strawberry Shortcake!

Zelko Bistro is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Zelko Bistro
705 E. 11th Street
Houston, TX 77008
(713) 880-8691
http://www.yelp.com/biz/zelko-bistro-houston-2

Dionisio Winery: In Vino Veritas, Houston

Friends of the mighty grape like to congregate at Dionisio Winery. It’s a great place for date night or to meet up with friends and tip back a glass or two. Choose from a variety of wines made on site by the winery’s friendly owner. Reds include merlot, pinot noir, shiraz, zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon. If white’s your thing, sample some chardonnay, sauvignon blanc or zinfandel. Fruit wines made at the winery meld flavors for a super-sweet taste that many people love. Peach Chardonnay, Green Apple Riesling, Strawberry White Merlot and Black Cherry Pinot Noir are some of the luscious flavors to try. Want to learn more about wine or try bottling your own? Sign up for one of their fun, informative classes. Open Wednesday through Saturday.

Dionisio Winery
2110 Jefferson Street, Suite 119
Houston, TX 77003
(713) 906-2499
http://www.yelp.com/biz/dionisio-winery-houston

Five Free Image Editors

If you're not a photographer or don't plan on editing a lot of pictures it may be hard to justify spending money on an image editor. Well you are in luck! We've collected five of the best free image editors for you to try.

Sumopaint
This free download may not do a lot in terms of fixing blemishes, but it can add an artistic layer to your photo with the many useful tools. There is also a pro version available for a small few with more filters and tools.

GIMP
Make any picture better with this basic editor that allows you to change colors, digitally enhance photos, touch up errors, blur images, and add filters. You can even add animation to your picture. 

Pixlr
Pixlr has many similar features to Photoshop. You don't even need to download the software to your computer. You can simply use Pixlr in your internet browser.

PicMonkey
Available right in your internet browser, PicMonkey lets you customize the look of your photo with filters. You can perform basic editing tasks like resizing a picture, changing the exposure, and adding text. 

Splashup
If you're looking for a basic photo editor, this is for you. You can touch up pictures, crop, and adjust the color. Basic filters are available like sharpen, blur, and enrich. The program lets you easily edit multiple pictures at the same time. 

Oak, Nose, And Throat: Learning How To Talk Wine

Getting into wine appreciation can be a terrifying task. There's a lot of specialized knowledge and a complex vocabulary that goes along with enjoying a glass of wine. If you want to look sharp at your next tasting, here’s a quick guide to some of the most commonly used wine terms.

Nose: A wine’s nose is the first thing that you will evaluate after picking up your glass. The sense of smell is far more sensitive and complex than the sense of taste, so much of your enjoyment will come from the smell of the wine. Common adjectives used to describe a wine’s nose are fruity, nutty, and flowery, but you can use pretty much anything here.

Body: The biggest component of a wine’s taste is going to be from the body. Body's a general descriptive term that lets you go into detail about how the wine tastes as a whole. Body can go from light and refreshing for sparkling wines to full and weighty for heavier reds.

Intensity: High-quality wines are characterized by their intensity of flavor. In the best wines, flavors hold toegether in perfect balance. Wine lovers respect strong, assertive flavors that mesh well together.

Finish: The finish is the final phase of tasting a wine. Finish refers to how the flavors of the wine stay, reacting with your mouth after you’ve swallowed the drink. A good, long finish is one of the major hallmarks of a high-quality wine.

Pin It on Pinterest