Olde Towne Kolaches & Bakery: From Classic Czech to Tex-Czech Kolaches

Classic Czech kolaches start with the basics at Olde Towne Kolaches & Bakery: eggs, butter, and no preservatives. Bakers shape the handcrafted dough into pillowy pastries and fill them with a healthy dollop of fruit filling. Apple, peach, cherry apricot, and poppy seed are all available.

Bakers don't stop at traditional kolaches, though. They also craft a new type of baked good: the Tex-Czech kolache. Unlike the sweet Czech pastries, Tex-Czech kolaches come filled with ingredients like bacon, ham, sausage, beef chicken, eggs, and even jalapenos. Customers are welcome to grab just a few of the small kolaches, but they can also stock up with a couple dozen and take them home for a party or gathering.

If you aren't up for a kolache of any sort, try one of Olde Towne Kolaches & Bakery's other decadent treats. From gooey cinnamon rolls and fruit strudels to pecan sticky buns and scones, Olde Towne Kolaches & Bakery has its customers covered.

Olde Towne Kolaches & Bakery
8821 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77063-3625
(713) 781-7155
www.otkbakery.com
www.yelp.com/biz/olde-towne-kolaches-and-bakery-houston

Discovery Green: Jog, Canoe or Watch a Movie at This Scenic Green Space

Though Houston may be a sprawling metropolis, it provides ample opportunities for locals to get outdoors at parks like Discovery Green. This modern green space and community hub hosts beautiful gardens, playgrounds for the little ones, and an ever-changing array of inspirational outdoor art installations.

The park’s large pond is often used for canoeing around Houston’s beautiful cityscape, while in the winter, it doubles as an outdoor ice rink for visitors of all ages to enjoy. There are sprawling green spaces where people can play catch or enjoy a picnic, walking paths for those who want to get a bit of exercise, and even a dog park where you can take your furry friend. Discovery Green contains a few different restaurants on its grounds, and there are also areas where the park hosts live music performances, outdoor movies, and festivals during the summer months.

For a full list of happenings at Discovery Green, visit the park’s website!

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

Take a Dip at SplashTown in Spring, Texas

About 30 minutes from the heart of Houston, SplashTown is the coolest way to love the heat. Big kids and little ones alike can find a way to splash around, starting with tamer attractions like the Leaky Pipes, Crocodile Isle, and the Lazy River tube. But big attractions at SplashTown are for those kids over 48 inches tall. Here, you’re in for some dramatic whitewater action. The newest thrill is the Stingray Racer, where daredevils simultaneously charge headfirst on foam mats down parallel five-story-high, high-speed slides. Tornado, RipQirl, and Big Spin are all designed to thrill visitors, while Texas Freefall might be imagined as a training prerequisite to skydiving.

Regulars recommend season’s passes or group coordination to save money, and packed lunches in the parking lot. Or maybe you’d prefer renting a cabana. Whatever your style, be sure to familiarize yourself with the Park’s rules and the map with the park layout before you rush over. Look for special events and coupons too.

SplashTown
21300 I-45 North
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 355-3300
www.splashtownpark.com

What’s Your Favorite Class at YogaOne Studios?

Along with yoga's rising popularity in recent years has come a proliferation of classes featuring different styles of yoga, and it can sometimes be hard to find a studio that offers your preferred yoga style. That's where YogaOne comes in: this yoga studio's Bellaire location offers just about everything, from bikram-style hot yoga and vinyasa flow to forrest yoga, so no matter what you're looking for, you can probably find it here.

What's more, since the folks at YogaOne understand how important it is to find an instructor you connect with and a class that fits your needs, newcomers to the studio can get a heavily discounted 30-day trial membership that allows you to try over 350 classes taught by several dozen instructors at any of YogaOne's five locations. Yelp reviewers say the Bellaire staff is especially friendly and motivational, so whether you're new to yoga or a seasoned yogi, you'll likely find yourself welcome here.

YogaOne Studio
5427 Bellaire Boulevard
Bellaire, TX 77401
(281) 888-7724
www.yogaonehouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/yogaone-studios-bellaire

K1 Speed: Enjoy Go-Kart Racing in Houston, Texas

K1 Speed gives patrons' inner daredevils a safe place to show themselves. The indoor go-kart racing arena in Houston sticks guests in safe, eco-friendly electric go karts and sends them soaring around the racetrack. Though K1 only opened its first location in 2003, the flagship California located quickly launched 19 others, with more planned in the near future.

Its popularity as a spot for families and groups of friends is solidified by the extras that surround the race track. Even if you don't like to speed, you can still play a game of pool or grab a bite in the pit cafe. Professional race car driver Boris Said even acts as a K1 Speed co-owner, and the experience is meant to help you get as close to the feel of real racing as possible.

K1 Speed
14900 N.W. Freeway
Houston, TX 77040
(281) 674-8012
www.k1speed.com

www.yelp.com/biz/k1-speed-houston

Discover Your New Favorite Artist at Off the Wall Gallery

Located on the first floor of The Galleria, Off the Wall Gallery is a high-end art gallery specializing in what owner Mimi Sperber calls "Urban Eclecticism." This genre of art is a blend of artistic elements believed to nourish "today's urban souls."

Family-owned and -operated for over three decades, Off the Wall houses 4,600 square feet of original art, sculpture, and prints by mid-level career from all over the world. Expert staff is on hand to introduce collectors and novices to their favorite new artists, and the gallery frequently plays host to temporary exhibits, as well. Past exhibits have displayed pieces by famous artists like Dali, Matisse, Picasso, Manet, and Renoir.

Situated near Neiman Marcus, Off the Wall Gallery is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Off the Wall Gallery
5015 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 871-0940
www.offthewallgallery.com
www.yelp.com/biz/off-the-wall-gallery-houston

Nothing Bundt Cakes: Treat Yourself to Something Sweet

The folks at Nothing Bundt Cakes know that few things in life are better than savoring a bite of sweet, delicious cake made with fresh eggs and real butter, so that's exactly what this Sugar Land bakery specializes in making. You'll find plenty of full-sized, 8- and 10-inch bundt cakes, which can be frosted and decorated however you like (they can even be stacked into a custom tiered cake for special occasions).

But the real specialties of Nothing Bundt Cakes are its single-serving "bundtlets" and bite-sized "bundtinis," each of which are sold by the dozen and come in your choice of 10 different flavors. Try ordering a dozen or two for your next party in a variety of flavors like red velvet (made with real buttermilk), pecan praline (studded with candied pecans), and classic chocolate (ask for chocolate chips to be added to the batter for an extra-decadent version).

Nothing Bundt Cakes
1531 Highway 6
Sugar Land, TX 77478
(281) 491-2253
www.nothingbundtcakes.com/bakery/tx/sugar-land
www.yelp.com/biz/nothing-bundt-cakes-sugar-land-2

Rich Gelato Is Served Atop Brioche Buns at SweetCup in Houston

After traveling through Italy during her honeymoon, the founder of SweetCup returned to the U.S. with a new purpose: to bring the authentic Italian gelato cafe experience to Houston. Her cafe, SweetCup, opened in February 2012, bringing with it authentic elements ranging from its all-natural gelato to its freshly brewed espresso that makes use of locally roasted beans.

At SweetCup, gelato is prepared in small batches on a daily basis. Flavors vary by season, but past highlights have included peanut butter stracciatella, caramelized banana, and bourbon caramel alongside everyday favorites such as bacio and zabaione. Order your gelato atop a warm brioche bun or enjoy it "affogato" style, topped with two shots of fresh espresso. Regulars note that the sorbetto here is also not to be missed, especially when the flavors highlight summertime fruits and berries.

SweetCup is open Tuesdays through Sundays.

SweetCup
3939 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 942-2226
sweetcupgelato.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sweetcup-houston

Thompson’s Antique Center of Texas: Vintage Pieces Ranging From Furniture to Fishing Tackle

From furniture to fishing tackle, Thompson's Antique Center of Texas boasts an all-encompassing inventory. It plays host to 17 aisles' worth of collectibles and antique items from more than 100 different dealers. Explore the massive 108,000-square-foot space in search of your next treasure.

Start your own coin collection with some of the collectible pieces at Thompson's Antique Center of Texas. Grab a new end table or comfy chair to accentuate your living room. Embellish your neck or wrists with a piece of vintage jewelry. You can also pick up a new hat or top, sift through various pieces of artwork, and even buy a few books. Thompson's Antique Center of Texas also boasts a collection of dish sets, so you should be able to find one that suits your taste at the store. If you're buying any item as a gift, Thompson's staff will be happy to wrap it for you—and they always take great care to keep the piece in perfect condition.

Thompson's Antique Center of Texas
9950 Hempstead Road
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 688-4211
antiquecenteroftexas.com
www.yelp.com/biz/thompsons-antique-center-of-texas-houston-2

House of Coffee Beans: Customize Your Morning Brew

Coffee aficionados know that different beans and roasting styles create distinctly different tastes, and that's where House of Coffee Beans steps in. Since 1973, House of Coffee Beans has been roasting all its own beans, in small, hand-tended batches, using a vintage German roaster.

This Houston shop offers dozens of different bean varieties, all of which are available to grind and brew at home. Pick up a pound of classic French roast, or treat yourself to one of the shop's custom flavored coffees, like creme brulee, vanilla nut cream, or hazelnut. During the holiday season you can even get unique holiday blends that evoke the flavors of egg nog, gingerbread, or pumpkin pie. If you consider yourself to be a more educated coffee drinker, you'll appreciate the non-flavored, shade-grown, single estate beans in varieties like Ethiopia Sidamo, Sumatra Mandheling, and Celebes Toraja.

House of Coffee Beans
2348 Bissonnet Street
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 524-0057
www.houseofcoffeebeans.com
www.yelp.com/biz/house-of-coffee-beans-houston

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