Founded by settlers in the early 19th century, Spring began as a hub for railroad development and industrialization in Texas. As the economy flourished, Spring also became a destination for trade and business. Much like the rest of the United States, Spring was hit hard by the Depression in the 1930’s and took time to rebuild. The town subsequently reemerged several decades later and grew into a hotspot for festivals, events, and tourism in Texas. Today, Old Town Spring is recognized as one of Texas’ leading attractions. Visitors can wander the streets to feel history or visit the local Spring Historical Museum to learn more of the town’s journey.

These days, Old Town Spring is most well-known for its quaint, welcoming storefronts and businesses that maintain an old-timey feel along Main Street. It also garners attention for annual gatherings, including the popular Texas Crawfish & Music Festival and PetFest, an adoption event that places furry friends with loving families.

Old Town Spring
405 Main Street
Spring, TX 77373
www.oldtownspring.com
www.yelp.com/biz/old-town-spring-spring

With the holiday season in full swing, you might want to impress your family and friends with a delicious, homemade pie at your festive gathering. Although making a pie from scratch seems intimidating, these tips from the pros will ensure that your crust turns out completely flawless.

1. Chill everything. It’s fairly common knowledge that a good pie crust relies on very cold butter, but you can even go one step further by chilling everything (like flour, butter and shortening) before beginning.
2. Keep things lumpy. While most recipes require you to blend or mix the dough until it’s perfectly smooth, a good pie crust relies on those small chunks of butter or other fats. This is what creates small air pockets for that lovely flaky texture once it’s done baking.
3. Don’t over-handle the dough. The warmth from your hands can cause the gluten in the dough to seize up, so be sure to only touch the dough when transferring it into the pan.
4. Use parchment paper. Not only does sandwiching your pie dough between parchment paper keep your kitchen cleaner, it also prevents the crust from tearing when it gets too thin.
5. Create an aluminum shield. Because the pie’s filling and its crust tend to cook at different speeds, wrap a shield of aluminum foil around the crust’s edges during the last five minutes of baking.

10 Tips for Making Perfect Pie Crust [About Food]
The 10 Commandments of a Perfect Pie Crust [Real Simple]
6 Tips For Perfect Pies And Tarts [Food Network]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/elizaraxi

Whether you're looking for restaurant to host a group dinner for a special occasion, or you simply want to relax and enjoy a good meal on a Friday night, Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar is a solid choice. This place is often packed, and yet customers still routinely give it high marks for both hospitality and food.

Yelp reviewers rave over the coconut crusted crab cakes with Thai chili sauce, so if you like seafood, this is a good appetizer to begin your meal. As far as entrees go, the blackened fish taco with tomato relish and chipotle aioli is another customer favorite, while the kona coffee crusted ribeye steak served with herbed marrow butter and warm potato salad is one of the kitchen's specialties. Be careful, however: the menu is so varied and appealing that it can be easy to fill up without leaving room for dessert. Regulars will tell you this is a big mistake, because dessert at Tommy Bahama is simply delicious. Finish your meal with a slice of triple layer chocolate cake, and you'll likely leave with a smile.

Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar
9595 Six Pines Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 292-8669
www.tommybahama.com/TBG/Stores_Restaurants/Woodlands.jsp
www.yelp.com/biz/tommy-bahama-restaurant-and-bar-the-woodlands-the-woodlands

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/daspunkt