Sylvan Beach: A La Porte Park

Sylvan Beach is the perfect place to frolic in the sand and sun when you need a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It’s a 31-acre park with two white sand beaches on Galveston Bay, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, boating and fishing. This La Porte park is just a short trip away from The Broadwater!

It also has a picnic area with pavilions that can be reserved for special events and gatherings, a skateboard park, a fishing pier, boat ramp, playground and restrooms with showers. There’s even a bait shop by the pier, so you gear up to catch that mammoth fish you’ve been angling for. Be sure to check out the Annual Sylvan Beach Festival and Crawfish Jam.

Sylvan Beach is open every day, and offers free parking. There is, however, a $4 fee to access the fishing pier.

Sylvan Beach
400 N. Bayshore Drive
La Porte, TX 77571
(281) 471-5705
http://www.hcp2.com/harriscountypct2community/parks?pid=127&sid=108:Sylvan-Beach-Park
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sylvan-beach-la-porte

La Porte Hike & Bike Trail: On the Road

Outdoor enthusiasts will love the La Porte Hike & Bike Trail. Traverse La Porte via bike thanks to this winding trail, stemming from Eastern La Porte all the way across the city, from the Fairmont Parkway to Little Cedar Bayou Park. The park features a multi-use recreation area complete with sporting fields and other facilities. What better way to see the scenic city of La Porte than on bicycle? Not only is it a fun ride, but it is good for you too. Whether you are attempting the entire trail or merely just a portion of it, you will find it a challenging enterprise. Eventually the trail will expand to include many more locales.

La Porte Hike & Bike Trail

Margaritas Pack a Punch at The Don’Key Mexican Food

The Don’Key Mexican Food is a small shack illuminated by bright neon lights. This place has been serving authentic Tex-Mex classics since 1984. To start, you’ll get thin and crispy chips and hot red and green sauce, and you’ll have a choice of favorites, from sizzling fajitas to enchiladas, tacos, and tostadas.

Fans call the food fresh, reasonably priced, and delicious. The Don'Key is most famous for their margaritas— called the Don’Keyrita— available in regular, strawberry, or swirl. Fans call the margaritas strong and delicious. There’s $2.50 Beer of the Day and mojitos, specialty margaritas, and a variety of mixed drinks are also offered. At The Don’Key, happy hour is more like a "happy day," as drink specials run Mondays through Thursdays, from 11 a.m. 6 p.m., and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Don’Key is busy on the weekends especially, but if you have to wait, you won’t be waiting for long. Parking can be a challenge, and take-out is available.

The Don’Key Mexican Food
5010 Spencer Highway
Pasadena, TX 77505
(281) 487-1253
www.findthedonkey.com
www.yelp.com/biz/donkeys-mexican-food-pasadena

5 Recipes to Make With Spring Vegetables

Spring always means a plethora of fresh, seasonal vegetables that you’ve been missing all winter. Because fresh produce tends to go bad quickly, it’s helpful to shop with a few recipes already in mind. Here are some favorite recipes made with vegetables that grow in the springtime.

Glazed Carrots in Tarragon [Fine Cooking]
Cooked carrots may bring back memories of being forced to eat your veggies as a child, but this unique recipe is a grown-up take on the common side. The tarragon adds a little kick to the carrots' sweet flavor to make a complex and delicious dish.

Quick-Braised Baby Artichokes [Fine Cooking]
Cooking artichokes in lemon juice is one of the simplest ways to prepare the tasty vegetable, but this recipe also braises them for a smoky flavor that’s perfect for warm weather.

Asparagus with Butter and Soy Sauce [Oprah]
It’s safe to say that asparagus is having a moment in the food world, and there are so many new recipes popping up that it may seem overwhelming. This easy recipe is quick to make but still adds a bit of sophistication to your meal.

Warm Three-Onion Dip [Oprah]
Adding fresh spring onions that only grow in warm weather makes this savory dip a bit more special than your usual restaurant onion dip. Serve it with crusty bread or crisp chips at your next gathering.

Practice Your Backhand at Harry Taylor Tennis Center

Harry Taylor Tennis Center is Pasadena’s place to play, practice, and learn tennis. Located in Strawberry Park, the Harry Taylor Tennis Center is equipped with 15 lighted hard courts, a practice wall, lockers, showers, and a bathroom. Private lessons are $40 per hour by appointment, and court fees are also reasonably priced.

Hours are from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m .on Sundays. Check the website for rates, fees, and more information.

Harry Taylor Tennis Center
1202 Parkside
Pasadena, TX 77502
(713) 941-8631
http://www.ci.pasadena.tx.us/default.aspx?name=prk.fac-tennis-new
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harry-Taylor-Tennis-Center/112507488854798

Public Domain/Freeimagescollection

Cinemark Hollywood Movies 20: At the Movies

Twenty movie screens to watch all of your favorite flicks? You’ve got it! Cinemark Hollywood Movies 20 is the place to do it in a welcoming, comfy setting not too far from The Broadwater. Even better, they have low ticket prices on all of the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

Their theatres boast all of the latest technology like digital projection and Dolby Surround-Sound to guarantee a premier viewing experience. Stock up on some yummy snacks at the concessions stand and head into the theater for a couple hours of fun entertainment. They’re sure to have something perfect for you, whether you’re into action, thriller, romantic comedy, animation or horror.

Visit Cinemark's website to sign up for weekly discount coupons for concessions, or download their Cinemark app on your phone and get even more discounts.

Cinemark Hollywood Movies 20
2101 E. Beltway 8
Pasadena, TX 77503
(713) 475-8180
http://www.cinemark.com/theatre-detail.aspx?node_id=1494&showtime_date=
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cinemark-hollywood-movies-20-pasadena

Smile It’s Friday!!!

Get your smile on! =)

Bring the Whole Family to Jimmy Changas for a Meal of Tex-Mex Fare

Jimmy Changas is a casual Tex-Mex restaurant in Pasadena that serves classics like enchiladas, tacos, and sizzling fajita plates and house specialties like the Chile Relleno and Stuffed Avocado. The portions are large, and the prices are reasonable.

Unlike most Tex-Mex restaurants, Jimmy Changas offers a decent selection of healthy plates and serves queso blanco dip — a thick, creamy, and flavorful type of queso. The bar is small, but the drinks are strong. The Changa Rita is the specialty margarita, made with orange juice and lime juice. There’s a playground for the kids so you can keep them entertained while you eat on the adjacent patio. Service is fast and friendly, and take-out is available. It’s always busy on the weekends, and they don’t take reservations, so you’re guaranteed a short wait.

Don’t forget to grab a free ice-cream cone from the self-serve machine on the way out!

Jimmy Changas
5144 Center Street
Pasadena, TX 77505
(713) 575-2700
www.freshmexfun.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jimmy-changas-pasadena

Did you know?!

Humans and giraffes both have seven vertebrae bones in the neck. It’s not unusual for a mammal to have 7 vertebra bones in the neck but it’s interesting that the long neck of a full grown giraffe has the same amount.

Smile It’s Friday!!!

Get your smile on! =)

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