Super Bowl Blast!
Want to party with Michael Phelps, James Brolin and Common? Here’s your VIP ticket inside one of Super Bowl 51’s best bashes, the CityBook-sponsored Big Game Big Give blowout!
Feb. 6, 2017
NATURE’S VISUAL SPLENDOR has pushed up from the soil and pretty petals are on display around Texas through April. You don’t have to travel far to catch the beauty while getting fresh air and celebrating spring. Pack up the car with perhaps a picnic and hit the road!
Take a walk on the wild side of this paved trail with gentle hills and views of the bayou. Bluebonnets can usually be seen in patched across its entire property, along the trails and past the first bridge.
Things are getting quite colorful in this sprawling, beautified park. Spring wild flowers have been planted throughout; look for photo-worthy spots in the Eastern Glades near the parking lot.
Located along Sims Bayou in the southeast part of the city, this oasis flaunts bluebonnets in mid-February and the property fills in with blooms through April or early May.
Houston's west side is home to an incredible collection of hike-and-bike trails, with patches of bluebonnets and other beautiful blooms all over. The best place to park is off Memorial Drive just past Eldridge.
Hit the trails of this green space on the edge of the Heights for a variety of spring flowers. The best spot is just south of 11th and along TC Jester.
Spot bluebonnets in this green space in Westbury. You’ll find parking off Dryad Drive — and seek out the water retention ponds where the flowers are planted.
If you need an excuse more than fields blanketed in wildflowers, head west to the Hill Country for more scenic beauty and a little Texas vino. The annual Wine & Wildflower Journey lasts through April 28, and you can choose one day of winery visits or buy a multi-day pass if you want to meander.
Located in Austin, this delightful center offers an educational and immersive experience for bluebonnet enthusiasts. Explore the gardens showcasing native Texas plants including bluebonnets and learn about conservation efforts to preserve these natural treasures.
Small town Burnet boasts fields of bluebonnets that attract visitors from all over. Its annual Bluebonnet Festival, April 12-14, celebrates these annual bloomers with live music, food vendors, and arts and crafts.
A HANDFUL OF newcomers have arrived in the Memorial City area in recent months, and there are plenty more buns in the oven! The biggest news is that Aaron Bludorn's Bar Bludorn is officially open. Read more here.
Haywire, the Dallas-area fave known for Texas-inspired farm-to-table cuisine, has set its grand opening for mid-May. The multi-level restaurant — and its 2,000-square-foot Party Barn private dining space — will open at 947 Gessner Rd. on May 20. Expect a lengthy menu with plates crafted from "heritage recipes," like elk tacos, southwestern queso blanco, and Texas Gulf lump crab.
A cozy whiskey lounge boasts 200 different selections, and there's also a 400-bottle wine collection on offer.
"I'm honored to be a part of Haywire's expansion into Houston, a city that embodies the spirit of Texas hospitality,” said Jane Crouse, Managing Partner of Haywire Houston. “Our commitment to locally sourced ingredients and genuine hospitality underscores our dedication to providing an unparalleled dining experience for our guests."
Meanwhile, Kolache Shoppe has plans to open its fifth location just off the Katy Freeway in Memorial, in the same shopping strip as still-new Via 313 and Pincho. It likely won't open until early 2025, so in the meantime, catch the bakery's delicious eats — like the limited-edition crawfish kolache created in collaboration with Brennan's of Houston — at its other four locations.
Levi Goode has been working for years on his next pair of projects: Credence and Sidebar are slated to debut in Memorial City, in the base of The McKinley residential tower, this summer. The former is an upscale, fine-dining concept utilizing live-fire cooking to serve regional American fare. The speakeasy-style Sidebar will be located next-door.
And The Pit Room is another inner-Loop favorite firing up a Memorial City outpost. The savory goodness will start smoking this spring, and there will be an expansive patio, two bars, and a mini market with The Pit Room's rubs and sauces. Yum!
Trailblazing Mary cocktail at Haywire
Kolache Shoppe goodness (photo by Carla Gomez)
Savory Kolache Shoppe offerings (photo by Becca Wright)
The Pit Room's Montrose patio (photo by Duc Huang)
Steak at Credence
Levi Goode