Oktoberfest!

New Dining Spots In The Woodlands

Posted in: In The Know
Tags: restaurants, mexican, italian, the woodlands, dining

Two new dining options, La Guadalupana Mexican Cuisine & Bar and Luca & Leonardo Ristorante, are opening in December just in time for hungry holiday shoppers.

La Guadalupana will feature typical Mexican dishes such as tacos, enchiladas and fajitas. One of the highlights of the new restaurant is a Tequila “museum” with 200 types of tequila. Margaritas anyone? You’ll find homemade tortillas and fresh tableside salsa mixed-to-order. The restaurant plans to stay open late Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights when it hosts live music entertainment. A lower level, outdoor terrace is planned which will be perfect for alfresco dining in the Spring.

At Luca & Leonardo Ristorante, guests will enjoy a selection of wines and a traditional Italian fare. It too will have outdoor seating overlooking The Woodlands Waterway®.

Mangiamo!

Bahama Mama

Posted in: In The Know
Tags: tropical drinks, cool water cafe

Turn any location into a tropical paradise with fun, mixed drinks. Top your beverage off with a cherry and one of those little umbrellas and you’ve got yourself a party!

Here’s a festive cocktail you can order from our very own Cool Water Café.  Or, make your own at home!

Bahama Mama Sunrise
1 oz dark rum
1 oz spiced rum
4 oz orange juice
2 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz grenadine syrup

Serve over ice in a tall glass. Enjoy!
 

Be Cool

Posted in: Ways To Play
Tags: smoothies, red mango

How do you like to stay cool during the summer months? Most of us go from our air-conditioned homes, to our air-conditioned cars, to our air-conditioned offices. But if you’re a stay-at-home-mom (or dad) chances are you start to suffer from cabin fever midway through the summer, which ultimately means going outdoors to play in the sun.

Pulling out the water sprinkler is a quick fix when you have kids under the age of five. You can also trek down to the neighborhood pool for the afternoon. Or, suffer and wait until family vacation when you can lounge by our Forest Oasis Waterscape sipping on a Strawberry Lemonade smoothie while the kids zoom down waterslides.

Speaking of smoothies, Red Mango at Market Street is a good spot to cool off with a probiotic smoothie or a cup of all-natural, gluten-free frozen yogurt with names like Tangomonium. Red Mango’s fresh fruit toppings are cut fresh each day. Or, you can try the Fun & Crunchy route with Fruity Pepples, Cap’n Crunch or Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate.

Smoothies are fun and easy to mix and the flavor combinations are endless. Kids can get in on the action too. Put out a couple of bowls of ingredients such as chopped fruit, berries, various yogurt flavors, ice cream, candy or cereal. Have the little ones pick and choose ingredients to customize their own smoothie drinks.

Now that’s a delicious way to stay cool. Bottoms up!
 

Friday Family Date Night

Posted in: Great Gatherings
Tags: market street, flyfishing, family events, waterway nights, the woodlands

We’re always looking for cheap and easy ways to entertain the little ones and Waterway Nights at Waterway Square sure fits the bill.

This free event, which runs every Friday from 6 – 8 p.m., features a variety of entertainers including live musicians, jugglers, face painters, balloonists, and caricaturists.

Tonight’s entertainment is a Juggler on a Unicycle (always a favorite with my four year old) and a musical duo.  Picnics, chairs, blankets and coolers are welcome so don’t forget the juice boxes and Teddy Grahams!

If you’re looking for something to do Saturday morning, hop on our complimentary shuttle (or rent bicycles) and make your way over to Market Street for Peanut Butter & Jamm. Not the sandwich but a series of children’s music, activities, and games. It’s also free to the public and runs from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

While the kids are enjoying PB & J, dad can check out the free flyfishing school at Orvis. "Flyfishing 101" starts at 9 a.m. Every participant gets a $15 coupon and a free membership to Trout Unlimited for one year ($35 value).
 

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Posted in: In The Know
Tags: tiffany's, market street, the woodlands, holly golightly

You know those days when you get the mean reds? It's like having the blues ... only worse. Well as Holly Golightly points out, the only cure for the mean reads is to head to Tiffany’s. Lucky for us, the good folks at Tiffany & Co. have selected Market Street – The Woodlands for their second Houston location which is expected to open in November.

The new 4,000-square-foot store will occupy the space previously leased by Z Gallerie, which relocated to another location within Market Street, and will showcase the prestigious jeweler’s collection of engagement rings, diamonds, watches, men’s items, accessories and gifts. Of course, your jewels are presented in the treasured Tiffany Blue Box®.

Did you know the blue box is a retail tradition that dates back to founder Charles Tiffany? He mandated that the coveted boxes could only be acquired with a Tiffany purchase.
 

Fourth of July Celebration

Posted in: Ways To Play
Tags: july 4th, independence day, red hot & blue, the woodlands, fireworks,

The Woodlands annual Red, Hot & Blue Festival will be held Sunday, July 4 from 6 - 10 p.m at Town Green Park and Waterway Square, both located along The Woodlands Waterway.

The festival will feature live music, face painting, strolling performers, games, H-E-B Hot Dog and Watermelon Eating contests, vendor booths, concessions and more. Admission to the festival is free.

The Red, Hot & Blue Festival will present one of the largest fireworks displays in the Houston area, a 23-minute explosion of colors to be simulcast on Sunny 99.1. The fireworks display is expected to start at dusk (between 9:15 – 9:30 p.m.). Some say The Woodlands Waterway offers the best spot to watch the fireworks extravaganza. Don’t forget to grab a blanket or lawn chair.

Before the fireworks, enjoy a full evening of entertainment on the Town Green Park Stage which will start at 6 p.m. with highlighted by live performances from the music group, Cold Shot. Enjoy free balloon artists and strolling entertainers along with inflatable slides and vendors. Town Green Park also will be home for this year’s H-E-B Hot Dog and Watermelon Eating contests, both starting at 6:30 p.m.

Over at nearby Waterway Square, enjoy the live sounds of Fidelity Maxx starting at 6 pm ... Plus, all of the fun of free balloon artists and strolling entertainers.

While much of the celebration focuses on July 4, The Woodlands will celebrate America’s Independence with an entire weekend full of events.

On Friday, July 2, The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau kicks off its Summer Nights series at Waterway Square from 6 - 8 p.m. with great live entertainment. Bring blankets, chairs … and why not pack a picnic too!

On Saturday, July 3, come to Market Street for the Fourth of July parade starting at 9 am. The celebration continues later that evening when the Houston Symphony performs its Star-Spangled Salute, a free concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion starting a 8 p.m.

If you are spending the weekend with us, expect lots of fun activities and appearances by Muffie the Clown and award winning balloon artist Michael Crayton.