Cheap Girls Night Out

For I am a recently made single woman, my friend suggested we take a trip to Howl at the Moon in Houston for a "Girls Night Out." When you think of going to a bar in Houston, you know there will most likely be a cover charge, and of course having to pay to park your car so it doesn't (gasp!) get towed. I was a little skeptical at first, as I have very limited funds being I have to support myself. Boy, was I ever surprised at how you can make a girls night in Houston cheap!

Cover at Howl at the Moon was only $7, parking $6, and to top it off, me and my friends decided to get a drink bucket for $22 to share. Yes, I know, $22!! But, when you think about it, split among three people, you would be saving all the extra money you would spend on tipping for each cocktail you would swig down in 15 min. Plus, the dueling piano playing and the sing along are what make this bar so worthwhile, half the time you forget alcohol is part of your party high.

After our oh so many buckets o' liquor, we of course needed food, preferably something really greasy and bad for us to soak up the alcohol. My friend, being the pro that she is, walked us across this dark and scary parking lot (btw, make sure you are in a group when doing this, we were pretty stupid) and low and behold in a small office plaza was Gotham Pizza. I felt like I was in New York all over again! I bought a huge slice of pepperoni, which tasted like heaven! I don't think I would have survived the next day if it weren't for Gotham Pizza! And at $5 a slice, how could you beat it?

Good atmosphere, good drinks, and good food, all for under $40! Man, I love Houston!!

Chappell Hill, The Birthplace of Texas!!!

One scorching hot Sunday, the boy and I decided to take his nieces and nephew on an adventure just down the road from us on 290, to a little place called Chappell Hill. For those of you born and bred in TX, you most likely know the town for their tasty sausage, but were you also aware of Chappell Hill being one of the first settlements in TX?

The Chappell Hill Museum offers detailed displays on the Texas Civil War era, with photos, descriptions and stories told of soldiers and how their families coped. The museum is in what used to be the Chappell Hill College for Women. You can actually sit in a replica of an old school room, which is fun for kids and adults alike! They even have old clothes and artifacts from the 1900s for people to try on and handle. It's free admission, with donations welcome. http://www.chappellhillmuseum.org/.

Main St. in Chappell Hill is reminiscent of the Old West, charming and provincial. You can find the Visitor's Center, the Old Rock Store, Providence Baptist Church and the 1907 Historic Bank. It's fun just to walk down Main St. and view the old buildings.

Chappell Hill is rich in culture, known for it's history of higher education, cotton and Polish immigration. It's also close to the Brazos River, where you can go just off of 290 when heading back east, and take in the wonderful views of the river that was once used to ship cotton from Chappell Hill to Galveston Island.

A historic getaway that is educational and free? Now that's what I call a perfect family sunday!

Events to Check Out in August!!

Texas is known for it's plethora of state fairs and harvest events as we slowly ease into the Fall season. Here are some of my pics for fun (and let's keep it cheap, people) attractions in August:

Blues Fest, Navasota

Aug. 7-8th

Located on the Grimes County Fairgrounds, the event features local, regional and international musicians.

http://www.navasotabluesfest.org/

Lavender Fest, Chappell Hill

Aug. 8th

Immerse yourself in the aromas of fresh cut lavender as you enjoy arts and crafts and tour the local vendors. http://www.chappellhilllavender.com/

22nd Annual Lions Club Balloon Festival & Fair, Highland Village

Aug. 14-16th

Float in a hot air balloon and take in all the scenery of the beautiful Texas landscape! Enjoy live entertainment and arts & crafts for the kids. A food court and vendors will be available.

http://www.hvballoonfest.org/

The Texas Testosterone Festival, Austin

Aug. 15-16th

Try saying that three times in a row! This event is a total man fest, a barrage of all things men love: Sports, bikes, trucks, ultimate fighting, tattoos, poker and more! As Beyonce would say, "All the single ladies, put your hands up!!" http://www.texastestosteronefestival.com/

81st Annual North Texas State Fair, Denton

Aug. 21-29th

Rodeo, Carnival, Fiddling Contest, Barbecue Cook-offs!--Need I say more? Games, music, petting zoos and fun for the whole family. http://www.ntfair.com/

Gartenfest, San Antonio

Aug. 21st

A German Festival held by The Beethoven Maennerchor in Garten & Halle. Enjoy German food and the sounds of live choral and band music. http://www.beethovenmaennerchor.com/

Fourth Annual Bluegrass Festival, Wichita Falls

Aug. 21-22nd

Experience music from local bluegrass bands such as Star Canyon, Southbound Mule and Salt Grass. http://www.cwftx.net/

Bat Fest, Austin

Aug. 22nd

Watch out for those bats!! Also, includes children's activities and over 30 bands performing on two stages. http://www.roadwayevents.com/

14th Annual Margarita & Salsa Festival, Waco

Aug. 29th

This fest includes some of the best country music in Texas and has a contest for many local restaurants and individuals on who has the best margarita's and salsa! Care to be a judge? http://www.arthritis.org/

Be safe and have fun while playing it cheap, Texans!!

Staycation: When You Can't Afford to Getaway!

Instead of the typical getaway to Disney World or Mexico this Summer, many families are choosing to explore in their hometowns without breaking their bank. "Staycation" is a popular term used among many parents and couples who want to take a break from the 9-5 grind, but need to tighten their wallets by becoming a tourist in their local surroundings. Texas is the perfect state to live in if opting for a Staycation. Not only is there Houston, Austin, Dallas and San Antonio, the coast offers many opportunities for day trips, like touring The Strand in Galveston or spending the afternoon on the beach at Corpus Christi. When you live in Texas, you don't have to go far to explore! Also, many museums in the major cities have free admission or special discount days for families. Here are a list of Websites I found helpful in order to plan your "Staycation":

http://www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org/

http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/

http://www.amoa.org/site/PageServer

http://www.visitsanantonio.com/visitors/play/san-antonio-free-fun/index.aspx

http://www.visitdallas.com/visitors/online_toolkit/free_things_to_do/

Enjoy, Texas Staycationers!!

Let's Go Tubing!! Whee!!!

When a co-worker of mine told me one Friday that her weekend plans were to go "tubing," I immediately reminisced about my summer's as a child being dragged by a speed boat across the lake on an inner tube and holding on for dear life. Yes, that's what us Yankees call fun. So, when I told my friend that story, she looked at me like I was crazy (I'm pretty used to that look by now) and told me "tubing" in Texas meant lounging on an inner tube and drinking beer while floating down a river. Sounds like my kind of downtime! A summer tradition for most Texans that I have yet to experience, but will hopefully get the chance before this season's end. New Braunfels, TX is an excellent place to enjoy river tubing according to the many people I've talked to. Bring your own tube, a cooler full of drinks and food, and enjoy the scenery with friends and family. Sounds like the perfect way to enjoy Summer in Texas! http://www.ci.new-braunfels.tx.us/

Best Fish Fry in Texas! (Well, so far!)

Last Friday I was invited by friends for a fish fry at what they called a "Hole in the Wall" sports bar. "Once you see the trailers, you'll know why I call it that," my friend said as we were driving there, unaware that I am no stranger to bars with rickety bar stools and an aura of stale beer.

As we pulled into the gravel covered parking lot, I became a little worried. I saw the two double-wide trailers parked at opposite ends, and there behind a menagerie of pick-up trucks and 100 year old trees was a wooden shack that looked like it was stolen off the set of "Young Guns." I was afraid to be the first to walk in, but felt eased when I heard Justin Timberlake's "Rock your Body" playing on the jukebox. Phew!

A friendly face resembling a 1950s barbie doll greeted us with a "How y'all doin' tonite?" and as we sat at the bar, I noticed the friendly faces of the regulars, their welcoming grins making us feel right at home. Their fish fry was only $10, and was enough food for two! The cook graciously told us while he was sitting at the bar sipping on Shiner that Tues.-Thurs. are a can't miss, for it's all you can eat steak for $16!! I can only imagine how amazing their steaks could taste after feasting on the best fish fry I've ever had! Like my friend Chuck said "It's the perfect Friday night out." Not only were my friends and I well fed, we also enjoyed the country home-like atmosphere. If you live around or are visiting the Cypress, TX area, this is a definite can't miss! Wick's Sports Bar, 14600 Cypress North Houston Road, near the intersection of Cypress NorthHouston Rd. and N. Kolbe Dr.

If All Else Fails, Road Trip!!

Last Sunday I was plagued by cabin fever and a low bank account. I suggested going to the beach for the afternoon to the boy, but he apparently wasn't up for another sunburn. So, we just jumped in our Jeep and went for a drive, heading West on 290 towards Austin. We decided to take our chances down Hwy 6 towards Bryan-College Station, not knowing what little towns we would find along the way. Cruising down the highway, we kept seeing signs for Navasota. Curious, we took a slight detour to this small town resembling the Old West, but with antique stores and a dance studio. It was interesting to see buildings from the 1800s left untouched, not remodeled for the 21st century. The downtown strip in Navasota only stretches about 6 blocks, perfect for antiquing.

Back on the road, we entered College Station about a half hour later. The town is beautiful, and Texas A & M University is so huge, it should just be its own city. We toured some of the campus and stumbled upon the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which was just down the road from A & M. The boy had to ask a College Station police officer how to get to the museum, as our GPS was taking us in circles as usual.

The officer snickered at his fashion statement of the day--a Texas Longhorns baseball cap and an orange shirt to match. We would have been crucified if school wasn't out for summer!! In our defense, "Eh, how were we supposed to know? We're from Chicago, okay?!". We were led by the cop to the museum, and to our dismay it closed at 5pm, so we strolled by the peaceful pond on the museum grounds and gazed at the beautiful scenery. We ended our road trip with a Sonic dinner (gotta love those chili-cheese tots!) and a relaxing drive home. Didn't spend much, still had over half a tank of gas, and saw three new places we would have never seen if we didn't detour onto Hwy 6. Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon in Texas!

http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/