Benihana Downtown

On Friday, June 6th, 2014, we went to Benihana downtown, located off Louisiana Street, downtown. Let's just say Beau is NOT ready to enjoy this kind of restaurant. I'm pretty sure they posted our picture on the door to not let us back in. Ooops!

Sunday Streets

On Sunday, June 1st, 2014, we rode Sunday Streets. This is

 an activity that takes place on the first Sunday 

in the months of April, May and June. 

Our Adventure

They shut down a portion of a street to allow walkers, cyclists, 

and even dancers to enjoy the roads without the motor vehicles. 

We started the adventure at Market Square (which I mention in the post over Niko Niko's). They shut down Washington Avenue,from Milam street downtown to Studemont in the Heights. 

Bryan ( ofcourse!) gets a flat tire! Daniel and Stephanie are just as sad as he is. 

This is my favorite picture!

I am very talented... Ride, steer, pedal AND take a selfie!

I LOVE <3 this picture! 

Beau fell asleep right when we got back. It's hard work looking THAT cute in a helmet. 

Famous Sightings

James Hardin

We've been here since February and these are the famous people we have seen thus far...

 James Hardin at the pool,

Coach Kevin McHale

I passed Coach Kevin McHale in the lobby, 

Isaiah Canaan

    I rode an elevator with Isaiah Canaan   

Dwight Howard

I said hi to Dwight Howard in the lobby. 

Please, please, please let Chandler Parsons be the next one! Or J. J. Watt. I want him to autograph Beau's forehead. Kidding #notkidding 

Niko Niko's

On Saturday, June 7 we went to the Niko Niko's, located in Market Square. This is a place we have been a few times, and we plan on making this a regular weekend place.

It's about three miles away from our apartment so we can ride our bikes. It takes us about 15 minutes to get there. Every time we have gone there are at least ten bikers there. They have a huge, rectangular veranda with built in misters so you can escape the heat and refresh. 

We grab breakfast here. They have gyros, pronounced 'year-o's'... I know, I was just as confused. But however you pronounce it, heros, geeros, guroos... they are delicious.






After we devour our food, we let Beau run around in the park like a mad man. Thats what he does.

Pluckers

Wow. Get ready to be introduced to fried goodness. 

Friday night we went to a wing joint called Pluckers, located off of South Shepard. And let me just say, if you're on a diet, steer clear. Their menu consists of favorite foods that are fried, battered and doused, including but not limited to chicken, macaroni, and Oreos. No that's not a typo, I did say Oreos.

I got the Boneless Wings Basket, which comes with 4 boneless, fried wings. 2 of them with the Garlic Parmesan rub, the other 2 with Lemon Pepper Rub. Side I got was sweet potato fries without the cinnamon and sugar.

Bryan got the 10 Bone in wings, 5 Dr. Pepper sauce and 5 Goldrush Sauce.

 Curtis got 5 Garlic Parmesan and 5 Mild Sauce, with the same sweet potato fries but his had the cinnamon and sugar. If you wanted something sweet to go with your spicy then those will do the trick.

Photo from blog.chron.com

Not only was the food to die for, the atmosphere is fun. There are TV's everywhere, making it one of ESPN's top 5 sports bars in America. They have plenty of outdoor seating, as well as an oval bar for loyalty program, if you plan on going there a lot. You can earn points on your purchases, how many people you bring in, etc. Our waiter even gave us $10 off just for asking about it. They have a neat story of how they got started, you can read that here. It makes me want to support guys like that.
fast and easy service. Our waiter was exceptional, which will ensure our Pluckers experience won't be a one time deal. They also have a loyalty program where you can earn rewards for eating there a lot.

All in all, Pluckers gets 5 out of 5 stars. They were plucking delicious!

Onion Creek

Friday June 20th we went to Onion Creek located at 3106 White Oak in the Heights. All I can say is eh...

I had the BLT, and it was good. Bryan had a burger and he demolished it. 

The service was slow. We sat on the porch and the flies were also pestering us. I can see us going back, but we won't be in that big of a hurry to.

Beau loved his though. 

This is just one of the four restaurants in the Creek Group.

Farmers Market at City Hall

Every Wednesdays they do a Farmers Market at City Hall downtown, from 11a to 1:30p and man oh man, it is cool. As I'm writing this post, I have been twice. The first time I got a Bahn Mi from some dude with dreads. It was the best dang sandwich I've ever had. The second time I ate from a tent called Ripe. I had some fried avocado tacos which were good. They would've tasted better with some shredded chicken in there but I understand the whole vegan thing. And I respect it. But I also like chicken. 

After lunch we stopped by Frosted Betty's van for a vanilla and pistachio cupcake. I will definetly grab another one of those.

We had it for dessert that night. Yummy!

Good Dog, again

We grabbed lunch at Good Dog Houston and I have to say it was definitely better the second time around.

I realized that their signature dogs are 85% beef and 15% pork. You have to request an all beef dog, so this time, that's what I did. 

I got the Guac-A-Dog, all beef with avocado, diced tomatoes, cilantro, garlic aioli, cumin and lime. I requested no jalepenos but they came on it anyway. I just wiped them off and chowed down. 

I'm looking forward to my next visit as I'm wiping the avocado off my mouth. 

Celtic Garden vs 3rd Floor... June 14th

On Saturday, Bryan and I had our very own date night! We were extremely excited about this since we hadn't had one since October. With Beau at my sister's, Bryan and I decided to paint the town! 

We took a cab from our place to Celtic Garden, which is located at 2300 Louisiana Street in Midtown. 

If you are looking to get drunk, act like an idiot and bone something, this is the place to be on a Saturday afternoon. Now don't get me wrong, Bryan and I were able to sit on the patio under some misters, have a few beers and listen to the DJ mix some tracks. But it wasn't really our scene. The speakers were blaring, which I like a good jam, but not when it busts my ear drums. And no one foresay bothered us, but when you have grown men dressed in tight pink shorts, tank tops, white sunglasses and loafers, can't forget the loafers, and they are dancing around like they are part of a La Bares dance group, it really makes you want to go to another bar. 

The only thing that I enjoyed about our trip to Celtic Garden was their fried Mick and Cheese Balls. These are fried balls of golden goodness, served with a spicy tomato sauce. I'll deal with the nemrods in the pink shorts to eat these!

Another picture of these awesome thangs!

After we decided Celtic Garden wasn't for us (right after I devoured the Mac and cheese balls) we walked right down the street to a bar called 3rd Floor. It's located at 2303 Smith Street. You get your license checked at the door and then either take their elevator or the stairs, which I prefer, and go to the 3rd floor. I know, weird right. 

The inside was a complete opposite from Celtic Garden: quiet and not crowded at all. We sat out on the porch where we caught a good breeze. Out there we drank, smoked and talked about odds and ends. 

3rd Floor is definitely a place we will return to. We could even see our apartment so we could wave to the dogs!

We caught a cab back to our place, let the dogs out and then grabbed our bikes. We rode them over to the restaurant El Big Bad, which is located at the corner of Travis and Prairie, downtown. 

This place was pretty cool. Known for their infused tequila, it had a chic vibe with all sorts of people. We sat on the second floor patio and enjoyed the breeze. 

We started off with three salsas. I can't remember what each one is called, but they were all spicy. 

We will probably eat here again, but I'm in no hurry to go back. When Bryan says it's too spicy, it's too damn spicy. 

We ended our date night with drinks with friends at Market Bar. 

I'd say date night was a success!

Dear Metro Buses, I Hate You

Why must every single time I need to make a right turn you are always there. Are you going? Are you stopping? I can never tell! You play with my emotions like my high school crush. Sometimes I feel I can outsmart you. Yes. I am an excellent driver and I know that you are stopping at the stop and I have plenty of time to pass you and make my right turn. Wrong! Right when I get over beside you on the left and rev up my v6 to pass you, you decide to put your tank in drive. And it never fails, never, another one of your kind is right behind you, leaving me no choice but to hightail it all the way over to the left, turn, and then turn left two more times before I can finally try my right turn again. There is a fiery road in hell waiting for you. 

Piola

Monday, June 9th, we ordered Piola'stake out, and let me just say...

yumm-o! Piola is located in Midtown at 3201 Louisiana Street, Suite 103, Houston, Texas, 77006. Bryan ordered it as take out before leaving work. I swung by and picked him up from our apartment as I was headed in and we then headed out. It was about a ten minute drive, since we hit downtown rush hour traffic. I dropped Bryan off and did a loop around the block. Once inside, he told me that it would be a few minutes so I parked in the garage diagonal to the building and waited. It was super easy to pick up if you have someone to wait in the car. Otherwise I suppose you would just park in that garage. All in all it was around $41, with no tip, and we all three have lunch for tomorrow.

I forgot to take the picture before I started eating! Nom nom nom! This is the Houston Pizza (I know, fitting right?!?) sans jalepenos because I'm a wuss. This has diced tomatoes, a dash of parsley and obviously fresh-sliced avocado.  I would never pair a cold avocado on a hot pizza but no lie, this was delicious!

We also got the Gnocchi Pompei, which as you can see from the picture is just gnocchi with a tomato sauce and fresh basil. Beau ate it up! (Well we all did but we can keep that a secret).

I didn't try the salad Bryan ordered but he seemed to like it.


It's called The Aristotole and it includes goat cheese, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and black olives atop of a spring mix, tossed with a red wine vinaigrette. The picture below is obviously before he devoured it. Hey it's salad so it's healthy... right?

It came with fresssshhhhh bread that was ta-di-fo. 

I definitely look forward to eating here again. And again. And again. What can I say? I love Italian. Chow!

We give this place five out of five stars.