News & Stories

3 Simple Ways to Celebrate Mardi Gras in The Woodlands

It's Carnival season! Mardi Gras is next Tuesday, February 25, and we just LOVE celebrating this fun holiday with our families. Here are a few simple ways you can make the day memorable for you and your crew:

1. Eat! (Think shrimp po-boys, beignets, and all-you-can-eat crawfish.)

When we hear "Mardi Gras", the first thing on our minds is Food (yes, that's with a capital F). This time of year, there's always something fun and festive at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Shenandoah. The restaurant showcases live musical acts for entertainment, and for eats we recommend the crawfish bisque (it's the bomb-diggety), but special menu options such as the Costa Rican Mahi & Crawfish, the Mardi Gras Cheesecake, and the oh-so-famous Swampthing will make dining here for Mardi Gras a real treat.

Other local cajun & creole favorites can be found at Schilleci's New Orleans Kitchen in Market Street (it's quaint and cozy - we prefer leaving the kids at home), Babin's (definitely the place to go if you're all about the spice), and Landry's (great appetizers!).

Free Plant-Based Diet info session - March 4

Not for me, I'm perfectly content with my regular doses of cheeseburgers and fried shrimp, thank you very much, but is a plant-based diet right for YOU? The South Branch library (2101 Lake Robbins Rd.) will help you figure it out on Wednesday, March 4, 1pm - 2pm! Sign up to learn the ins and outs of a plant-based diet with Certified Nutritionist, Krystal Hammett. You'll discuss: proven health benefits of eating plant based; who should and should not follow a plant based diet; how to succeed on a plant-based diet, what foods should be avoided on a plant-based diet (not just meat!); debunk common myths surrounding a plant-based diet.

Attendees will be provided with the information and materials needed to succeed. This event is open to all adults ages 18 & up and is sponsored by the South Montgomery County Friends of the Library. Registration required: Registration is required. Please visit www.countylibrary.org/calendar.htm or

Call 936-442-7727 Ext. 6378 to register.

Escape to a World of Wonders with Alegría!

What are you planning for Spring Break? Here's an idea! Add the jaw-dropping touch of Cirque du Soleil to your spring holiday with Alegría, Cirque du Soleil's most iconic production that takes place under the Big Top at the Sam Houston Race Park, February 29 - April 12, 2020. Tickets start at $44 are available online now at cirquedusoleil.com/alegria.

Creative Movement, Therapy Dogs, and more @ Sensory Friendly Day!

Do you have a child with Autism or a sensory processing difference? Navigate down to Houston for an event just for him/her! On Monday, February 17 from 10:00am - 3:00pm, Children’s Museum Houston invites you to an exclusive event for children with Autism. Sensory Friendly Day is an opportunity for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and sensory processing differences to explore the Museum at their own pace. Doors will be closed to the public. There will be no music and sound-reducing headphones will be available. Outside food and drinks will be allowed (Fresh Café will be closed). Registration is highly recommended, but not required. Please contact Lydia Dungus at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (713) 535-7238 to make a reservation. Admission is $5 per person for guests ages 1 and above.

On the Road To Healthy Living: Mobile Cooking School

Make 2020 your year to learn how to cook and eat healthy! According to recent studies, statistics have shown that most Americans are uneducated on food safety. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s mobile cooking school, On the Road To Healthy Living, is coming to the rescue!

You can do it yourself! Check out The Home Depot's painting workshop!

My house is almost 10 years old, and it's past time to refresh the paint in some of its bedrooms. My pre-teen wants to switch out her lavender walls to a beige or tan, and the younger girls who share a room must certainly be bored with pink by now. My 14-year-old isn't too picky, but her room might get a new color too!

I wish I had the confidence and know-how to paint the rooms myself, rather than dropping several hundred dollars per room plus the cost of paint. (I've already gotten a quote on my master bedroom and bathroom; that alone is $800). But wait - what's this I see on the Home Depot's website? On Saturday, February 8, from 10:00am - 11:30am, they'll be offering an Interior Paint and Drywall Repair workshop that happens to be just what I need! Here is description of the FREE workshop, taken directly from the website: