Greek food in Houston: my latest obsession, loukoumades

I think I've already gone on and on about my love of Greek food. In this post, I shall continue on...

Niko Niko's in Montrose (2520 Montrose Boulevard) makes my list for go-to Greek in the Houston area. The food is good, but that's not why you go. Niko Niko's is all about the loukoumades. The complication of it's spelling is completely forgiven once you taste these little fried nuggets of heavenly honey and sugar.

Plus, Guy Fieri (think spikey hair and sunglasses on the BACK of his head...?) stopped by this Montrose gem on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. I like to go places Guy goes, it makes me feel like I sort of met a celebrity. And by met I really mean that I just pretend I'm sitting in the same booth Guy probably sat in, and I look at the picture hanging on the wall of him and the owner.

image courtesy of www.motortrend.com

So... go to Niko Niko's and get whatver Greek thing you like, it will be good I'm sure. But before you leave, indulge in the loukoumades, it totally makes the experience.

And...the parking lot is free. Just like 99% of restaurant parking lots. But, Niko Niko's reminds you that it's free with cheery signs located around the lot. Thanks a bunch! I love free parking and loukoumades.

Mistletoe Madness in the Heights

Today was Mistletoe Madness in the Heights. Apparently it's just like The Heights First Saturday, but Christmas themed with carolers and free drinks and food. So, I looked up the map on the internet and the boyfriend and I drove to 11th and Studemont (approximately) where the map had some red dots on it and it was deeadddd. There were about 3 stores about a block and a half away from eachother. We even stumbled across this deserted pinata store. The event told me I would "eat, drink, shop, & be merry". hmm.

So I was feeling very, "awww mannn, this sucks" and the boyfriend was feeling very, "awww mannn I could be watching football". There was no madness anywhere, and I wasn't drinking or eating free food. And I certainly was not feeling merry.

I picked up a Mistletoe Madness brochure at The Antidote at 729 Studewood St. (I'll go back, delicious chai latte) and noticed quite a few of the listed vendors were on W 19th. So, we decided to drive over to that part of the Heights and see what was up.

Maybe I'm bad at reading for details of events, or maybe Mistletoe Madness forgot to mention, but W 19th was the center of it all. I found the carolers, and the live music, and the free drinks. I even found some GREAT resale shops that I will post on later. Being new to the downtown area, I was pleased to find some funky little shops that sell fabulous vintage finds and useless (yet completely necessary) trinkets for my apartment. I even found some little kids playing violins!

And...I found a santa themed art car!

I wish everything could have been together on one street, and didn't require driving or taking the provided shuttles, but it's a big neighborhood. What are you gonna do.

If you're looking for things to do in Houston, neighborhood events are a great way to get a personal feel for a city. Also a great way to find little stores and areas you love and want to revisit.

Good thing I didn't settle for the lonesome pinata street.

Side note: Why does every street in Houston have multiple names. Montrose, Studemont, Studewood? All the same street. Get it together!

**I would also like to apologize for my repeated, improper, accentless spelling of pinata.

Dominic Walsh Dance Theater

I like to think I have a good bullshit detector when it comes to the performing arts. Example: I really like art, but I never pretend to like art that I think is dumb, even if it is art. Side story: The Blanton Museum in Austin, TX has a lot of great exhibits. One in particular that wasn't so good was a burlap sack hanging from the ceiling. That's it. The "art" happened when someone would wear the burlap sack and dance around. Except we weren't allowed to touch it, and it hung lifelessly from the ceiling. There was no dancing, just a sack. Not good art.

So, more than art, I love dance. I dance myself and I really love watching other amazing people dance. But, I totally get when Ballet gets lame. I never need to see the Nutcracker again. I respect that it is a classic, and don't get me wrong, I love classical ballet, but I just can't take the Christmas party scene the night before the Nutcracker comes alive anymore.

I swear this isn't a negative blog entry about things I DONT like.

The point of the entry is how much I DO like Dominic Walsh Dance Theater. Walsh's choreography is contemporary, extremely athletic, and super sensual. It kicks the Nutcracker's ass. AND...... it's affordable!

Recently I went with dad (shout out to my pap!) and saw 1909-2009: The Great Collaborators of the Ballets Russes. It was 3 short performances and then a main feature, The Firebird. Cant even begin to tell you how incredible it was. My favorite was The Dying Swan. The pic of the foxy lady in silk is from that one.

It's sort of like theater and dance together, without being hokey somehow.

The Firebird

So, even though that performance is no longer showing, I'm super excited about seeing Romeo and Juliet around Valentines Day. If you are looking for something fun and date-like for the Valentine's weekend this is a pretty good idea. The tickets are from $20-$47.

Here is the website http://www.dwdt.org/ I got the pictures from their website

More than You can Imagine, Seriously though...ok, stop drooling

I feel a little hesitant about sharing this little upper kirby gem, but as someone who wants to spread the word about "cool" things in Houston, I feel obligated.

More Than You Can Imagine is seriously wayyy more than you could ever freakin imagine. This all depends of course on whether or not trying on full length fur coats and simply TOUCHING a chanel suit makes you light headed. This store has this very effect on me.

A girl can dream... This is faux right?

The scoop is, old ladies who have more money than they know what to do with drive from River Oaks to More Than You can Imagine. They consign (is that the verb form of consignment?) their last season spectacular clothing to this fantastic boutique. THEN, miss vicki (i don't really know her, but I wish she was my best friend) sells said spectacular clothing and gives some percentage to a charity, keeps some, and of course gives a little back to Mrs. River Oaks.


It's a brilliant business model. So, while still pricey, it makes seriously high fashion MUCH more affordable. The best part is, the women who work there totally don't judge you when they KNOW you aren't going to buy ANYTHING. In fact, they have humored me each time I have admired myself in the mirror while fashioning the floor length fur. (i would NEVER wear fur, only faux.)


They also have a lot of great gift items...soaps, cute stuff, etc. Those are not used. Neither is anything from the little lingerie section.


But the clothes and the handbags and the shoes, oh my god the shoes, are all fabulous. One of these days, when I feel as though I have the financial stability to invest in a pair of jimmy choos, a chanel blazer, or that lush badgley and mischka coat I know exactly where to go. Hands down, one of the best consignment boutiques in Houston.

More Than You can Imagine- 2817 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77098

The pic is from www.gettyimages.com

twitter is over capacity

Seriously? I need to live in a world where I can ALWAYS tweet. A world where Google ALWAYS knows the thing I am searching for, even if I got the name wrong and don't remember where it is. A world where I can watch ANY clip I so choose on youtube, scratch that, I demand to watch ALL tv shows at the hour of my choosing on my computer for free, commercials not included.

only teasing. and i love the whale.

Thoughts on Bumper Stickers

I've always been against plastering your car with bumper stickers. I sort of think, "I don't care what your opinion on ..... is, and I assume you don't care my thoughts on...". Beyond that, I find them tacky. I would never muck up my car with anything other than my classy longhorn silver decal.

In an earlier post I mentioned a bumper sticker that was the final straw in my move inside the loop, a fire under my ass sort of thing. It read, "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a soldier." Anyone with mild intelligence understands that this actually doesn't make any sense. What war are you referring to? With Mexico? whhaaa?

So the other day while driving around Rice Village (my supposed "niche") I find myself behind a rather large black pick up truck with a bumper sticker that read as follows. "Keep Honking. I'm Reloading".

Keep. Honking. IM. RELOADING. Are you kidding me? Excuse me guy in camo jacket and hat, are you ensuing that you will SHOOT me if I honk at you? What if it's a friendly honk, like, "woah don't back out I'm behind you" or "excuse me kind sir, the light has turned green and you are screwing around on your cellular". Bullet through my windshield. instant death.

I thought this was my safe haven from ignorant assholes with terrifying bumper stickers? I've come to realize there is no haven, only an understanding that there are assholes everywhere.

I'll tell you one thing for sure, next time I feel the need to lay on my horn I'll think twice.

Old Time Christmas Tree Farm

Looking to get a real Christmas tree this holiday season? Check out Old Time Christmas Tree Farm off of Spring Cypress in WAYYY northwest Houston.

Seeing as this is the first Christmas the boyfriend and I are living together, our first Christmas tree was a big deal. In order to get a real tree round these parts one must venture outside the loop, then outside the beltway, past unincorporated Houston, and into farmland. Let's just say there was a goat on the properties.

pre-decorations

Side note about the goat. It had this horrible cough (really nasty) and I loudly proclaimed (half teasingly) that it probably had the swine flu. I may as well have yelled bomb at an airport. One of my worst (but funniest) qualities is never being able to sense when certain comments are inappropriate.

Back to the tree farm. After scanning the rows of trees within our height limit, we finally found our tree. Our apartment is just small enough so the scent of christmas fills each room creating instant festivity.

It's funny how the tree makes it feel like Christmas. To compliment the tree I baked some gingerbread men cookies.

I've always had a real knack for doing things neatly and meticulously.

I love our little tree and I think the boyfriend does too. Every time he sees it he can't help but note, "yup. it's a good tree. don't ya think? i do. yup. good tree." It's easy for the Holidays to not feel like Holidays in a city like Houston where it never really gets cold. You have to commit to being hot if you want to look cute in a scarf. A tree helps though, even if it's humid and warm outside, inside my house is full of holiday cheer.

ta da!

Old Time Christmas Tree Farm

7632 Spring Cypress Rd, Spring, TX