Texas Trotter

I’ve been looking for a new change of scenery for a while. One of the advantages of knowing my way around the state is that I’m always game for showcasing the best places to live! And when it comes to comfort, atmosphere, and the ultimate sense of convenience, Champions Green Apartments looks like it has my vote! The Karya-owned Champions Green is located near the Willowbrook side of Houston near the popular Willowbrook Mall. This is notable due to the area’s quick reach to all the best dining and entertainment hotspots in the area. And I really mean it--this part of town has any restaurant or recreational activity a person could ever want, from fast food to five-star venues to movie theaters to family fun. It really is that opportune, whatever your needs may be. This week, I was given the opportunity to talk with the staff of the residence and I found them to be incredibly approachable. I even was granted the chance to sit down to lunch with them to discuss their property and its per

I’m not exactly a thrill-seeker when it comes to extreme sports or activities. I can safely tell you that I will probably never jump out of a plane when it comes to skydiving. With that said, however, I can definitely see myself trying out something like this great indoor opportunity!  Austin always delivers when it comes to exciting events and great places to visit! And now guests will get the chance to experience the heart-pounding adrenaline rush of skydiving while staying indoors at iFly Austin . You’ll be able to learn how to safely float in a vertical wind tunnel and take on two big indoor flights! Guests can learn all about the skydiving process with one-on-one guidance from an accredited flight instructor and even take home a personalized flight certificate!  And the best part is that no prior skydiving experience is required as you free-fall your way through some exciting indoor thrills. Once you book your appointment, you’ll find that you won’t regret it! Though skydiving can

Do you hear that rumbling sound? I believe that would be my stomach upon reading this exciting news!  Learning about new restaurant and eatery openings taking place across Houston is something I never get tired of! It’s great to have the chance to learn about the best new places to eat in the area. And honestly, who doesn’t love tasty fried chicken and chicken sandwiches?  On February 26th and February 27th at 11:00 am, Clutch City Cluckers will be presenting their grand opening weekend, providing Houston with a tantalizing array of delicious chicken options for everyone to enjoy! Key menu items include chicken tenders, cheesy fries, and of course, mouth-watering chicken sandwiches to explode your taste buds! And, best of all, they’ll also be giving away some sweet prizes including a Playstation 5, two Nintendo Switch devices, gift cards, and more! Guests will be encouraged to keep their receipts as the restaurant will be going live on Instagram on February 28th to announce winners ba

  Is there truly anything more delicious than chocolate?  The answer, obviously, is a resounding NO. There isn’t and I will not settle for anything else! And I know many of you feel the same. Well, there’s GREAT news! For residents in San Antonio, you now have a big reason to celebrate as the Chocoholic Frolic 5k is scheduled to share some sweet chocolatey goodness for participants to enjoy!  Starting and finishing at River City Community Church, 3809, 16765 Lookout Road , the Chocoholic Frolic is a chip-timed race that rewards all participants with chocolate at the finish line. You can run, jog, or walk your way through the course, gaining some healthy fresh air and exercise along with some tasty treats! It’s a great way to help keep your body in shape while also getting the chance to indulge in delicious snacks. A win-win in my book if you ask me!  San Antonio always has something fun going on. Even following this terrible Texas freeze, it still manages to shine through with a sense

After a week of hardship, cold, and unprecedented weather conditions, we have finally made it out to see the sun once more!  Houston has faced its fair share of weather nightmares in the past. But when it came to this new and terrible 2021 freeze, we faced many major challenges. It was certainly a force to be reckoned with and we can all hope that none of us ever have to experience it ever again. I know I certainly didn’t enjoy it--no power, water, or internet was definitely far from fun or relaxing. And with so many Houston residents going through all that and worse, I have nothing but respect and admiration for those who managed to face the harshness of the winter conditions with courage and fortitude. Make no mistake, every single Texan who experienced this great freeze is a hero in my eyes and I sincerely hope that we’re all able to enjoy some warm temperatures and safe comforts in the days ahead. For Houston apartment residents, I’ve been following their stories very closely this

I’ve discussed ghost tours before on this blog. And why not? They’re fun! Even though Halloween is still months and months away, it’s still worth it to have one or two entertainingly-spooky experiences throughout the year. And when it comes to living in San Antonio, there’s definitely some supernatural adventures to be had. This year, Haunted Rooms America will be returning to the 150-year-old Victoria’s Black Swan Inn, where guests have steadily reported strange and unusual ghostly happenings taking place over the years. On top of being the site where many have died, it’s also a key site of a battle between the Texan army and Mexican militia, where over 60 people lost their lives. Whew! Not to get morbid on you, but that definitely invites some curiosity as to what’s lurking there underneath the surface! Now, Haunted Rooms America will be featuring an overnight ghost hunt and campout where guests can experience a ghost tour and history of the property by Black Swan Inn’s own professio

There’s always something delicious happening in Austin, especially when it comes to holiday celebrations! This year, Fat Tuesday is expected to be EXTRA fat with the excellent Pardi Gras celebration feast at Banger’s !  Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden is a mouth-watering Austin dining location with a wide variety of savory dishes for guests to enjoy. This year, running from Thursday, Feb. 11th to Fat Tuesday, Feb. 16th, Banger’s is hosting its Pardi Gras event complete with great food, music, and fun that you won’t want to miss out on! Food specials will include boudin balls, gumbo, muffulettas, po’boys, and beignets.  But it’s not a party without alcohol! Drink specials will also be featured, including French Quarter Temptress, Amber, Strawberry Lager, and cajun-spiced sake-mary. Guests can have their fill while enjoying some excellent live music as well from the Boss Street Brass Band and Kev Bev. There will also be a costume contest with prizes! Guests who arrive dressed f

With Valentine’s Day steadily approaching this Sunday, it’s never too early to plan out an ideal outing.  When it comes to Valentine’s Day, one might associate the holiday with many things, chocolate being one of them. If you’re a resident living in Dallas, there’s a great opportunity to enjoy some tasty chocolate along with some excellent wine!  Dallas by Chocolate is presenting The Galentine’s Experience, starting with a wine tasting at Urban Vines Wine Bistro near White Rock Lake. Guests will board a motorcoach to enjoy their chocolate complete with a champagne toast. There will also be the opportunity to move around town to photo ops and receive an additional chocolate surprise. You can also BYOB in case you’re looking to add some additional spice to your outing. The Residence at Lake Highlands is the perfect apartment residence in terms of getting to the event with little hassle. This Karya-owned property features high-quality amenities, affordable pricing, and a pet-friendly comm

Cats are great. And that’s not just because I’m kind of a cat person (don’t worry, I love dogs as well!), but they just are. They’re low-maintenance, funny, affectionate, and they really are just super fun to watch. The internet itself lays its very foundations on the number of silly cat pictures and videos that exist on every platform. In short, cats are amazing and they’re a joy to be near. So with that said, what could be better than getting the chance to pet and play with cute cats while also enjoying some great coffee and snacks? That’s where cat cafes come in. In Japan, the concept of a cat cafe is part of the everyday norm. And gradually, over time, the US is really starting to pick up on the activity with more and more cat cafes starting to pop up across the country.  El Gato Coffeehouse is Houston’s first and best place to enjoy some coffee and treats while getting to play with some adorable cats. I’ve been there many times and I can’t begin to express just how fun the experie

Pizza and wings, the perfect combo! Especially when you’re getting ready to tune into the big game this Sunday! While you’re watching the Chiefs and the Buccaneers duke it out, you’ll definitely want to satisfy your food cravings with the very best value!  Starting from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm, local Overland Park restaurant Pinstripes will feature an exciting Super Bowl viewing party including a Wing and Pizza feast and a $5 draft beer special. The wing and pizza feast is served with baked mac and cheese, kettle chips, and garden salad--the perfect feast fit for a king as you enjoy the game in style! Soda is also included with the package, along with the $5 draft beer option. All in all, it’s a savory opportunity to enjoy some great food with you and your friends and family, along with a game you won’t want to miss! I’ve touted the virtues of living in the Overland Park area before, with its scenic landscape, bustling cityscape, and its never-ending pantheon of fun things to see, do, and

Love is in the air, or at least it is on Valentine’s Day! And for San Antonio couples, there’s a great date opportunity waiting to happen with the Sips and Sounds of the West event over at the Briscoe Western Art Museum ! On Friday, February 12th from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, guests can enjoy a spectacular evening of live music, tasty treats, delicious beverages, and fun under the stars in the McNutt Sculpture Garden. Local singer/songwriter Ty Dillon will be there to help put you in a grooving mood with a live musical performance you won’t want to miss! Plus, for sweethearts, there will be the opportunity to enjoy some tasty chocolate strawberries, along with a Pony Express Love Letters calligraphy workshop. Even if you’re attending alone, there’s still plenty of fun to be had with live entertainment, an engaging atmosphere, and enough snacks to satisfy your tastebuds all night long! San Antonio is home to some of the very best art museums in the state and the Briscoe is definitely no exce

I’ve gushed about the Dallas Arboretum before, no bones about it. But the place honestly never stops surprising me, especially when it comes to great events to enjoy! And now, with spring just starting to peek over the Texas horizon, Dallas residents can enjoy some truly spectacular quality time in nature while also getting to see the Arboretum bloom in all its glory with the Dallas Blooms event! Named by Southern Living as one of “The Best Places to See Stunning Spring Blooms Across the South”, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s Dallas Blooms event will be the largest annual floral festival in the entire southwest! WOW. Now that’s a claim to fame that’s sure to be pleasing on the eye. Running from February 20th to April 11th, this year’s theme will be “America the Beautiful” and will showcase a fountain of breathtaking colors from 100 varieties of spring bulbs and more than 500,000 spring-blooming blossoms, azaleas, Japanese cherry trees, and MORE!  Each week, Dallas Blooms

The Super Bowl has arrived! This Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face off in a race towards the title of champions!  As such, you and your family and friends definitely aren’t going to want to miss out on some excellent food options to satisfy your cravings while you watch the big game! Houston residents can now enjoy some excellent to-go and delivery specials from the best restaurants in the city! Don’t watch the game hungry! Here are some ideal places where you can find some truly excellent take-out and delivery specials just in time for the biggest match of the year! Rainbow Lodge Caracol Goode Company Taqueria Goode Company Barbecue Hugo’s Kenny and Ziggy’s  Pondicheri Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen Bludorn in Fourth Ward Vinny’s Pizza Revival Market Eight Row Flint And more! One day, I’ll write about some of these delectable dining options but for now, all of these options are providing some tasty Super Bowl Sunday Packs for you to dine on this weekend

When it comes to apartment living in the Austin area, new residents can now enjoy the lap of luxury! At Woodstone Apartments , located in the Northwest Hills area of town, there are always exciting new developments and opportunities taking place across the apartment community.  Woodstone Apartments has recently announced that they will be continuing to fully-refurnish their community. T he residence now features a brand new fitness center for everyone to enjoy, along with upcoming plans to completely expand the already-impressive pool area in the future. Exteriors will be updated as well with a new change of face and a fresh coat of paint to make everything feel fresh, new, and clean. The pet-friendly community also comes equipped with green courtyards, outdoor pet stations, and on-site laundry services that are ready and waiting for all residents to enjoy.  One of the very best features that Woodstone Apartments offers is its sense of convenience. Centered close to the Greenbelt area,