What if the entire world was candy? Candytopia brings the world of candy to an interactive art installation and play place ripe with gorgeous photo opportunities. 

The rainbow-themed Candytopia is located inside CITYCENTRE.

The vibrant interactive museum from Houston is returning and much better than before. At H-Town, Candytopia is back and better than ever in its new CITYCENTRE location.

This mixed-use site is no stranger to bringing in entertaining artworks, and its newest feature amps up the whimsy. A secret sweet world has sprung to life inside the never-ending selection of shops and eateries at CITYCENTRE. A deliciously wonderful sweet paradise lies just beyond Candytopia's intimidating walls.
Returning guests will remember some old favorites, but Candytopia has changed into a growing kaleidoscopic wonderland. This is a brand-new interactive art environment.

Welcome to Candytopia

Where enormous sweet floss structures combine with enticing twisted taffy. You've come to the perfect location if you've ever fantasized of eating your way through Candyland or getting a Golden Ticket.
Discover our expansive haven of sweet delight and experience a singular complete sensory journey into a fantastical fantasy. This interactive art installation has over a dozen different landscapes, like a marshmallow tsunami and flying unicorn pigs. It celebrates the brilliant colors and flavors of your favorite sugar-coated treats.

Visitors are given a behind-the-scenes peek at the delights in this new Candytopia, whether they want to browse around the sweet library, stroll through the beautiful forest, or take a plunge under the sea. A plaque detailing statistics, such as the number of sweets and hours required to construct each project, is placed next to many of them. Each creature was painstakingly crafted in a singularly delicious media, ranging in size from a tiny snail to a larger-than-life fire-breathing dragon.

Candytopia is a fun indoor escape during Texas summertime. It's a location where you may enter a fantasy universe where everything is candy-sweet. since the material is used in everything.

For children aged 4 to 12 and adults, Candytopia tickets cost $20 and $28, respectively. Every day at 10 am, it opens, and the final admittance is at 8:30 pm. Click here for additional details on the world of candy-coated pop-ups.

The post Enter a World of Candy with Candytopia: Houston’s Candy-Themed Playplace and Art Installation appeared first on East End Lofts Blog.

Many of these restaurants, which are listed in no particular order, offer lunch and dinner if brunch isn't your thing, and range from elegant to casual chic. All of them offer a meal mom is sure to remember! For more fun things to do on Mother's Day, check our daily activity calendar.

1. Del Frisco's Grille – The Woodlands

Mother's Day brunch selections at Del Frisco's include a special holiday Mother's Day Prime Pair with steak, lobster, and a featured cocktail, served only on May 8th. Reservations can be booked online or over the phone.

2. Brenner's Steakhouse on the Bayou – River Oaks

Treat Mom to a Mother's Day meal she won't soon forget at Brenner's on the Bayou. Choose meal options from the restaurant's signature menu and from different brunch features. Let Mom indulge in a brunch mimosa to make the morning even more special, or order food to go and dine from the comfort of Mom's own home. Brunch begins at 11am; reservations are strongly encouraged. 

3. Coppa Osteria – Upper Kirby

With fresh ingredients and unique dishes, Coppa Osteria is a slam dunk for Mother's Day, whether you're dining in or picking up a meal. Choose from delectable menu items that includes specialties like warm marinated olives, lobster and crabmeat cannelloni, and housemade pizzas, or pick one of the restaurant's weekly specials. Orders to go can be placed online, as can reservations.

4. Tapester's Grill – Bellaire

This casual restaurant is great for the whole family, and its menu features favorites like honey buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches, stickee waffles, huevos rancheros, and brunch tacos. Mom can also sip on signature brunch cocktails and mimosas over her meal. Sunday brunch begins at 8:30am and ends at 2:30pm. 

5. Artisans Restaurant – Downtown

Enjoy brunch by this elegant French restaurant from 11am-3pm on Mother's Day. The five-course menu is $99 (plus tax & gratuity) per person and features seafood crepes, ricotta cheese ravioli, choice of steak or lobster, dessert, and other unique flavors that Mom is sure to love. Make reservations in advance by booking online or over the phone.

The post The Best Spots for Mother’s Day Brunch in Houston appeared first on East End Lofts Blog.

It’s hard to believe the tree-lined streets were once in disarray, but thankfully, a grassroots community movement in the late 1970s turned things around, creating the gorgeous, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood we know today. With so much culture and beauty, there’s no shortage of entertainment here, including these 5 neighborhood musts.

5 Must Do Things in the Museum District

1. Explore art, history, and culture at the museums for free – While visiting Houston’s lineup of renowned museums is pretty obvious, the free museum days they offer may not be. Some, like the innovative Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, locally and regionally inspired Station Museum of Contemporary Art and Lawndale Art Center (plus, their Mural Project), the deeply intriguing The Jung Center, and the craft-minded Houston Center for Contemporary Craft are always free. Others, like the Houston Museum of Natural Science, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and Children’s Museum of Houston offer free days for either the entire museum or certain exhibits. Click here to get a full list of the free museums and free museum days.

2. Hit the chef’s table at MF Sushi – Any meal at this impeccably fresh sushi restaurant is a good one, but it’s the omakase tasting at the sushi bar takes the cake. Omakase basically means “trust chef,” and with Chef Chris Kinjo – aka “Magic Fingers” – behind the concept, you can be sure you’ve put your trust in the right hands. Each course is as aesthetically pleasing as it is tasty, from the classic preparations to novel delights. Click here for directions.

3. Feed giraffes and explore the gardens at Hermann Park – The picturesque Hermann Park is the place to bring anyone visiting, but locals should take trips here, too. For starters, it houses the Houston Zoo, where you’ll find more than 6,000 animals in natural habitat-style exhibits, including fan favorites like monkeys, elephants, and cheetahs. Guests can even feed giraffes at daily feedings, held at 11 am and 2 pm. Afterward, take a walk through the beautiful Japanese and McGovern Centennial Gardens. Kids will love taking a ride on the Hermann Park Railroad or a pedal boat out on the water. Click here for directions.

4. Cozy up for a free show at Miller Outdoor Theatre – Fact: You’re not a Houstonian until you’ve enjoyed a free show at this striking outdoor theater, which becomes even more striking once illuminated at night. The theater, also located in Hermann Park, puts on a variety of programming, ranging from children’s productions and a yearly Shakespeare Festival to performances from the Houston Ballet and popular concert artists. Bring a blanket or a chair, grab some snacks from the concession stand, and enjoy the show. Covered seating is also available for free, with some evening shows requiring tickets for covered seating. For those performances, assigned seat tickets are available, on a first-come basis and while supplies last, on the day of performance only between 10:30 am and 1 pm at the box office behind the theater. Click here for directions.

5. Unwind with a drink – Though you may come to this neighborhood for its beauty and culture, trekking through all of those museums can be quite draining. Good thing you can relax and quench your thirst at one of the district’s finest watering holes. If you’re feeling fancy, the sultry bar at Hotel ZaZa should fit the bill quite nicely. For great eats and drinks, check out Chef Chris Williams‘ Lucille’s, a Southern kitchen offering a great patio, weekday happy hour, and live music on Friday nights. Those looking for a divey atmosphere can seek solace at Grand Prize Bar, a two-story haunt set just outside the borders of the ‘hood. But don’t be fooled, just because GPB has cheap drinks doesn’t mean the bartenders don’t know how to craft a mighty fine cocktail. Be sure to check out their menu while you’re there.

The post Houston Museum District: 5 Awesome Ways to Explore the Local Museums and Neighborhood appeared first on East End Lofts Blog.

Texan Chili 

Chili nights have been a Halloween custom in my household, where we host friends taking turns to devour each other’s variations of Chili and chill. What I love about this dish is that I can leave it simmering on the stovetop, and guests can serve themselves.

Though we all have our own versions, the original Chili did not contain many of the modern ingredients, which may stir a debate of sorts. However, this perfect traditional Halloween recipe of Chili is just what you need to gear up for Trick or Treat. Alternatively, make chili in a Crock-Pot and you will come home to a soulful supper after a busy night of celebrating.

Whole Wheat Empanadas

So versatile, the empanadas are a must-have traditional Halloween snack that makes an appearance on Dia de Los Muertos dining tables almost always. You can fill them up with sweet, savory, or meaty fillings and the best part is that they can be made by the dozens at one preparation. I add a sweet pumpkin filling to half of the batch and a savory chicken filling for the rest. I have even handed them out to the trick ‘o’ treaters, and I won’t lie; they are not usually very happy about it! To add a healthier touch, these empanadas are made from a dough of whole wheat and semolina. The filling can really be anything you fancy, but this time, I am adding a mix of chicken, cheese, and bell peppers.

Traditional Halloween Beef Enchiladas with Homemade sauce

Bloody, oozy, and all things gooey; is how I describe these Enchiladas. The combination of gruesome red-orange and icky yellow and the fact that these can feed a crowd makes it one of the best choices for a traditional Halloween dinner. These beef enchiladas are super simple to make on the same day if you only have the sauce ready. The sauce, I prepare a day in advance, as it freezes quite well and can be used in more than one dish. The tomato passata used in the sauce is basically tomato puree, triple diluted. A large can of tomato puree will do perfectly, just add enough water so it’s the right consistency.

For really well-melting cheese, and that spooky visual effect, use a mix of Queso Chihuahua and classic Cheddar. Piping hot, tangy and satisfying, this traditional Halloween enchilada recipe is not to be missed!

Seasonal Quesadillas

No, I am not going to give you another Jack o Lantern Quesadilla recipe, but a more filling and scrumptious one. To make it better, this quesadilla features plenty of seasonal produce like bell peppers, corn, onions & mushrooms. Additionally, you can customize these traditional Halloween foods with chopped olives, and other fermented veggies. The secret behind getting a crisp tortilla is to make sure you stir fry the vegetables at high heat, so no moisture remains. For the cheese again, use any kind with a nice melt. Serve hot and enjoy!

Traditional Halloween Dips

There can never be enough dips at a party. Especially when it is Halloween. Whether you dip your nachos into guacamole or top up your taco with a refried bean dip, these side dishes are the highlights of any meal. The best feature about dips is that you can use them in a number of different ways and add that extra dimension to your dishes. Two immensely popular dips for this season are:

Guacamole

Definitely takes the first spot on the list. A guac can be as simple or as complex as you would like it to be. For keeping things light and letting the flavors shine through, I love this classic guacamole recipe by Benjamin. A classic take indeed, it never fails to shine.

Refried Bean Dip

Another traditional Halloween favorite is the refried bean dip. Opt for pinto beans, as they give a lovely buttery texture. Fresh cilantro livens up the dish and that squeeze of lemon juice just brings it all together. This recipe for refried bean dip is way more enhanced than store-bought refried beans, so be sure to try it!

Turkey, Brie and Peach Grilled Tacos

Is any celebration even complete without tacos?? To give them a festive touch, there is turkey and luscious golden peach chutney. And cheese. I know right, tempting already!

It is remarkably simple to make, and with a little bit of prior preparation of the chutney, the tacos will be ready to go in no time.

For the turkey, feel free to go with either cold cuts or roasted breast. If not Brie, pick any soft mild cheese. Needless to say, turkey Brie and peach grilled tacos are a deadly combo for Halloween!

Atole 

As a lover of all drinks warm and restorative, I have recently become obsessed with Mexican Atoles. Who knew a drink with corn could soothe my tired mind and body after a fully exhaustive day. Atoles are perfect as the traditional Halloween drink, and the champurrado, is by far, my personal best.

Made from water, milk, masa harina, and chocolate, this delectable version of atole will be loved by all. You can use any dark chocolate you prefer but do opt for brown sugar to give it the sweet notes. Some earthy spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise give the concoction the added bit of heat.

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