News & Stories

Small Business Spotlight: A Bushel & a Peck

Every now and again, our Editors discover something on social media that's simply remarkable! Something that just makes us feel warm and inspired! That's how it was when these sweet, flower-filled mason jars started showing up in our Facebook feed earlier this year. We tracked down the creator, Jenni Fisher, to find out more about her home-grown (literally) business, and we were delighted to learn about A Bushel & A Peck, a Woodlands-based small business that brings fresh, locally grown flowers to you!

Meet Jenni Fisher, Owner:

Small Business Spotlight: In-Step Dance Center

Throughout the years, our readers have consistently inquired of us: "Can you recommend a dance studio for my child?" In-Step Dance Center (located at 449 Sawdust Rd. in The Woodlands) is always one of our top recommendations. They've been a staple in The Woodlands community for over two decades, and we LOVE and admire owner, Dana Sparks, for her creativity, her passion, community support, and relatability. It's our honor to spotlight this local business!

Meet Dana Sparks, Owner:

Rao's Bakery - Spring, TX

I go to Rao's regularly. There are many great things about it, the gelato is amazing, the pastries, cookies, cakes, pies, and kolaches are fabulous and fresh made from scratch daily...the lunch specials are light and filling so you never go away hungry but you're not over stuffed either. But, the best part for me is on Sunday morning, when my daughter is at her dad's and his girlfriend's house, I walk my dog to the park behind Rao's. Then, when I'm done, I go to Rao's for a snack and iced tea. They ALWAYS prepare a 'to go' cup of ice and water for me to take to my dog. Ruby (my Aussie) sits outside on the patio next to Jake and Elroy and we enjoy either a kolache, or an egg-white and ham sandwich, or just our drinks as the other people come through. The bathroom is ALWAYS clean too!

All of Rao's is really great and I would recommend them to everyone! Their service is good too and the owner is nearly always there!

-Nora

My daughter (now 2 years old) and I recently had lunch at Rao's (the one on Cypresswood). We had the chicken salad sandwich combo with fruit and also treated ourselves to a cupcake and petit four for dessert. I had previously read online that they can host parties at their cafe, so I thought we'd check it out to see if it would work for her 2nd Birthday cupcake party. The service was great and the food was great. I really enjoyed the petit four. Everything seemed fresh. They had a nice selection of food and pastries. The cafe was a nice size as well. Although, we chose not to have her birthday party there, I would definitely have lunch there again

- Andrea

Editor's Review - Harry Connick Jr.'s "Your Songs"

Don’t expect to be wooed. Or blown away. Or even moved, for that matter. Okay, here’s the truth. Every song on Harrick Connick Jr.’s new CD, Your Songs, is enjoyable, especially to the 40 and over crowd. But that’s about as far as it goes. And we enjoy it because they’re classic songs that we’ve grown to love. Connick remakes Just the Way You Are, Mona Lisa, Can’t Help Falling in Love With you, among others (a total of 14). Does he make them better? Not hardly. And face it… even when our two-year-old is singing our favorite song in her off-key tune, we’re willing to jam to it because hey, it’s our song. But tolerable they are, with low, easy-listening melodies that seem to all fade into the background.