Girl Scouts of the United States of America

A Musical Celebration of the Oreo Cookie

Do you like cookies? No? Well at least now we know who the hidden aliens are and can send Roddy Piper to deliver fisticuffs and quips about the surplus of ass-kickings inversely proportionate to the scarcity of bubble gum. Seriously, though, cookies are awesome, and it was on this day 101 years ago ... More >>

Girl Scouts Get Healthy: Mango Cremes with NutriFusion

Girl Scout cookie season is my absolute favorite time of the year. Samoas, Thin Mints and Do-si-dos make me a happy camper (no pun intended). With the 2013 season upon us, Girl Scouts have released their lineup of cookies, including a new flavor, which doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the cookie ... More >>

Houston 101: Will Hogg, Houston's Forgotten, Eccentric and Downright Badass Philanthropist

What better time than Memorial Day to remember Will Hogg, the man who founded Memorial Park? If that (and the Arboretum) was all Will Hogg gave Houston, that would rank as one of the grandest local legacies anyone has ever achieved. But Will Hogg did so much more. He founded and developed River Oa ... More >>

DEFCON Dining: Jenni's Noodle House

Dining out with children is an exercise in situational awareness. Each experience is unique, with different variables leading to different possible outcomes, DEFCON-like in their escalating threat levels. Keen observation, forward planning, and prior experience are critical in determining the proper ... More >>

When Are Food Knock-offs Distasteful?

If your Girl Scout Cookie of choice is the Samoa, then you might be happy to know that these goodies are NOT only available through green-uniformed girl children and for $3-4 a pop. Keebler offers a nearly identical version called "Coconut Dreams," which are available year-round and often on sale ( ... More >>

5 Treehugging Tunes By Conservative Country Artists

​Today is the Girl Scouts of America's annual World Thinking Day, which they celebrate each year by dedicating 24 hours of contemplation on the world and the people in it. Now, Rocks Off isn't a Girl Scout, but we keep a close eye on them because we've proven in the past they are in fact our o ... More >>

An Afternoon with SEARCH Leads a Writer to Recall His Own Homeless Mother

As a guest of local homelessness advocates SEARCH, I spent last Friday afternoon pretending to be homeless. Sort of...At any rate, it was a strange afternoon for me as my experience of homelessness is far more up close and personal than that of most people. The afternoon began at the SEARCH facili ... More >>

Oprah of the Piney Woods

Kathy Patrick wields some hefty clout out of her beauty shop/book store

War Zoned

Who knew historic preservation could ignite so much neighborhood drama?

Best Tasting Lemonade Contest at the Children's Museum Kicks Off Lemonade Day

Photos by Katharine ShilcuttThe Alonso sisters with their lemonade stand.​"We thought it tasted too sweet," said Brenda Alonso as she stood shyly next to her sister behind their lemonade stand. "So we added a little bit of salt." The 10-year-old beamed as I told her what a good idea that had b ... More >>

Sundae Sundays: Yogurtland

​Must a sundae by definition contain ice cream? Um, probably yes. But this Sunday I made an exception for a creation I made at Yogurtland. I was simultaneously craving soft-serve ice cream and sundaes, but a bout of laziness prevented me from seeking out a place that would satisfy both desir ... More >>

Montrose Murder

Paul Broussard's killer, up for parole, may not be model prisoner.

Five Bad Valentine Day's Gifts That Guys Who Listen To Sports-Talk Radio Will Probably Buy

We know nothing about getting good gifts for women, as our wife would testify. So Valentine's Day sucks. (in our case, it's followed by the gift-dilemma of a wedding anniversary four days later. Our wife has long grown used to disappointment, which she hides well.)One thing we do know, though: Liste ... More >>

A New Champion: Chick-fil-a Peppermint Chocolate Chip Shake

​Last month J.C. Reid raved about DQ's Pumpkin Pie Blizzard, ushering in the 2009 holiday-beverage season. Frozen or not, these are guilty pleasures at best. But we'll still take them intravenously if given the option, from tried-and-true drinks like the Starbucks Gingerbread Latte to Jack in ... More >>

Some Aeros Miscellania, Including Cheerleaders

Photo Jason Villanueva/Houston Aeros​Just thought I would share a little Houston Aeros hockey news today -- for some reason, I can't get into football yet, but I'm fully up on all hockey. I can't explain it...okay, yes I can. I got to watch the tryouts for the Aeros cheerleaders, the Aero Dynamics ... More >>

Realizing You Don't Have What It Takes To Want To Be A Millionaire

Photos by Blake WhitakerOn the way to our first ever game-show tryout today, we saw what we took at the time to be cosmic encouragement. Competing for space in Airline Drive's forest of signage was the Moonlight Inn marquee, which spoke to us: "You are awake. Don't dream it -- do it." Of cour ... More >>

Why Does Memorial Day Suck In Houston?

Photo by Paul KeleherIf you've ever lived outside of Texas or the Deep South, you can find yourself asking a simple question: What the hell happened to Memorial Day?Up north and back east, it's a huge event. Every little town has a parade, there's a ceremony, people really, really look forward to it ... More >>

Pitching A Tent For Mother's Day: And Never You Mind About Those Snakes

One hour's drive north of Houston, Lake Conroe awaits this weekend -- or more precisely, the Kampgrounds of America there offering a special deal for Mother's Day weekend. Pay for Friday night and you get your Saturday night stay for free.The obvious question -- why would a mother want to spend Moth ... More >>

SPECIAL APRIL FOOLS' DAY EDITION

Buy Lemonade, Help The Federal Government Out

Mail Call

Hotel Campers

In order to retain membership, have the Girl Scouts changed too much?

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Chefs Rule!

If you can't stand the sight of lopped-off digits and the smell of your own flesh burning, get out of the kitchen

Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey! Bands, Bands, Bands!

A South By Southwest diary

Jottin' Jocks

Sports greats show off their signature moves

Bye-Bye Bongs?

Tubing without beer bongs? Why?

Pop-Punk Penance

A cool kid seeks heavenly redemption

Meet John Dough

Talking Hollywood, integrity and Girl Scout cookies with a legendary ex-punk

Pleasant Grove

Saturday, October 26

A Fixer-Upper

Jones High needs a lot of renovation -- and not just the buildings. At least HISD can't pretend it doesn't know it has a problem. Its own task force told it so.

The Not-So-Great Outdoors

Inman exhibit explores the darker side of Mother Nature

The Enforcers

Unlicensed jukebox music may be the downfall of feisty Sassy's

Not Your Grandma's Girl Scouts

Rachelle Anderson just took super Girl Scout honors. And it wasn't hustling cookies that got her there.

Downing

Brentwood's protests have given way to a calmer acceptance of AIDS patients living there

Out of the Woods

Cooper and her clever Tamalalia are cool enough to beat the heat

Night & Day

June 3 - 9, 1999

Looking for Laura

First Friendswood rallied to find Laura Smither. Then it rallied to find her killer.

Press Picks

Comic, Tragic, Tedious

Nun is fun and Phantom sings. But Taking Steps, alas, stumbles.

Beat the Heat!

1996 Summer Guide

Press Picks

Houston's Housing

For years, the city has been promising housing for the poor. But those promises have been trampled by politics and a desire for quick profits.

Picks