Shopping

Lions, Alpacas and Dogs, Oh My!

3 Adorable Gifts for Big Imaginations (and Appetites) Article by Alex Gray | Photography by Provided For Littles: Pottery Barn Kids Alpaca Critter Rocker, $189 We have all heard of a rocking horse, but what about a rocking alpaca? Pottery Barn’s iteration of the famous toy is described as “plush as a mountain alpaca” with a “huggable body” and “cozy Sherpa fleece fur.” The kind countenance of the faux animal gives it an immediate approachability, and its precision-shaped, solid rubber wood...

Education

A Scientific Moonshot

Lone Star’s Innovative Research Program Powered by Students Article by Aunika Anderson | Photography by Daniel Kainer The next breakthrough in biotechnology may begin right here in The Woodlands. At Lone Star College-Montgomery, the Biotechnology Program, led by Director Daniel Bryan Kainer, Ph.D., is giving undergraduate students opportunities rarely found at the academic level while pursuing ambitious research with the potential to impact the future of medicine and biotechnology. “We are...

Life + Culture

My Perfect Day

The Ultimate Dog-Friendly Guide to The Woodlands Article and Photography by Travis Hager ​​I know when it is going to be a good day because my person puts on the shoes. Not the “going to work” shoes. Not the “I will be right back” shoes, which everyone knows are full of lies. I mean the walking shoes. The shoes that say, “Come on, buddy.” That is when I begin my morning dance. My perfect day in The Woodlands starts on The Waterway, where there are so many smells that my nose needs its own...

Education

Alpha School

Two Hours of Academics. A Full Day of Growth. Article by Dawn Allen | Photography by Provided For families in The Woodlands, the back-to-school conversation centers on a familiar set of choices, each with a well-earned reputation. This fall, a new option enters the mix. Alpha School opens its K-8 campus in The Woodlands on August 12, occupying the former Glade Cultural Center property, built around a model that looks different from anything currently in the area. The premise: students...

Sports + Recreation

En Garde!

Non-Traditional Sports Options Your Kids Might Love Article by Carol Mowdy Bond | Photography by Miscellaneous With another season of school sports nearly upon us, there’s no better time to consider what non-traditional athletic options your kids might love. Whatever your child’s age, experience, or interests, there are plenty of creative ways for them to stay active, make friends, and have fun while they’re at it. What’s Your Angle? As a true sport, fishing—also known as angling—requires...

Education

A Tale of Two Mascots

How a Dragon and a Warrior Came to Live in Harmony Article by Alex Gray | Photography by Provided Across the world, schools of all traditions have boasted at least one thing in common: the mascot. Whether birds, reptiles, amphibians or felines—or a figure beyond the realm of Animalia—mascots have long stood as a symbol of commonality. Common values, common goals, common culture and communal pride. For students, they’re a rallying cry. For faculty, a source of amusement. For alumni, a calling...

Auto + Marine

Art on the Road

The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Article and Photography by Travis Hager By July in Texas, the instinct to explore becomes less of a suggestion and more of a summons. The highways stretch out under hard blue skies, the evenings turn gold, and the best drives begin just as the heat loosens its grip. On the approach to America’s 250th anniversary, the 2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante feels unusually fitting: a British grand tourer built for the very American idea of movement, distance...

Travel

When in Rome

Traveling Beyond the Bucket List on Your Vacation to Italy Article and Photography by Laura L. Green Traveling to Italy for the first time? Your initial excitement may be followed by a wave of anxiety as you think about putting together an itinerary. Who knows when you’ll visit again? You’ve got to make it count! But jamming your dream trip with too many bucket list items is the reason some visitors return exhausted and with mixed feelings. Overtourism is also a factor—thousands of visitors...

Travel

From a Grateful Traveler

Thank You Notes to the Cities of Greece Article and Photography by Heather Davis Dear Greece,  From the moment the New Testament letters spoke of you, I knew this would be a place of peace, faith and movement. Long before stepping onto your streets, I had imagined your mountains, seas and ancient cities as a place where history and belief naturally intertwined. As my friends and I planned the trip, excitement steadily grew as we realized that we could experience something larger than...

Life + Culture

Seeds of Victory

Victory Gardens Honor Patriotic Spirit on America’s 250th Birthday Article by Michelle Leigh Smith | Photography by Stock There’s a divine glory in nurturing. Victory gardens, also known as “war gardens” or “food gardens for defense,” were planted in fruit, herb and vegetable plots, on rooftops, in window boxes, public parks and ultimately, the White House lawn during World War II. This July, in honor of our nation’s 250th birthday, we have a new opportunity to plant for a cause. Unlike the...