Anyway, the river part was okay and Brios was very good. Valet parking was $5 and very convenient. After dinner (rare steaks and a salad with gargonzola all over it) we headed to Market Street. There was a huge garage we could park in and we did not have to search for a space. Market Street was very well done and is similar to a small town square where everyone goes to congregate and meet each other. Chris said it reminded him of the town square in Back to the Future. I agreed. Also, with all the shops he said it was similar to West Palm Beach. The best part I think was the movie theater. We didn’t go inside but it was very cool looking. I recommend a trip out the ‘burbs to check it out for a day of shopping and a night of dining. I never thought I’d say that!!!

I have been on a brief hiatus giving birth to our first child, Henry and getting used to new motherhood. Henry is one month old yesterday and we are just now starting to get out the door and enjoy ourselves. Last Friday we went to the Cry Baby Matinee at the Angelika. It was very fun. Lots of new moms were there and several older babies and their parents. We watched American Dreamz, which I could have done without but it was worth it just to get out of the house and do something! There were no changing tables as promised but the lights were dimmed so you could see around. The volume may have been turned down as promised but I think it was a little loud for the babies. It was great to be out somewhere and not worry about the baby crying: everyone’s baby was crying at some point or another. Towards the end of the movie Henry got restless so I walked him up and down the stairs, I looked behind me and there were 3 or 4 other people doing the same thing. By the end as everyone was leaving it was a chorus of tears as moms and dads tried to wrestle the little ones back into their car seats and strollers. I can’t wait to go back tomorrow! The Cry Baby Matinee is every Friday and Saturday at 11:45 am at the Angelika theater downtown at Bayou Place, 510 Texas Avenue. Kids under 5 are free and adults pay the regular matinee price which I thinki is $6. This week is Akeelah and the Bee, which I wasn’t planning on seeing, but who cares?

Also on the menu this weekend are the events going on at A Woman’s Work in Rice Village. Tomorrow at 11 am and 3 pm and again on Sunday at 12:30 there will be a sling workshop where you can learn all the different positions with all the different types of baby slings. There was an article about it in the Chronicle last week. There will also be a raffle and an opportunity to meet the founder of Majamas, a clothing line for nursing women. I was in there two days ago and bought some Majamas pajamas. Expensive, but well worth it. Nursing clothes that don’t make you look like you walked off the compound on Big Love, what a great idea! The workshop is at 5407 Morningside in Rice Village and the store is at 2401 Rice Blvd.

She is getting a bone marrow transplant on Monday, and has been blogging about her experience since her diagnosis in October. She has her laptop in her room, and it has been a true salvation to her to stay connected to people.

Deb has been blogging her experiences with cancer at debutaunt.com since October. You can read the basic story here. Please stop by and send her some love and well wishes! She really needs them today. Also, if you would like to help support her in her time of need, you can make a donation to the Deb Fund.

Even my zip code is covered and I live at least 7 miles from the nearest store. Though, I do have to place a minimum order of $100 in my zip code, most zips have a minimum set at $50. And, since I’m ordering online, I’m able to buy in bulk and plan ahead which makes things so much easier. You can review your cart at a glance, andif you get close to check out and forgot something it takes about 2 seconds to add it to your cart instead of running around the store and losing your place in line. The online service launched in January, so is still quite new. Notwithstanding, when I tried it out the service I received was flawless, or nearly so. You cannot order for same day delivery unless you order by 9am. So, your best bet is to order the day before. I did not find this out until checkout so I actually had to go pick up my order which was okay. I work a few blocks from the store so I was not inconvenienced. It is a $7 service charge to pick up and a $15 service charge for delivery no matter how big your order is. It may sound like alot but if you really need the convenience and you have a grocery bill to justify it, it is worth it. And your first delivery is free, so you may as well try it once.

The staff was very nice and the guy who fulfilled my order gave me a phone call to make sure he had the order clear. He even suggested I substitute an item with a similar item which was on sale. When I arrived at the store, the manager went to retrieve my order, noticed something was missing and gave it to me without charge. What a deal! I’m glad this convenience is back in Houston and I hope it lasts longer than Peapod!

The closing of Cactus reminds me of the philosophy the founder of ibuylocal.info explained in one of his opening entries. Buying local is about helping your neighbors. As Kevin says:

This is all about helping out our neighbors. I can only imagine how hard it must be to open and own your own small business. I work for a large company, and so have no experience with small business. But, I realize that I can help out my local small businesses, and more importantly, my neighbors. I can choose to go to them instead of those ubiquitous chains and megamarts. I can look for a local business before I go to a chain.

I wish this kind of action would save more stores like Cactus. But for now, I guess we can just step up our support of local businesses and hope to preserve what is left. Thanks to Enita for the link.

I’m about 7 months pregnant right now and one of the things I miss most is BEER. Beer is so good, and that non-alcoholic stuff they try to pacify me with is just not doing it for me. Anyway, it hasn’t been too bad on the social scene since becoming preggo. I thought I would have to give up all adult fun things to avoid smoke, etc. Usually I love smoking (socially of course), but I can’t be around it because of baby in my belly. I know that some are inconvenienced by the semi-new no-smoking ordinance but for me it has been good because it has allowed me to go out to places that would have been off limits before. Like, watching the game at KC’s bar and grill on 18th Street. Or watching the El Orbits play at Sambuca. Or even watching the Flying Fish Sailors play at Hickory Hollow.

So, basically, eating good food is one of the only pleasures I have right now. Thank goodness for ice cream and cookies. There are some things they don’t tell you until you’re knocked up and it’s too late. Like, I can’t eat sushi or soft cheeses. So, no baked brie plate from Cafe Brazil on Westheimer; no tuna tekka don from Zake; no panini with fresh mozzarella from Paulies; no blue cheese burger from Pappas Burgers. I think the first week after I have this baby is going to be a gorge fest.