It seems like there is always something going on in Houston, especially on the weekends. Whether it’s a concert on the lawn or a food truck extravaganza, you can be sure to fill your weekends up with more things to do than you have time to spend. However, there was one monthly event that I was told not to miss. So before I left Houston for the summer, I made sure to check out Second Saturdays, an art gallery that opens to the public on the second Saturday of each month. Luckily for me, the Rice Village Flea Market is also only open on the second weekend of each month. So I decided to make it a whole day of enjoying new art and culture in Houston.
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I started the morning off with an early breakfast at Tiny’s No. 5. This was another restaurant recommended to my by a local friend and it definitely did not disappoint. The scenery and restaurant space was gorgeous–exactly the type of environment I wanted to be in for a Saturday morning brunch. And the pastries and desserts were to-die-for!
Tiny’s is actually known for having the best cookies in Houston, served warm straight from the oven. And I have to say…I will not argue with that!
P.S. – Any meal that starts with a fresh cookie is a winner in my book!
For Saturday Brunch, Tiny’s has a ton of options to offer. And while I normally go with something a bit more exotic, every once in a while I crave just a simple “American” breakfast. And so that’s what I went for on this particular morning–the West U Special, which comes with eggs, bacon, potatoes, and the best biscuit and homemade strawberry jam. Yummm….
After enjoying a slow, relaxing brunch by myself, I next headed into Rice Village, an eating and shopping area that hosts a flea market with local artisans on the second weekend of every month.
There were several unique items…from beautiful cutting boards to dreamy essential oil soaps. But I’d have to say my favorite find was meeting the creator and #girlboss behind K. Jones Jewelry, who I still keep up with today (2 years later!).
Not only was her jewelry beautiful and timeless, but her story was even more inspiring. We instantly bonded over expressing our desires and passions in life. It was an amazing moment I will never forget! I love meeting and connecting with people who refuse to do anything but live their life to the fullest. And Kendra is definitely one of those people. Taking a leap of faith so that she could turn her passion into a reality and share it with the world. Truly inspiring to hear about!
After buying a beautiful, dainty necklace (the one on the right in the picture above) and speaking with other local artisans at the market, I decided to do a little more shopping while in Rice Village. The area has a whole host of restaurants and shops to choose from, with pretty much any and every shop you could ever imagine. I made sure to stop in Anthropolgie and a few others that caught my eye. It’s a great area to spend a morning or afternoon if you love to shop like me!
After working up quite the appetite from shopping, I headed to Good Dog for a late lunch. The bright yellow umbrellas and teal french doors had be instantly knowing I was going to love this place! (I’m a sucker for happy hues and summery vibes.)
If you couldn’t guess, Good Dog serves artisanal hot dogs and let me tell you….they are AMAZING. I may sound crazy, but this was hands-down my favorite place to eat at in Houston come summer’s end. It is THE BEST!
For my first time (yes, there were multiple visits involved over the course of the summer…), I went with the Chi-town dog layered with fresh tomatoes, dill pickles, sweet relish, pickled peppers, and celery salt on a poppy seed bun. Woah. Seriously so good! Come to find out, all their pickled peppers and relishes are made in-house. YESSS! No wonder it was amazing. Those extra little touches, like homemade relishes, really do make a difference.
And I couldn’t not get a side of seasoned fries with their homemade tomato sauce. Yum!
Next stop after lunch, Spring Street for the walkable art galleries! The open art studios are housed in a couple different buildings. And each studio is just that…a studio where the artists work and build their collections. So often, you have the opportunity to actually meet and interact with the people creating the artwork. Such a cool opportunity to hear about their stories and journeys and to learn more about the pieces they create and the inspiration behind them!
I only had time to go into the Spring Street Studio location, so that’s where all of these photos were taken!
I actually ended up arriving at the studios shortly before they closed for the day. (Bad planning on my part!) So I only had the opportunity to talk with a few local artists. But each one I talked to had an amazing story and I could feel the passion they had for their work.
I’d love to show you some of the pieces I saw in their studios, but out of respect for their working spaces, I kept photos to the artwork outside in the halls. You’ll just have to go and experience it for yourself!
My only regret of the day was not getting there sooner! The studios are open from 2-7pm on the second Saturday of every month, so be sure to stop by if you are in the area.
Beautiful artwork around every corner, quite literally! Especially loved the bright, bold colors of the painting above. And the pictures below looked to be inspired by small aircraft mechanics, so I was naturally a huge fan of them!
After perusing the hallways for open studio doors and admiring all the artwork I passed along the way, I decided to call it a day and head back into Clearlake for the night. Overall, I had a blast exploring all that Houston had to offer on Second Saturdays. From jewelry and paintings to passion and dreams, it was quite an amazing day to meet so many inspiring local artisans in the area. And the best part?! Anyone can partake in these activities! What a great way to connect with Houston and the local color!
What about you? Have you ever been to a local flea market or art show?
You might also like…Another Favorite Place for Houston Art and Centennial Gardens in Houston.
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