Rainbow Lodge is the type of place where you expect to sip wine and play a wild game with the likes of Jim Harrison or Tom Mcguane. Enjoy tasty seafood offerings along with a view of the ravine in White Oak Bayou in this century old log cabin. Plus, with rooms like the Orvis Room you know just where to take the outdoorsman in the family. Just let them gaze at the rustic carvings along the bar. Along with seafood, chicken and meat preparations are also among the favorites. Grilled Ciabatta Sandwiches, pastas and salads also feature on the menu.

Murder and mayhem are no strangers to the usually gentle clientele of Murder by the Book, which opened in 1980. A comprehensive selection of more than 25,000 mystery titles is available to choose from, including collectible first editions. Shopping for a gift? Check out the large variety of mystery-themed T-shirts, coffee mugs and other items that will please any fan of this genre. If you are really into spine-tinglers, you will not want to miss the monthly discussion group, or the book-signing parties with prominent mystery writers.

Good literature is easy to find if you know where to go. Visit this fine literary shop Brazos Bookstore that has been serving Houston since 1974. You will find a wide selection of books, journals, magazines and maps lining the shelves, and you are welcome to browse the selections at your leisure. If you cannot find the specific book you are looking for, ask about special orders. The friendly staff will assist you in any way possible. Use this perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge of the arts, cooking, parenting or any other subject that interests you.

Vintage photographs of family members provide a charming ambiance. Due in part to the location, this restaurant enjoys a great deal of popularity with artists and business people alike. Outdoor seating is tempting in fair weather. Traditional Tex-Mex dominates the menu, but an unusual alternative is available in the form of Mollejitas, or sweetbreads. Of course, they are not for the faint of heart, so order with caution and enjoy. Finish off your meal with some sopapillas or flan.

Briar Shoppe features pipes, tobaccos, imported cigarettes and even a giant walk-in humidor stocked with hundreds of fine cigars. You will find a large array of accessories, including humidors, cutters, cases and lighters, and the staff also offers pipe repair. Wander into other sections of the old building to find a nice selection of beer and wine.

Frequenting Wabash is a must for every urban backyard gardener, since it’s a true haven for organic gardening solutions. Wander through their extensive array of natural soil-enriching fertilizers, treatments, and eco-friendly products. From tools and flowerpots to garden ornaments and natural pet foods and supplies, Wabash has everything. The place also functions as a pet store, so that you can pick up a furry friend home.

Observe your Texan BBQ ritual at the Luling City Market Real Texas Bar-B-Que, a restaurant that lives up to its name. Opened in 1981, Time magazine recommended the place to delegates attending the Republican National Convention. With traditional recipes, briskets, ribs, chicken and turkey are wood-fired over Post Oak to exude a unique smokiness and oodles of flavor. Their specialty is the handmade beef sausage; it goes great with the impressive bar accompaniments, not to mention the pecan pie or coleslaw. What sets their barbecue apart is the tangy sauce with a hint of mustard, a signature item and popular favorite that is sold by the bottle.

Jerusalem Halal Meats is one of the most interesting markets in all of Houston. Find the exquisite tastes and foreign styles of the Middle East in this large, yet densely-populated-with-products shop. Here, you'll find aisle after aisle of things you just won't find in your average store. Get traditional tea sets to serve your authentic cardamon tea. Or, try some fresh pita for your afternoon snacks; and top quality died dates and apricots. You can even get fresh goat meat if you're planning an adventurous meal.

Opened in 2000, Fogo de Chão welcomes diners to a rustic yet appealing ambiance and is a much admired chain amongst businessmen. Brazilian offerings like pork, chicken, beef, lamb and sausages are cooked authentically. The salad bar is huge and is a good place to go if you want something light. Well-prepared fiery dishes with a nice bar menu are sure to tantalize your taste buds and bring you back for more!

Make a reservation and take a trip down Westheimer to the pleasantly international Westchase District for a pleasing taste of Persia. If you still haven't given Middle Eastern food a try, you are sorely missing out. Kasra Persian Grill is the perfect place to start with their warm and inviting atmosphere and crave-worthy food. Despite this being Texas, lamb is indeed the new beef, and Kasra's Lamb Shank is simply other-worldly. Not sure which spiced meat you're in the mood for? Get a combo, featuring hot skewers of either red meat or poultry. Even try the marinated Salmon Kebab. And you'll love the fluffy Basmati rice and spiced grilled veggies. -Adam Rosen

Phoenicia Specialty Foods carries an abundance of European and Middle Eastern specialty items. You will find the finest spices, cooking oils and garnishes from the Middle East. It also carries almost every variation of Greek olive. Customers familiar with Eastern Europe will recognize the smells emanating from the finest Polish sausages and Hungarian paprika. Canned fish and caviar are available from Russia, along with a huge assortment of other European treasures. The store is so popular that another branch opened in downtown, as well as a wine bar and cafe.

Grimaldi's Pizzeria is a fantastic place to get your pizza fix. Whether you're eating out or taking it home, the gooey mozzarella blanketing their tangy fresh tomato sauce atop a final resting place of perfectly thin crust is what food is all about. If you're not into great pizza in its most simplistic form, this Sugar Land eatery has plenty of combinations of toppings, like meatballs, roasted red sweet peppers, creamy Ricotta cheese, grilled chicken, and even Kalamata olives, in addition to the standard pizza extras. Feel free to choose your favorite combo of toppings baked into a crispy Calzone. They have wonderful salads as well.