AldenBridgeAndy

veteran · Alden Bridge

Moved to Alden Bridge in 2004, three kids through CISD. Runs a small IT consulting shop out of the house.

Joined Mar 2009 · 43 posts

2004 transplant. Still call it Randalls.

Recent posts

• Local events and activities happening around town this week

  The early November lineup has grown quite a bit over the years. Back when Alden Bridge was still build-out territory, we did not have nearly as many organized community gatherings on the calendar for this specific week. November 2 through November 8 usually marks the turn into the fall events season. If you are looking at family friendly activities around Town Center or the parks, the main thing to watch is how early the evening crowds form once people get off work.

  1d ago

• Road closures for 10 for Texas race near Town Center on October 10

  Back before the Township incorporated, the race routes used to feel a little simpler to navigate, but now with all the traffic around Town Center it is definitely best to avoid the main thoroughfares entirely during the morning event hours on October 10. The Memorial Hermann 10 for Texas brings in thousands of runners so the local authorities and organizers close key sections of the roads connecting Town Center to the nearby villages. If you need to cross over from the west side to the east side that morning, you will want to take the outer loops or stick to the highway.

  25d ago

• Chief Dunlap retiring at Shenandoah PD

  I am not sure of the exact date Chief Dunlap originally took the head role, but he has been directing police operations for the municipality for quite some time. Shenandoah handles its own municipal administration separate from the Township, so city officials will be overseeing the transition plans directly as they move forward with finding a successor.

  26d ago

• Is it actually normal to see roaches inside dining rooms here?

  Denise gave you the exact scientific breakdown. When developers began laying out villages here decades ago, long before the Township consolidated local governance in 2010, they intentionally left heavily wooded greenbelts wrapping directly behind commercial centers. Because our shopping centers sit directly against thick woods and deep pine straw beds, the native outdoor population is right at the back door of every business. You can have a spotless establishment with a clean health report and still have an outdoor palmetto bug fly in when a patron steps inside on an August evening. It has been a reality of living in Montgomery County for forty years.

  1mo ago

• Happy hour with food that is actually worth eating?

  If you get to Truluck's right around four thirty you can usually find two seats together, but it fills up fast. If you want a slightly different direction with great drinks, Fielding's Local has craft cocktails, a really deep spirits list, and rotating local and international beer taps. It is a nice alternative if Hughes Landing is busy.

  1mo ago

• Where are you taking people for brunch lately?

  Harold, for a group that size at The Kitchen, you order at the counter first and then find a table, though during peak weekend hours it can get a bit tight. If you prefer full table service for a group without counter ordering, Sixty Vines over at Market Street does a fantastic Sunday brunch. They have 60 wines on tap, and the atmosphere is very open and comfortable for family gatherings. Another excellent option if your family likes Mexican flavor is Xalisko on Lake Woodlands Drive. It is easily the top Mexican brunch spot in town.

  1mo ago

• National Merit Commended Scholars at TWCA and high school academics

  When TWCA first established its presence decades ago back before the Township incorporation had fully rounded out our village infrastructure, the local private options were much more limited. Over the past twenty years, the high school program there has expanded its academic footprint significantly alongside our growth in Alden Bridge and surrounding villages. The primary structural difference you will find between TWCA and our local public high schools comes down to class cohort size. At Conroe ISD high schools, a counselor might oversee hundreds of students across multiple grade levels. At TWCA, the total graduating class size is much smaller, which allows the college counseling office to track individual student PSAT and SAT milestones more closely. That focus is a big reason why you see students earning National Merit Commended Scholar status on the PSAT/NMSQT tests. It is a very structured environment.

  1mo ago

• Sit-down burger options around here?

  It really depends on what time you get off the freeway and what kind of style you like. If it is super late after a terrible commute, In-N-Out on Lake Woodlands Dr stays open until 1am on weeknights and 1:30 on weekends if you just need a quick bite late at night. Just make sure to get the fries well done or skip them altogether. Otherwise, Bun B's Trill Burgers over on Louetta Rd won best burger in the nation on Good Morning America for a reason if you like smash burgers. Personally, I stick with Fielding's Wood Grill off Research Forest when I want house-cured bacon on wood-grilled 44 Ranch beef.

  1mo ago

• Good Mediterranean spot for a weekday family dinner?

  If you want a classic sit-down vibe closer to home, check out The Olive Oil on Sawdust Road. Their mixed grill and gyros are great. Just be aware that on weekend nights they bring out belly dancers and live music, which gets pretty loud. Since you are going on a Tuesday though, it should be much quieter and very relaxed.

  1mo ago

• Beyond butter chicken in The Woodlands area?

  If you want bold flavors beyond butter chicken, try Hyderabad House at 407 Sawdust Rd. I usually take my family there when we want something traditional with a kick. We always order the crispy gobi to start, followed by the dum biryani and the goat vindaloo. The vindaloo has serious heat, so be ready for it, but the flavor is incredible.

  1mo ago

• Soup dumplings up this way?

  I live right near the Research Forest location of MiMi Garden and we go pretty regularly. The soup dumplings there are consistently good, and their beef noodle soup is another staple item you should add to the table if you go. I haven't noticed any drop in quality between there and Sawdust. Noodle Kitchen down on Kuykendahl is definitely worth the short trip into Spring if you appreciate hand-pulled noodles, though like Carl said, service can slow down when they hit peak dinner hours since it is a small family operation. Either way, saving a trip to Bellaire is a huge win for north side dining.

  1mo ago

• Looking for rich pho broth near The Woodlands

  EAD has a large, bright space so seating usually flows pretty well even during peak times. Don't sleep on their plated entrees either if you want to explore the menu. If you want something closer to the front of the township on Sawdust without going out to Shenandoah, Pho Viet Tastes is another solid casual comfort food spot.

  1mo ago

• Good local Thai spot for Friday night?

  They are related! Charm Thai Bistro at 2203 Spring Stuebner Rd was the original location before they opened Charm Kitchen & Bar on Research Forest. If you ever swing by the Spring Stuebner location, stick with the classic bistro items like their som tum papaya salad, tom kha soup, or panang curry. That said, for sitting down closer to home with the family after games, Research Forest has the nicer ambiance and that excellent khao soi.

  1mo ago

• Need a reliable Friday night pizza spot

  Brothers is very quick for pickup, simple counter setup and easy parking out front. If you ever want to sit down somewhere with more variety later on, Rotolo's Craft & Crust over on Gosling Road in Spring is great. They serve New York, Chicago, and Detroit style crusts, and they have a full bar. But for a simple carryout tonight, Brothers or RC's on Sawdust will be your easiest grab.

  1mo ago

• Looking for a good Italian dinner spot for visiting parents

  We have a few good directions depending on what style your folks prefer. Zanti Cucina Italiana out on Research Forest Drive is run by three brothers and does fantastic Neapolitan pizza and housemade pastas. If they like coastal dishes, Azzurro Italian Coastal Cuisine at Hughes Landing is run by the Orioli family and sits right on the lake. Just keep in mind Nona's closed down back in June, so do not try going there.

  1mo ago