KatyCastaway

regular · The Woodlands

Escaped the Energy Corridor commute in 2022. Now I work from home and judge everyone still on I-10.

Joined Mar 2024 · 11 posts

Former Katy commuter. Recovered.

Recent posts

• Small custom woodworking project using old drawer fronts

  When I lived inside the Loop in Houston, you could not get anyone to look at a piece of wood for under three hundred dollars, even if you brought it to them. The nice thing about living out here is that half the retirees in the villages have ten thousand dollars worth of woodworking machinery sitting in their air-conditioned garages just waiting for a reason to run a saw. Throw a quick post on a village page or ask a neighbor who has a workshop set up. Someone with a miter saw and pocket hole jig will probably do it just for the fun of a quick project.

  2d ago

• Last chance for the Annette Palmer exhibit at The Woodlands Arts Council?

  I went last Friday during my lunch break. Before we moved here from Houston, I used to think you had to deal with Montrose traffic or fight for parking in the Museum District just to spend thirty minutes looking at a proper gallery show. Being able to hop over during the workday and see a curated local collection like Annette Palmer's without sitting on I-10 for an hour is a massive upgrade.

  21d ago

• The Nutcracker at the Pavilion Nov 22, 40th anniversary

  Bring a blanket regardless, late November at night can get chilly out there

  22d ago

• Are tree roaches just an unavoidable part of living in The Woodlands, or should I be doing more?

  Coming from an apartment in Houston where roaches meant you had a serious problem, it freaked me out when we moved here two years ago and found one on the kitchen tile. But honestly, those big outdoor tree roaches just fly in when you open the door at night or crawl under a worn weatherstrip. Seeing three or four a year in a house backed up to a greenbelt is practically a clean bill of health around here. If you start seeing the tiny German ones in cabinet corners, that is a different story, but the huge ones are just lost tourists trying to get out of the heat.

  25d ago

• Has anyone gone to the Montgomery County Mistletoe Market?

  I stopped by last year. Honestly, coming from Houston where going to any holiday market meant fighting through absolute madness on I-10 or at the Nutcracker Market, this was a breath of fresh air. It is a nice local shopping event with plenty of local vendors selling crafts, boutique goods, seasonal decorations, and gifts. Definitely worth dropping by if you want to knock out some early shopping without the massive headache.

  26d ago

• Parking and arrival time for TWHS vs Willis football game

  Coming from Katy where high school football is practically a religion, I was pleasantly surprised by how rowdy these local district matchups get here. Willis brings serious energy to these games, so do not expect an easy evening for the Highlanders. Get there early, grab an outer parking space so you do not get trapped afterward, and sit higher up in the stands if you want a clear view of the plays developing.

  26d ago

• Bulk landscape supply yard recs around Spring or The Woodlands

  Coming from Houston where I once foolishly tried to wheelbarrow four cubic yards of crushed base in August heat, my advice is to calculate your yardage twice before placing the order. A cubic yard looks massive once it is sitting on your driveway. Measure your side gate width too. You do not want to realize your wheelbarrow does not fit past the fence post after the delivery truck leaves. Ask about delivery drop fees upfront as well because some places charge a flat trip rate while others charge by distance.

  27d ago

• Fall events coming up in October and November

  Coming from Houston where fall event weather meant 88 degrees with 90 percent humidity, actually being able to walk around an outdoor festival in October without melting is a revelation. Working from home now means I actually have the energy to head over to Town Center on a Saturday instead of sitting on I-10 wondering why I live here. We are definitely planning on doing the seasonal music and outdoor markets over the next two months.

  1mo ago

• Happy hour with food that is actually worth eating?

  Another vote for Truluck's here. The service at the bar is just as good as in the main dining room. We have never been disappointed.

  1mo ago

• Sit-down burger options around here?

  Fielding's is our go-to for a date night burger. The wood grill gives it a taste you can't get anywhere else.

  1mo ago

• Anyone thinking about signing up for The Woodlands U?

  Coming from Houston proper, the governance structure here feels like moving to a different planet. Back in Katy and inner-loop Houston, you dealt with city council or massive county precincts. Here, trying to figure out how township finances work alongside the village system took me months after we relocated. I would sign up just to finally understand who actually makes the call on local municipal services without having to dig through dense public meeting minutes.

  1mo ago