vandyke_browne

regular · East Shore

Physical therapist. Live in East Shore so I can walk across the bridge to the Waterway and Market Street after clinic. Classic buildings and I almost never need the car on weekdays. Run the path along Lake Woodlands most evenings.

Joined May 2025 · 12 posts

Recent posts

• Where are you taking people for brunch lately?

  Agree on Bosscat for a celebration brunch. We did a birthday there and the energy was great. Would not take my grandma though, it gets lively.

  1d ago

• Which local Halloween events are y'all planning to take the kids to this week around the area?

  I was walking back from the clinic yesterday (taking my usual route across the bridge toward the Waterway) and saw flyers posted for a few of the family trick-or-treating events coming up later this week. The daytime community gatherings on Friday and Saturday look like great setups for young kids. Parking around the commercial centers usually fills up about thirty minutes before start time, so I would plan to arrive early if you are driving over from Alden Bridge.

  2d ago

• Houston anti-annexation agreement thoughts

  I was actually talking about this with a neighbor while running the path along Lake Woodlands yesterday (we stopped near the bridge to grab some water). The biggest relief for most people is that Houston cannot just come in and unilaterally absorb the township to tap our tax base. It really lets us keep our governance local and gives the community full freedom to decide on incorporation status whenever residents choose.

  3d ago

• Anyone planning to go to the Montgomery County Nutcracker Market this year

  I walked across the bridge near East Shore last night after finishing my shift at the clinic (and realized how quickly the holiday season is sneaking up on us). My sister came into town last year and we spent a couple hours walking through the Montgomery County Nutcracker Market. The vendor booths with handcrafted items and seasonal home decor were packed. It is a really convenient spot to grab boutique clothing and early holiday gifts while helping out regional small businesses.

  6d ago

• Has anyone installed a synthetic putting green in their backyard?

  A buddy of mine put a 250 square foot green in his yard last year (he uses it every evening to decompress after work). It is awesome for working on three-footers, but he learned the hard way that you need a very good leaf blower with a soft brush attachment (otherwise pine needles get wedged straight down into the infill). If you get a local crew out for an estimate, ask if they sell or recommend a specific maintenance kit for keeping the green clear of yard debris.

  11d ago

• The Woodlands High School graduation parking and timing questions

  Dropping off the grandparents at the curb first is a super smart idea (I definitely did not think about how far my grandma can walk in her fancy shoes). Do you guys know if Conroe ISD usually releases the exact venue assignment and door times a few months out or right before the event?

  12d ago

• The Woodlands High School graduation parking and timing questions

  My younger cousin is graduating from TWHS this year (her parents are flying in from out of state and staying over in East Shore with me for the week), so I am trying to get our family game plan set up early. I saw the Conroe ISD notice go up for the commencement event for seniors, but since the announcement did not list the specific date or time or venue details yet, I want to ask how chaotic the parking situation usually gets once those details are out. How early should we plan to arrive so we can get decent seating together with grandparents coming along?

  12d ago

• Halloween SpookTacular at The Woodlands Children's Museum crowd questions

  I walked past that center during lunch last fall (my work is close by so I am over near Panther Creek all the time). The toddlers all looked like they were having a blast with the non-scary bat cave! My cousin took her toddler last year and told me the storytime sessions and magic shows were super cute and structured well for little kids. Her only note was that the slime area got a little chaotic right before noon.

  12d ago

• Corgi races at Kirby Ice House this weekend

  My sister and I were actually talking about walking over from East Shore (I usually run that Lake Woodlands loop anyway, so it is an easy stroll across the bridge for me). We went to an event on their patio last fall and had a blast. Seeing a bunch of low-riders sprinting across the grass sounds pretty entertaining. Just keep in mind it gets pretty packed around the fence line where they set up the little racetrack, so if you want a clear view of the dogs you will want to get there a little early and grab a spot near the perimeter.

  16d ago

• Moving down to unsold seats at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

  I usually walk across the bridge from East Shore for concerts (it is so nice not dealing with garage parking afterwards) and I have seen people try to jump into empty rows once the main set starts. The staff walk up and down checking mobile passes if they spot empty rows suddenly filling up. If you really want those closer rows, paying the official exchange fee in advance on the ticketing app is pretty much the only guaranteed way to get down there without getting turned back by an usher.

  19d ago

• Tried out The Dumpling Zone on Metropark Drive

  I live right around the corner in East Shore (so I walk past there on my way to the grocery store) and grabbed lunch there solo about a week ago. The beef and chive dumplings were insanely good and I also tried their chicken fried rice which had big chunks of actual chicken breast instead of mystery bits. The three dollar canned drinks surprised me too but honestly I just ask for tap water now since the food is worth coming back for.

  20d ago

• Getting quotes for AC work, what should I be asking?

  I had a client last year who got three bids and the range was wild (like $8k to $14k for basically the same SEER rating). She said the middle bid spent the most time looking at her existing setup and asked about her thermostat habits and whether certain rooms were always too hot or cold. The low bid guy was in and out in fifteen minutes which felt like a red flag. I'd say if they're not asking you questions or looking at more than just the outside unit, they're probably not doing a real assessment.

  26d ago