Garden Oaks & Oak Forest 

@W. 43rd

Day to Night: From the charming and colorful campus of Oak Forest Elementary, the whole family can walk over to the Oak Forest Library where the mid-century modern design also features plenty of reading nooks and natural light to create a cozy space for adults and kids to enjoy. Oak Forest is also zoned to the Frank Black Middle School which boasts a Vanguard Magnet program, fine arts building, and a spacious campus. Take advantage of the nearby Oak Forest Shopping Center and run all your errands from grocery shopping to drycleaning. Finish up with date night at Plonk Beer & Wine Bistro or partake in their happy hours and other fun, foodie events.

Plentiful Parks: Head to Candlelight Park for its playground, basketball court, and community center. Take the dogs to T.C. Jester Park with expansive runs for big and small dogs, doggie water fountains in both sections, and benches for their owners. T.C. Jester Park also offers a disc golf course and trails for biking and jogging. Practice your serve at the two lighted tennis courts at Oak Forest Park which has playground equipment and swings too.

@Ella

Feast and Fitness: Dine in or take away authentic Philly cheesesteaks at Papa Geno’s, pick up Houston’s favorite donuts at the old school Shipley’s, or grab breakfast tacos at El Rey. Celebrate special occasions at the picturesque Rainbow Lodge housed in a log cabin with live music Fridays on their deck.  For a scenic location without the calories, enjoy a bike or hike on the White Oak Bayou trail, which runs parallel to T.C. Jester Boulevard from 11th St. to Antoine St.

@N. Shepherd

Eats and Entertainment: Cottonwood serves as the welcome mat to the laid-back vibe of the Garden Oak & Oak Forest neighborhoods. With an icehouse vibe, there’s seating inside and out, tvs for sports watching, an outdoor stage for live music, games for adults & kids, a dog-friendly patio, and a crowd-pleasing menu of comfort food. Burgers and bbq are plentiful on this stretch of Shepherd where long-standing burger joint, Miller’s Cafe, is a favorite among residents. Family-run Gaitlin’s BBQ is a popular spot for their award-winning meats and decadent desserts. Shepherd Park Draught House features an extensive burger menu along with heavy duty pub fare.

School Time: Nearby is the well-regarded Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet School which offers a public Montessori program for students through the eighth grade. Also nearby is  St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, a private school option for elementary and middle school.

The Sporting Life: For outdoor volleyball enthusiasts, join the league at  The Crowbar on nearby Wakefield and spike it on their full-sized sand courts surrounded by a large outdoor patio. Graham Park in Garden Oaks has a tennis court and plenty of wide open spaces. Join the  YMCA on 34th Street where there’s a full schedule of aquatics, youth and adult sports, child care and camps, personal training and fitness programs.  The Yoga Collective in Garden Oaks has classes for beginner yogis and special workshops focusing on back care and meditation. Get your WOD at  Bayou City Crossfit where they offer a free Saturday session at 9 am once a month. For the tiny dancers, Houston Dance Works has ballet, tap, jazzy hip hop, and Mommy & Me Classes.

Mark Your Calendars

Visit the Farm Stand the Petrol Station pub on Saturdays from 9 am – 1 pm. A variety of vendors participate with an emphasis on seasonal produce, baked goods, prepared foods, and crafts.

The popular live music series, Troubadour Tuesdays, returns to the outdoor stage at Cottonwood. The shows begin at 5:30 pm and are free and family-friendly with bands ranging from country to soul to rock and roll on the second Tuesday of every month. It’s hosted by the Lone Star Jukebox radio show on Houston’s very own KPFT 90.1 FM station.

The Garden Oaks Civic Club hosts a Home & Garden Tour on April 24 which showcases the diverse and distinctive architecture of the area, along with a viewing of unique home gardens. The gardens and grounds of the Garden Oaks Montessori School will also be featured on the tour.

The Oak Forest Pool opens to the public on Memorial Day weekend. Get the kids ready for swim season with classes at the Pengu Swim School’s aquatic facility which teaches children from the age of 4 months and up.

For more information on Houston neighborhoods and home values, please contact Kathlyn at kat@whyilovehouston.com.

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