A Lazy Saturday Afternoon Bouncing Around Town

Saturdays are great days to get chores done around the house, mow the lawn and then run around town for errands. But who says running errands has to be limited to the usual stops at Home Depot and Target?

My wife and I decided to run around inside the loop in Houston this past Saturday as she wanted to check out a sale at a high end boutique before we grabbed some lunch. If you're looking to shop for boutiques in Houston, you have countless options in the Heights, Rice Village, Uptown Park, Highland Village, River Oaks and so on. We ran by the Upper Kirby District and Montrose to check out a sale at Mix: (Modern Clothes) and then grab some lunch. Here's where we ended up...

Lofty fashions at Mix: (Modern Clothes)

Mix: (Modern Clothes) - 2717 Colquitt - A fashion palace... three stories of high-end designer clothing located in a stunning modern building that deserves raves not only for its contents but also for its design. Prices are not pocketbook friendly and typically end in "undred" (I breathed a sigh of relief as we walked out empty-handed) but options are plentiful for those with money to burn. For those more interested in design, enjoy the sparse but clean lines of this concrete boutique located in a neighborhood with an eclectic mix of residential architecture.

Where else but Texas?

About five minutes away from Mix is Paulie's, a lower Westheimer cafe' that offers great salads, sandwiches, pasta and other light options. Located in a restored mid-century building, the cafe' has a light and comfortable atmosphere with windows that overlook traffic buzzing by on Westheimer. I had a filling Italian Family Salad and a spicy cup of gazpacho. My wife had a tasty plate of Mediterranean Pasta Salad. Paulie's is typically open 'til 9:00 pm with a second location is near the Medical Center.

Light lunchtime fare at Paulie's

While you're in the neighborhood, there are other options located within walking distance. Next door to Paulie's is Silver Smith Gallery, a funky boutique with an eclectic mix of clothes and jewelry. Men will find a small selection of cool buttondowns and T-shirts although prices are inflated (a shirt I bought at Defunker for $26 was on listed at $34). Heading towards Hazard is The Cookie Jar Bakery, a great place for an afternoon sweet or to simply blow your diet. Next door is Pixie & Ivy, run by a former in-house merchandiser from Barney's in New York. The atmosphere is somewhat shabby chic but prices are anything but. Caddy-corner is the River Oaks location of the Upper Hand Salon, a great place to treat your wife or girlfriend.

This was our Saturday afternoon in Houston - come up with your itinerary and share it with us.