#BrownGirlsTravel is here to inspire young women to get out the house, out of their local surroundings and explore the world around them, no matter how small the trip. This past June, I took a road trip with Evelyn From the Internets through two popular cities in South Texas, Austin & Houston.
Austin, Texas is the capital of Texas but its better known for its burgeoning entrepreneurial scene, good music and even better food selections. Houston is the epicenter of African-American culture and the home of Beyoncè, how grand! We were blessed with a Kia Soul via DriveSTI to test drive as we ate our way and I tried to catch some sun rays between the two cities. I’m totally shocked at how nice the ride was. I’ve seen the chipmunk ads, but honestly I discounted the car because of it’s boxy look. But it was super nice, and that GPS! I can’t tell you how much of a lifesaver it was, considering on my later trip back to Houston, it was struggle city with the Google Maps and iPhone Map apps on my phone #lawdamercy. With my upcoming move from a metropolitan to a suburban city, I’m going to have to purchase a car and this trip definitely bumped the Kia Soul up to the top of my list.
First stop was Austin, where Evelyn actually resides. We hit up boozy brunch at Tacos & Tequilas, where there’s a buffet with unlimited mimosas to wash down. But since we were driving we drank responsibly and passed on the chance to get (cheap) champagne wasted. After that we debated going rafting because Austin is known for it’s bevy of outdoor activities, but that high noon sun was hitting hard and we left dashing to stay in the A/C. We stopped by the first ever Whole Foods, ahhh whole pay check indeed. Then hit up the ever-changing Baylor St. Graffiti Park to check the artwork and record our outfits of the day.
If you want Evelyn to get on them #MagicalBlackGirls t’shirts be sure to tweet her and let her know! I was rocking a Romwe sweatshirt, JustFab shoes, Dresslink purse and five shades of fluorescent beige courtesy of an extended East Coast winter. We tried to find a food truck park in Downtown Austin, but we couldn’t locate them so we stopped at a Cupcake truck for overly sweet sweet tea and then explored the vintage shop, were we both picked up some snazzy sunglasses. Next up was HEB, because ain’t no way I’m coming to the South and not picking up some Blue Bell Ice Cream, all glory be to the one above. Then we picked up some authentic and delicious Vietnamese Banh Mi complimented by caprihana’s made by E. Good day all around.
The next day was all about Houston. Since Houston is known as the home of mega-churches we decided to stop by a few, first being the largest of them all – Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church. Then because…like Beyoncè, we stopped by the Knowles family childhood church, St. John’s United Methodist. They read my favorite Bible scripture, Galatians 5:22, so my day was made. Then we went to eat! Now all of youuuuss that touted Timmy Chan’s as if it was something so grande when it’s really just a glorified Chinese restaurant, I ain’t gots the time girl. The boudin balls were divine but all the rest of the beige food along with that diabetes in a cup kool-aid, I could pass on. It did nothing for me.
My obiligated church outfit of the day, because I have a problem saying no to free stuff, was a dress from Dresslink and shoes from Justfab. Lol, I clearly can not walk in heels.
To round out our day we tried to hit up the ever popular Wheeler Baptist, but missed the last service. Turns out another highly recommended eatery is right next door, Frenchy’s. Gosh, I wish we went there prior to Timmy Chan’s because the food was 10x better but that Houston humidity was not allowing another drop of fried food to be a part of my ministry that day. That chicken doh….so good. We hopped back over East of 288 to hit up the museum district which is a really cute part of town. We played in strings and tried to sneak into the Houston Museum of Art but were caught with the quickness. Why it gotta be $15 doh?
It is quite precarious that for all the megachurches and what you would assume is day of religious observance for many in the H, that the fun of the weekend is relegated to #SundayFunday. I thought you did your sinning on Saturdays or nah? #SundayFunday in Houston is basically when all the boozy/hooka brunches and day parties happen. Supposedly you’re suppose to end at the club but I’m too grown and Evelyn is too chill for all of that. We tried Social Junkie first, but that wasn’t really our scene. My outfit wasn’t hood bougie enough for that spot — speaking of which that white lace shirt is from SheInside. So we landed at Prospect Park with $5 frozen cocktails and grapefruit hookah that just ended the day perfectly. I had a great time indeed.
