Our My Top 5 series showcases individual Houstonians who are shaping the city’s character and flavor, and asks them to share their own Houston favorites. This week, we’re pleased to local author Cathy Smith, whose book No Pay May: Thirty One Dates in Thirty One Days, detailing her experiences swiping right on Bumble and going a date every day for a month, hits bookshelves this week.
My Top 5 Things to Do in Houston
by Cathy Smith
- Reading on the Café Poêtes patio – After a long work week, I take time for a little R&R on the patio of Café Poêtes in Midtown. I grab a book from their walled book case, indulge with a French eclair, and enjoy the atmosphere of their ascetically pleasing patio!
- Happy hours – Never say “No” to a Houston happy hour. Houston is hopping with spectacular happy hours. You’ll often run into young professional organizations and Houston Sports & Social Club gatherings on the patios of Kirby Ice House, Onion Creek, and La Grange. If you’re looking for a place to impress your Bumble date while paying half price for cocktails stop by Wooster’s Garden.
- Second Saturdays at Sawyer Yards – The Sawyer Heights community off Washington Ave and Taylor Street is transforming into Houston’s newest art scene! Every second Saturday of the month, Sawyer Yards opens its studios to the public. You can meet and mingle with local artists, photographers, and painters.
- Houston tacos – Let’s taco ’bout it! My favorite tacos are in the trucks. Tacos Tierra Caliente, the taco truck next to West Alabama Ice House, has a reputation for being one of Houston’s best. If you’re looking for a creative week, make it a mission to try a different taco from a taco truck everyday. You can nickname each taco, diary about your experience, chart your favorites… Hey, this sounds like a sequel to my book!
- Boutique Shopping – When I’m not swiping right on dating apps, I spend my free time strolling and shopping though the boutiques of Rice Village, Westheimer, and River Oaks. Hemline is the place to pick up a weekend-ready outfit, Cacao has the fine jewelry assortment of your dreams, and Emerson Rose‘s outdoor wall is perfect for an impromptu Instagram photo shoot.
About Cathy Smith
Published under the nom de plume Extra Cash Cathy, Houston-based author Cathy Smith’s new book No Pay May: Thirty One Dates in Thirty One Days is an ode to millennial dating. In it, she shares the results of swiping right for 31 dates in 31 days. After completing the experiment—resembling something of a poor girls version of The Bachelorette—Cathy could be considered a local expert as she explored many parts of Houston on her many dates. Beyond a vibrant dating life and launching a book, Cathy pays her bills as a full time finance professional in the fashion industry. You can read about Cathy’s quest for love, or a a free meal as she put it in her book, with your own copy of No Pay May, available online on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and in stores at Cacao and Pretty Little Things Boutique. You can find Cathy on Instagram @extracashcathy.
