digital drawings

Google Doodles launches a full archive of the search giant’s daily interactiveillustrations

Hooray for Google Doodles! You know, those fun, featured animations that change almost daily on the Google.com homepage? The tiny drawings that often feature interactive elements and astonishing detail?

If you’ve ever lamented missing a buzzed-about Doodle, good news: You’re now able to access a full archive of past Doodles dating back to 1998.

You can (and will) spend hours browsing the Doodles, which differ by country as well as date. But you can also get your favorites emblazoned on T-shirts, mugs or whatever you want at the Google Doodle Store (currently offering 20 percent off all orders).

If you’re wondering what to get us for the holidays, here are a few of our favorites:

December 12, 2011: Gustave Flaubert's 190th Birthday

November 12, 2011: Fyodor Dostoevsky's 190th Birthday

August 24, 2011: 112th Birthday of Jorge Luis Borges

August 6, 2011: Lucille Ball's 100th Birthday

June 21, 2001: First Day of Summer by Takashi Murakami

June 5, 2011: Richard Scarry's 92nd Birthday

May 9, 2011: 76th Birthday of Roger Hargreaves

December 23, 2010: Happy Holidays from Google

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that's slick

Affordable indoor amusement park slides into The Woodlands this spring

The indoor park at Slick City The Woodlands

Render courtesy of Slick City Action Park

Slick City offers all the fun of a park without the heat.

Any parent in Houston knows the four sweetest words in the English language are "affordable, indoor, air-conditioned playspace." Slick City, a brand-new dry slide indoor playground, is slated to open in The Woodlands next month to the delight of all sunburn and heat stroke-adverse families in north Houston.

“The Woodlands is a community built around families, and Slick City creates the kind of experiences that bring people together,” said Mandy Bush, co-owner of the Slick City The Woodlands franchise. “We were drawn to the innovation behind the park and the opportunity to create a space where kids, parents and friends can unplug, be active and make lasting memories together.”

Slick City Action park is a relatively new player in the indoor playspace industry. Founded in Denver, Colorado in 2021 by CEO Bron Launsby and Gary Schmit, the playgrounds focus on their patent-pending big slide designs rather than the trampolines and virtual reality games that seem to make up most other major indoor parks. The company has been rapidly expanding into the Texas market, including opening a Denton location last August, as well as parks in Willowbrook, Webster, and Katy.

The Woodlands' location at 3905 FM 1488, Suite 100, will have 35,800 square feet of playspace, with 14 large-scale slides using the company's latest designs. This is also the first Slick City to include a soccer air court, perfect for kids afflicted with FIFA Fever ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Attractions include Riptide, Mega Launch, Cowabunga, Avalanche (V2) and Turbo Twin, as well as a near-vertical thrill slide that rivals theme park coasters in intensity. Admission prices range from $25 to $34 for 90–120 minute sessions, with mandatory $3–$5 CitySocks required

With Houston's hot summers, families sometimes struggle to find places for kids to play away from the unrelenting heat. Playground architects have been steadily adapting their designs for newer parks to account for heat, but nothing beats the power of air-conditioning. Getting to watch the kids fly through the air off of massive slide ramps is a bonus.

Render courtesy of Slick City Action Park

Slick City offers all the fun of a park without the heat.

amusement parks family friendly