who's ready for a drink?

Houston cocktail bar's new pop-up shop stocks everything you need for a great drink

Two of the city's best cocktail minds have teamed up to help Houstonians drink better. Alba Huerta and Luis Villegas have opened Ready to Drink Cocktail Market, a retail pop-up devoted to cocktails, cocktail accessories, and other treats for spirit lovers.

Huerta converted a storage space at Julep, her Southern-inspired cocktail bar on Washington Avenue, into Ready to Drink. The shop provides a semi-permanent home for the bottled cocktails Julep sold before it reopened for dine-in service.

Shoppers will find 100 bottled cocktails in ready-to-drink form — simply pour over ice and enjoy. The selection includes classics like the Negroni, martini, and Old Fashioned, as well as house originals like the Cherry Bounce Sour, all of which are guaranteed fresh for three weeks or more. Most are sold in either 375-ml or 750-ml bottles, but popular options like the margarita are available in half-gallon and gallon sizes, too.

In addition to its bottled concoctions, Ready to Drink stocks craft ice — think oversized, crystal-clear cubes — from Villegas' Big Ice HTX, cocktail accessories like bar tools and glassware, and books such as Huerta's own Julep: Southern Cocktails Refashioned.

“Ice is one of the most important elements in a cocktail,” Villegas said in a statement. “Alba and I are partnering on this cocktail market so our guests can create cocktails correctly at home from glassware to garnishes, so, of course, we couldn’t leave out ice!”

Shoppers will also find snacks such as Prosecco gummies, whiskey-flavored popcorn, mimosa lollipops, and boozy ice creams, as well as bottles of wine and cans of White Claw and other brewed beverages.

Ready to Drink is a pop-up that will last for at least three months. The search for a permanent home is underway.

“The pandemic forced us to get creative in so many ways,” Huerta added. “The idea of a pop-up shop was a great way for us to create an alternative revenue stream during a time when bars were closed, and now that we’ve reopened, this shop complements what we’re doing inside the bar at Julep so beautifully."

A look inside Ready to Drink.

Courtesy of Ready to Drink

A look inside Ready to Drink.

openings cocktails

there's the rub

Restaurant known for 'new Houston cuisine' now open in Cypress

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.

A restaurant known for its eclectic “new Houston cuisine” has opened in Cypress. The fourth location of Jonathan’s the Rub is now open for dinner in Bridgeland (20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway).

First announced last year, the new Jonathan’s is located in Village Green, a 70-acre mixed-use development within the 925-acre Bridgeland Central district. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant includes two patios totaling 2,600 square feet, giving the restaurant plenty of room for private dining rooms, a bar area, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits and greenery.

“We were looking for the next frontier — a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” chef-owner Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “When we discovered Bridgeland and learned it was a Howard Hughes development, we were immediately impressed. With their reputation for developing generational communities, we felt confident that Bridgeland was the right place for our family and for Jonathan’s the Rub.”

Like Jonathan’s three other locations, the menu at Bridgeland is built around Levine’s signature “new Houston cuisine,” a kicked-up take on comfort food that includes everything from lobster tacos and blackened shrimp and grits to Italian American classics and steakhouse fare.

Village Green is also home to H-E-B and restaurants such as Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café and Crust Pizza Co. Austin-based burger joint P. Terry’s will open there next year.

“Jonathan’s the Rub’s arrival in Bridgeland Central brings a distinguished addition to the culinary scene in both the community and northwest Houston,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas region, for Bridgeland developer Howard Hughes Communities. “We’re proud to partner with exceptional restaurateurs like Chef Jonathan Levine to bring elevated dining experiences that enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and neighbors.”

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.