Get Wild

Why this boozy sparkling water will be your new fave (well past summer)

You're not imagining it: hard seltzer is the drink of the summer (and probably well into next summer). But which sparkly sip should you be reaching for during happy hour, nights out, or any time you want a low-calorie lift?

Wild Basin Boozy Sparkling Water from Oskar Blues Brewery, and there are plenty of reasons why.

An impressive pedigree
The new boozy sparkling water comes from the grand daddy of craft beer. Founded by Dale Katechis in 1997 in Lyons, Colorado, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft-beer-in-a-can apocalypse with its hand-canned flagship brew, Dale's Pale Ale. Today, Oskar Blues operates breweries in Colorado, North Carolina, and Texas.

It's almost...good for you?
Gluten-free. Only 100 calories. Zero grams sugar. One gram of carbs. Five percent alcohol. Wild Basin is crystal clear, just like the clean, pristine waters it's made from. Lively carbonation punctuates contemporary flavor profiles like jammy, sun-kissed black raspberry, tropical lemon agave hibiscus, refreshing cucumber peach, smooth melon basil, and classic lime. Look for a new mix pack of flavors later this year, focusing on unique, juicy berry-forward flavor combinations.

No syrup here
Unlike some other hard seltzers that can taste of chemicals or come off as syrupy sweet, Wild Basin has only a hint of sweetness and a clean, fresh finish without any lingering aftertaste.

Good for the planet
At the heart of Wild Basin's identity is a reverence for the outdoors that connects back to its Rocky Mountain origin, so a percentage of sales goes toward river and ocean clean-up efforts led by Can'd Aid, with over $100,000 donated so far.

In a sea of black and white cans, look for the fun, bold, bright colors of Wild Basin. The cans depict a mountain scene similar to what can be viewed from Wild Basin, 8,500 feet above sea level in Rocky Mountain National Park. The mountains are reflected in the water at their feet — the same water that flows through Wild Basin via Colorado's majestic St. Vrain River, and ends up in every can of Wild Basin.

Wild Basin Boozy Sparkling Water has zero sugar and only 100 calories.

Photo by Ashley Gongora

Wild Basin Boozy Sparkling Water has zero sugar and only 100 calories.

need a hand?

Growing Houston sushi chain rolls into new Galleria-area development

Courtesy of Handies Douzo

Handies Douzo will brings its hand rolls to Uptown later this year.

A growing Houston hand roll restaurant has signed on to a new Galleria-area development. Handies Douzo is the fourth restaurant announced for Central Park Post Oak.

Opened in late 2019, Handies is known for wrapping its rolls in crispy seaweed that gives each bite a distinct crunch. The well-executed dishes and affordable prices helped Handies earn a nomination for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

On track to open later this year, the Uptown location will be Handies Douzo’s fourth, joining its original in the Heights as well as restaurants in Montrose and Spring Branch. Like those siblings, it will serve Handies’ familiar menu of hand rolls (temaki), crudos, and sashimi that’s overseen by founding chefs and co-owners Daniel Lee and Patrick Pham.

Duckstache, the hospitality group behind Handies, is working with Houston’s Gin Design Group on the interior. Expect a slightly more upscale look than the restaurant’s other locations, with details such as matte black finishes and dark terrazzo to complement the 26-seat counter.

“We’re really intentional about the neighborhoods we choose and where we think Handies Douzo will feel like a natural fit,” Lee said in a statement. “Houston diners know what they like, and Uptown is such a vibrant, fast-growing area. Central Park Post Oak felt like the right match for our handroll experience and the way people in Houston live, work, and dine.”

Handies is the fourth restaurant that’s announced its plans to open at Central Park Post Oak. The others are:

Buck & Rider, an Arizona-based seafood restaurant known for its oyster bar and lively brunch
The Henry, the “ultimate neighborhood restaurant” from Flower Child owner Fox Restaurant Concepts
Sparrow Italia, an Italian steakhouse from Toca Madera owner Noble 33.

Announced last year, Central Park Post Oak will consist of three buildings with a combined 1.2 million square feet of office space separated by a three-acre lawn. Houston-based real estate development firm Midway, working with real estate investment firms 3Edgewood and Parkway, is developing the property. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026 with the restaurants openings to follow.

“Handies Douzo represents the kind of thoughtful, chef-driven hospitality we want at the heart of Central Park Post Oak,” Midway vice president Clayton Freels said. “Patrick, Daniel, and the Duckstache team have built a loyal following across Houston, and we are thrilled to help them extend that experience to Uptown in a way that feels authentic to both the brand and the neighborhood.”

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