Houston harvests ranking as one of top U.S. cities for farmers markets

Ahead in its field

Houston has plowed through most of the competition to be named one of the best cities in the country for farmers markets.

Gardens Alive, a supplier of environmentally friendly products for gardeners, places Houston at No. 3 on its new list of the best cities for farmers markets. San Antonio the only other Texas city to appear in the top 10, lands at No. 6.

To rate the best cities for farmers markets, Gardens Alive looked at data for the 50 largest U.S. cities in seven categories:

Number of farmers markets.
Number of organic farmers markets.
Number of winter markets.
Number of farmers markets that take credit cards.
Average temperature difference from 70 degrees.
Average annual rainfall.
Walk score.

Gardens Alive didn’t detail how Houston or San Antonio performed in each category, but Houston achieved a score of 29.8 out of a possible 50, while the Alamo City earned an overall score of 24.4.

With a score of 42.9, Los Angeles topped the ranking.

“We weren’t surprised to see a [California] city at the top of the list due to the Golden State’s reputation for trends like farm to table, sustainable food sourcing, organic farming, and more,” Gardens Alive says. “We were surprised, however, to see just how far ahead of the pack Los Angeles was.”

Texas A&M AgriLife lists 12 farmers markets in the city of Houston. One of them is the Urban Harvest Saturday Farmers Market.

“Sparking a wave of similar markets around the greater Houston area, this market launched with a mere seven vendors in 2004. Today, it hosts more than 90 merchants, making it one of the largest in the state,” CultureMap reported in April.

Across the country, more than 8,600 farmers markets are registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Visiting farmers markets is an inspiring way to fully realize the value of fresh, locally grown produce,” Gardens Alive observes. “It allows us to get to know the people who grow our food and see exactly where that food comes from. However, we learned that not every city makes it easy to experience the myriad benefits of farmers market trips.”

Shannon O'Hara

8 best Houston farmers markets now open for fresh spring shopping

shop THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Farmers markets are cropping up again, ushering in a sort-of social revival just as spring temperatures arrive.

These open-air experiences are a welcome herald of normality, since they encourage healthy lifestyles, community engagement, and outdoor venues that allow for open-air distancing.

This comes as mass-inoculation sites proliferate in the Houston area, providing a growing sense of confidence in Houstonians. Though most event runners are still taking necessary safety precautions, including requiring masks, precluding onsite dining and enforcing strict sanitation standards.

Remember that most markets require patrons to wear face coverings and maintain distancing as much as possible. Mask up and put these on your calendar, and head out for some fresh finds.

Urban Harvest Saturday Farmers Market

2752 Buffalo Spdwy; 8 am to noon

Sparking a wave of similar markets around the greater Houston area, this market launched with a mere seven vendors in 2004. Today, it hosts more than 90 merchants, making it one of the largest in the state.

Small businesses within a 180-mile radius of the city center converge on Greenway Plaza every Saturday to sell produce, locally made wares, meats and cheese, and hot meals (COVID-19 restrictions may affect onsite dining).

Notable vendors: Atkinson Farms, Pat Greer’s Kitchen, Airline Seafood Inc., Dustin's Eggs, Flying saucer farms and Finca Tres Robles.

Memorial Villages Farmers Market
10840 Beinhorn Rd. (First Congregational Church of Houston); Saturdays — 9 am to 1 pm

Family is at the center of this Memorial market, with its playground, children's activities and live music.

Operated by the City of Hunters Creek Village and hosted by First Congregational Church, this pet-friendly weekly function offers a mix of quality local vendors, food demonstrations and guest lectures to educate patrons on a variety of health-centric topics.

Notable vendors: Johnson's Backyard Garden, Swede Farm Dairy, Gulf Coast Honey, Awesome Bites, Plant It Forward.

Houston Farmers Market
2520 Airline Dr.; Open daily— 5:30 am to 6 pm

This produce market is one to watch as its grand plans come to fruition. The former site of Canino’s Produce, which launched as far back as the 1950s, is now gearing up to become a destination plaza with big-name chefs and iconic restaurants in the mix.

Canino’s 18-acre home at 2520 Airline traded hands in 2017, and it closed just a few years later, in 2019.

In the works now from developer MLB Capital Partners is a traditional produce setup alongside restaurants, a dining hall-style collection of food kiosks and retailers that include a yoga studio and clothing store. It remains open as construction is underway.

Notable vendors (and some in the works): a butcher shop form R-C Ranch, restaurant from chef Chris Shepherd’s Underbelly Hospitality, second location of Asiatown favorite Crawfish & Noodles; J.J.L Produce, Texas L&B Produce, Mi Jardin, Yanez Produce.

Freedmen’s Town Farmers Market

1320 Robin St.; Saturdays; 9 am to 2 pm

This eponymous market, near the Fourth Ward, celebrates its historic home, which was founded by former slaves in 1865. Freedman’s Towns comes alive with Black-owned businesses each week, selling fresh produce, ready-made foods, cosmetics, candles and more.

The market helps battle the area’s food-dessert status, where nearby grocers can be hard to reach on foot. It brings healthful foods to residents’ doorsteps with a festive get-together every Saturday of the month.

If you can't make it to there, you can still lend your support by subscribing to its bi-monthly "bountiful box" service, which delivers "local produce, jams, honey, and more" to your home for $50 per month.

Westchase District Farmers Market

10503 Westheimer Rd. (St Cyril Of Alexandria Catholic Church parking lot); Thursdays; 3 pm to 7 pm

This is the spot if you’re looking for something on the west side that’s also open on weekdays. Each Thursday it welcomes a few dozen vendors that range from meat purveyors to local artisans and health gurus. Come hungry, since nearby restaurants frequently host booths here.

It’s less produce-centric than some other places mentioned in this roundup, but it offers a wealth of Houston-made goods, live music and outdoor fun all before the weekend arrives.

Notable vendors: Avila Flavor & Experiences, Be Pure Natural Products, Biryani Hut, Cafetto Specialty Coffee, Houston Winery.

East End Farmers Market

2800 Navigation Blvd.; Sundays: 10 am to 2 pm

What’s better than a lively market on the weekend? One that sits on the front yard of Houston Tex-Mex institution The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation.

Let that be your motivation to get up before 10 am Sunday and discover a neighborhood gem that attracts people from all over greater Houston to its historic esplanade. The market sat idle for weeks during the pandemic but reopened with safety guidelines strictly in place.

Notable vendors: Hill Horizon Farms, Bellamex, BBQ 713, Altura Perfecta, Malva Olives.

The Feel Good Group
If your neighborhood hasn’t been mentioned above, it’s probably part of the wide web cast by The Feel Good Group, an events company dedicated to co-producing markets across various Houston neighborhoods.

It’s worked with sibling company The Informal Grub to put together Heights Mercantile Farmers Market (714 Yale St.), open every second and fourth Sunday; and the Rice Village Farmers Market, (2504 Amherst St.), open on the first and third Sundays of the month.

Among the other merchant gatherings The Feel Good Group represents:

M-K-T Sunset Market: 600 N Shepherd Dr.; third Thursday of the month.
Bering's Feel Good Markets: 6102 Westheimer Rd. and 3900 Bissonnet St.; every Thursday starting in May.
Spring Branch Village Farmers + Feel Good Market: 8141 Long Point Rd.: second Saturday of each month, 10 am to 2 pm

Lastly, coming soon is the Earth Day Market at Karbach Brewery (2032 Karbach St.) on April 22. This organization works with local nutritionist and self-proclaimed “market maven” Casey Barbles, an expert on healthy eating.

Photo by Carolien van Oijen

How to draw butterflies, bees, and other helpful pollinators to your garden

Birds and Bees

Pick up gardening during the pandemic? You and many others. That's why Ag Near Me, presented by Prairie View A&M University, has been putting out a series of articles to help you plan — and plant — the best garden possible.

A big part of gardening success depends on making the space welcoming to pollinators, which we learned about in the first article. Now that you know how important bees, birds, and beetles are to the success of your plants, it's time to give some thought to the vegetation and flora you're working so hard to cultivate.

To attract bees
Did you know color plays a part in drawing bees of all types to your garden? They typically favor purple, blue, white, and yellow blooms, and love small, clustered, tube-shaped flowers. Think the traditional butterfly bush, goldenrod, thistles, hibiscus, and the official Texas state flower, the bluebonnet.

Fruit and vegetables — and the flowers that bloom as part of their growth — are also a major draw, with bees swarming around berries (blackberry and strawberry especially), watermelon, pumpkins, cucumbers, squash, and sweet potatoes.

To attract butterflies
There's obviously some overlap here, with the butterfly bush, goldenrod, and berries proving irresistible to most pollinators.

But milkweed is a No. 1 favorite for butterflies, along with purple cone flower, clusters of pentas, citrus trees, and garlic and onion plants. The tall blooms and vibrant colors of the latter two are ideal for attracting butterflies, and give a whimsical look to your garden.

To attract birds
For birds, it's all about color instead of scent. With a weak sense of smell, they are drawn to red and orange flowers with deep, bell-shaped blooms: hibiscus, bee balm, trumpet vine, and holly.

Mockingbirds specifically seek out fruit and seeds, so you can't go wrong with blackberry brambles and sun-warmed tomatoes.

To attract moths
Some species of moths do their pollinating at night, on the opposite schedule of butterflies, so it's no surprise that moon flower is a big draw. Honeysuckle, thistle, clover, and lilac are all favorites for moths, along with azaleas (which, thanks to their bright colors, are also attractive to the pollinators already mentioned).

In an edible garden, potatoes, tomatoes, and flowering tobacco are great for the summer and enjoy blooms in late July or August.

To attract bats
Another nocturnal worker, bats are usually found foraging over dense vegetation along river banks. To signal they're welcome in your garden, try planting blueberries to encourage their presence and pollination.

To attract beetles
Most gardeners would assume beetles are the last thing you want moving among your leaves, but they helpfully eat garden-destroying aphids while moving pollen between plants.

Milkweed is a big favorite again, along with sunflowers, roses, and any crop-like plant like alfalfa, grasses, and wildflowers. Also include pumpkin, squash, strawberries, raspberries, and watermelon to support these pollinators.

If you'd like to go more in-depth about pollinators, check out the PVAMU's extensive resources through Ag Near Me. In its final article, Ag Near Me will be sharing how to protect these valuable agents of nature.

Photo by Erin Wilson

Pandemic gardening? Here's how pollinators are important to your plants.

Buzz Buzz

Home gardening has bloomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many people stuck at home turning to seeds and soil as a therapeutic way to pass the time.

Whether you were born with a green thumb or are just now discovering the joys of getting dirt under your fingernails, it's helpful to know not just how to plant, but what to plant.

Ag Near Me, presented by Prairie View A&M University, helps inform urban and suburban consumers of the many ways at-home agriculture can help us all lead more sustainable lifestyles.

One of the most important things you can do while choosing what to plant in your garden — whether vegetable, flower, or even just a few pots on your patio — is consider the pollinators.

"Pollinators benefit crop production by traveling from bloom to bloom, spreading genetic material and facilitating the production of food and resource crops such as tomatoes, berries, pecans, and even cotton," says a PVAMU representative. "The quality of fruit, vegetable, and nut products depends on the quantity of pollination they receive during development, making pollinators directly tied to the success of farms."

But first, what are pollinators? You're probably fairly familiar with bees, but several other birds and insects also play an important role in enabling the fertilization of plants and creation of seeds.

Some typical Texas pollinators are:

Bees. There are five major types of pollinating bees here in the Lone Star State, and those include honey bees, bumblebees, carpenter bees, mason bees, and sweat bees.
Butterflies. From Monarch to Swallowtail, Skipper to Hairstreak, butterflies are generally drawn to the sweet aroma of fruit plants.
Moths. While butterflies rest, moths pollinate your nighttime garden. Some, like the white-lined sphinx moth, resemble birds because of their size and flight patterns. Others like the luna moth, sphinx moth, and giant silk moth might more closely resemble moths you're used to seeing.
Birds. Aviary friends play their part too, especially the Texas blue jay, hummingbird, and mockingbird. Their long beaks make birds excellent pollinators, and they're often attracted to fruit and seeds.
Beetles. You may be familiar with ladybugs, but scarab, milkweed, and soft-winged flower beetles also help transfer pollen between plants. Wildflowers, for which Texas is famous, attract the insects, as do fruit and even fungi.
Bats. Those commonly found in Texas enjoy fruits, pollen, and insects. Many bats become pollinators when they forge in areas with other pollinators, such as along rivers or in deserts.

In upcoming articles, Ag Near Me will be naming which plants you should choose to attract pollinators, and how to protect these valuable agents of nature.

If you'd like to go more in-depth about pollinators, check out the PVAMU's extensive resources through Ag Near Me.

Courtesy of Recipe For Success Foundation

Houston community farms bloom with fresh alternatives to the grocery store

farm fresh produce

Despite the occasional lines and increased demand, grocery stores across Houston remain stocked with produce, and some restaurants have helped alleviate the pressure by selling staples, too. Still, Houstonians who are more concerned about social distancing or want a more personal connection to their food should consider purchasing directly from a local farm.

Sure, it’s great to know what produce is available or how it was grown, but buying directly from a local farm allows people to know who grew their produce. Some farms also offer options such as curbside pickup or delivery, making them convenient for people who are concerned about social distancing.

Community-supported agriculture (CSAs) allow people to purchase a share of a farm’s production. Typically, they’re sold monthly or seasonally in half (enough for one or two people) or full (enough for a family of four) shares.

Local non-profit Urban Harvest has collected lots of resources related to the coronavirus pandemic on its website. The organization’s weekly farmers market in River Oaks remains open Saturdays from 8 am - 12 pm.

Hope Farms, the 7-acre urban farm in south Houston operated by local nonprofit Recipe for Success, will deliver its spring season weekly from April 7 to June 30. Each package contains 10-12 different varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs picked by the facility’s farmers.

Customers who commit to a full season ($585) receive free delivery. A monthly package ($180) can be picked up either at the farm (10401 Scott St.) or at Recipe for Success’ office in Montrose (4400 Yupon St.).

Finca Tres Robles, an urban farm in Houston’s East End, will start its spring season April 1; it runs for 14 weeks and ends July 1. Although half shares ($315) are sold out, the farm still has some full shares ($490) available.

It also offers two weekly option called the Plow and the Train. Named for the two symbols in the City of Houston’s official insignia, the $28 bag can be ordered for an individual (The Plow) or donated to someone in the community (The Train).

Purchase in advance via the farm’s website for pickup at its farmstand (257 N. Greenwood St.) on Wednesday or Saturday. Each bag provides seven to10 vegetables and herb produced by Finca and other urban farms — Plant It Forward, Verdegreens' Farms, The Common Market Texas, and Whitehurst Heritage Farms. Over the next few weeks, those bags will include some combination of greens such as spinach and collards, vegetables such as squash and beets, and herbs like parsley and dill.

“Because we’re sourcing from a couple different spots, we’re making sure there’s enough bulk in the bag to make it worth people’s while,” Finca Tres Robles co-founder Tommy Garcia-Prats tells CultureMap. “If there’s one or two people, we’re trying to make it go a fair bit for [them].”

Plant It Forward has its own CSA that's available year-round in small ($23 per week) and large ($34 per week) shares for 4, 12, 24, and 52-week subscriptions. With a network of eight farms across the Houston area and approximately two dozen pick up points around the city, PIF operates one of Houston's largest CSAs. See their website for details.

A selection of vegetables from Hope Farms.

Courtesy of Recipe For Success Foundation

A selection of vegetables from Hope Farms.

Courtesy of Heights Mercantile

Fresh new farmers market sprouts up in popular Heights hot spot

New Heights Market

Heights Mercantile has already become one of its neighborhood’s favorite destinations for shopping and dining, but a new initiative will combine the two. Starting Sunday, September 29, the development will host a monthly farmers market.

Organized by local wellness expert Casey Barbles, the market will feature about a dozen vendors, including Urban Harvest staples like Atkinson Farm, JSH Microgreens, Sustainable Harvesters, and Rio Grande Organics.

Currently, the market is only being held on the last Sunday of every month from 9 am to 1 pm. If the community responds favorably, that could increase to twice a month or even weekly.

Barbles tells CultureMap that she used food to help herself heal from a serious illness. Instructed by her geneticist to eat a mostly vegan diet with some seafood, she turned to Instagram for inspiration; eventually, she started documenting her journey of preparing dishes using farm fresh ingredients. Now, her account (@the_informal_grub) has over 10,000 followers, and she’s almost completed her studies to become a board-certified nutritionist.

“Once I learned that what I was eating was affecting me in a positive way, I started getting my energy back. I started going to the Urban Harvest farmers market,” Barbles says. “As I started to do that, I got to know the farmers and only cooking with food coming from Urban Harvest. I started getting stronger.”

After hosting a cooking demonstration at Heights Mercantile store Lemon Laine, property developer Radom Capital approached Barbles about operating a farmers market. She agreed but only under the condition that it take place on Sunday, so as not to conflict with Urban Harvest.

Barbles says she’s still looking for more vendors to round out the market’s offerings, including additional produce purveyors and an egg supplier. Interested parties may contact her through the market’s Instagram account or via email.

She has other ambitions for the market’s goals, too. In particular, she wants to use her training as a nutritionist to guide other people to healthy eating choices. Barbles also sees the market as an opportunity to teach children some basic ideas about entrepreneurship.

“I would love elementary kids to come out. Hope Farms has a lot of farms in schools; they’ll be joining us in November once their yield is up,” she says. “I love the idea of letting these children see the farm-to-table aspect. I want them to be able to sell what they’re growing and get to know the community and see how kind people are.”

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Where to eat in Houston right now: 9 best new restaurants proving our pizza town cred

where to eat right now

By any standard, pizza is having a moment in Houston. Not that pizza ever goes out of style, but when a wave of new pizzerias open — some led by the city’s top chefs — the time has come for a closer look.

Notably, we found options in a range of styles ranging from classic New York, to on-trend Detroit, a grilled pizza that may be unique to its restaurant. Anyone who thinks Houston isn’t a pizza town simply hasn’t eaten enough slices here.

While this list focuses exclusively on restaurants and bars that have opened in the last year or so, it is not meant to disrespect those tried-and-true places Houstonians have been patronizing for years. Fans of places like Star, Brothers, and Romano’s can save their emails. We like them, too, but they aren’t a fit for this roundup.

As always, Where to Eat columns are based on actual visits to the included restaurants (sometimes more than once) and are ordered by what we’d go to first. They all have something to offer, even if a visit requires a jaunt down the Westpark Tollway.

ElRo Pizza & Crudo
Chef Terrence Gallivan has made his return to the dining scene with this intimate restaurant on the border of Montrose and Midtown. With their high crown and creative toppings, ElRo’s personal-sized, Italian-style pizzas recall the pies Gallivan served at The Pass & Provisions. Highlights include the mushroom pie with smoked maitakes and mortadella with pistachio pesto. Round out the meal with a crudo or two — the spicy tuna on toast is a particular favorite. An affordable wine list and creative cocktails (all named after Bruce Springsteen songs) complete the experience.

Photo by Julie Soefer

ElRo serves a variety of pizzas.

Nonno’s Family Pizza Tavern
Nobie’s owners Sara and Martin Stayer channel Gen X nostalgia at this pizzeria that’s located next to The Toasted Coconut, their tiki-inspired restaurant and bar. Nonno’s serves the Midwest tavern-style pies that Sara grew up eating in Chicago; the thin, crispy pies are cut into squares — known as a party cut — to make them easier to share. Appetizers like chicken wings and mozzarella sticks complete the classic pizzeria experience.

Nonno’s takes the “family” part of its name seriously. A recent visit found at least half the tables occupied by families with children, many of whom entertained themselves at the restaurant’s arcade that features pinball machines and vintage video games.

Pastore Italian Kitchen
This restaurant's menu may describe its round, dough-based items as “flatbreads,” but we know a pizza when we see one. Available with traditional toppings like margherita, an East Coast-style clam pie, or seasonal ingredients like fig with lemon ricotta, Pastore's wood-fired pizzas blend Italian flavors with a slice that’s sturdy enough to be eaten by hand. The restaurant’s new brunch service offers a breakfast pizza topped with pancetta, poached eggs, hashbrowns, and more, which makes it the perfect hangover cure — especially when paired with some hair of the dog from the cocktail program overseen by former CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Bartender of the Year winner Sarah Troxell.

Gold Tooth Tony’s
Chef Anthony Calleo has been serving Detroit-style pizzas at Rudyard’s for awhile now, but his new restaurant in the Heights dives in more deeply with a greater selection of pies and a more diverse set of toppings. The square-shaped, deep dish pizzas feature a crispy edge and a pleasant chew. Calleo channels his Pi Pizza days with selections like the Only5 (venison sausage, port wine cherries) and the Grizz (chicken, bacon, ranch, charred pineapple, grizzly sauce). New to the Gold Tooth Tony’s menu are selections such as the Hunger Force (meatballs, whipped ricotta) and the Sebastian’s Big Idea — a spam musubi-inspired pie with toasted pineapple and furikake.

Betelgeuse Betelgeuse
The self-described “bar with good pizza” recently added a Montrose location to its roster. Having access to a full kitchen instead of a food truck allows Betelgeuse to serve both 10 and 14-inch versions of its signature “ironclad pizzas,” named for the round, cast iron pans that give the pies a crispy crust. Compelling vegetarian pies — think the Three Sauce (pizza sauce, pesto, and vodka sauce) or the Fresh de Frays (ricotta, strawberries, chevre, basil) — might make even the most devoted carnivore skip the pepperoni. An extensive cocktail selection and fun bar snacks round out the menu.

Cup N’ Char Buffalo Pizza Cafe
This favorite of the Katy/Fort Bend Foodies Facebook group serves a Buffalo-style deep dish that’s similar to Detroit-style. The thick, chewy crust provides a sturdy platform for robust toppings like chicken fingers, a classic Hawaiian, and the Italian Mob (pepperoni, sausage, onion, and banana peppers). Even better, the convenient “half medium” size makes for a hearty single serving. Of course, Cup N’ Char’s Buffalo roots mean their chicken wings are first-rate — crispy, meaty, and available in a range of toppings, including the must-order Italian (garlic-parmesan) that can also be tossed in spicy Buffalo sauce.

Coastline Artisan Pizzeria
Newly opened in First Ward by childhood friends Armando Dimeo and Jordan Kone, Coastline serves two styles of pizza — a grilled pizza Dimeo first developed while working for his family’s restaurant in the Hill Country and a classic Neapolitan that’s baked in a wood-burning oven. The grilled pizza has an oblong shape and a crispy crust that supports more elaborate toppings like The O.G. (mozzarella, Italian sausage, ricotta, habanero honey, basil, and tomato sauce). Since the wood-burning oven takes three hours to reach a full 900 degrees, the Neapolitan pies are only available at dinner.

Neighbors
Formerly known as How to Survive on Land and Sea, this casual bar has rebranded itself as a low-key gathering spot for beer, wine, cocktails, and pizza. The classic New York-style pies utilize a recipe developed by Angelo Emiliani, the chef who burst into Houston’s collective restaurant consciousness with his Angie’s Pizzas pop-up. Sold either by-the-slice or as whole pies, the pizzas have a pleasantly chewy crust that’s easy to fold. Even better, slices are free with the purchase of a cocktail on Monday nights.

Home Slice Pizza
This Austin-based pizzeria debuted in Midtown last December with its classic New York-style pizzas and Sicilian, “grandma-style” pies. Sold as whole pies or slices, Home Slice pizzas have a toothsome, foldable crust that serves as the basis for everything from a classic pepperoni and mushroom to a white clam pizza with garlic and oregano that wouldn’t be out of place in New Haven, CT. Very credible meatballs subs and Italian-style hoagie (ask for light mayo) complete the East Coast experience. Once the weather cools off, the expansive patio will be a pleasant place to linger over selections from the well-chosen beverage list.

Houston Hot Girl Megan Thee Stallion seizes the awkward with mental health campaign

hot take

We all know Megan Thee Stallion is the baddest you-know-what of them all. She can share the stage with a fellow Houston queen (and still get choked up about it), make an ex-porn star quote her lyrics on social media, and even play a cartoon version of herself on a Netflix show.

But America’s favorite Hot Girl Coach also wants you and your friends to take care of each other mentally.

She recently joined the Seize the Awkward campaign to encourage young adults to reach out to their “strong” friends in a new PSA. In the video, Megan gets real about the pressures to be strong and the importance of peer-to-peer support. “No matter who you are,” she says in the video, “being vulnerable is what makes us whole.”

Seize the Awkward is a national campaign (first launched in 2018) that encourages young adults to start the conversation with friends about mental health. The campaign was developed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and The Jed Foundation in collaboration with the Ad Council.

With 76 percent of young adults turning to a peer for support in a time of crisis, how can more young adults join Megan and Seize the Awkward to get the conversation started?.

As Megan says in the PSA, you can visit SeizeTheAwkward.org and Megan’s website BadBitchesHaveBadDaysToo.com for more resources to check in on a friend. You can also follow @SeizeTheAwkward on Instagram.

Score free Shake Shack for one day only at juicy collab with charming Rice Village jeweler

SIMPLY (EAR)RESISTIBLE

Popular ear piercing barStuds made a name for itself by offering a customized piercing experience for those who aged out of places like Claire's but wanted an alternative to a tattoo parlor for piercings. With 19 locations nationwide, Studs offers a wide assortment of earrings that range from classic shapes, to huggies, flatbacks, and dangling charms.

Studs has once again added to their earring selection with their latest collaboration with Shake Shack. They created an adorably beefy earring to add to any burger lover's Earscape.

Studs and Shake Shack created a limited-edition Burger huggie earring and Earscape set. Photo by Studs

Retailing for $32, the limited edition Shake Shack burger huggie comes as a 14K gold-plated hoop with a loaded hamburger charm. Shoppers can opt for the $64 pair, but Studs is also currently offering a discount on the Shake Shack x Studs set. For $78, earring enthusiasts can get the two Shake Shack burger huggies, the 14K-gold Smiley Stud and the 14K-gold Micro CZ Stud.

What's even better than cute earrings? Free Shake Shack! On Thursday, September 28th customers can enjoy free bites from Shake Shack while they shop the new Shake Shack Charm Huggie collection at Stud's Rice Village location.

For $78, earring enthusiasts can get the two Shake Shack burger huggies, the 14K-gold Smiley Stud and the 14K-gold Micro CZ Stud.Photo by Studs

Shake Shack is known for their always made-to-order fare including ShackBurger, crinkle-cut fries, hand-spun shakes and their new Veggie Burger and non-dairy offerings.

Interested shoppers can RSVP here.

Studs Rice Village, 2567 Amherst St.; (832) 981-2869. RSVP here.

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