beam me to florence! houston’s best gelato hot spots

I still miss the days of Dolce & Freddo, when my friends and I would gather around after school, eating gelato and hanging out in Italian style. Although Dolce & Freddo is no more, fortunately we still have several gelato establishments that will send your taste buds into ecstasy while visions of Italy float through your head.

Byrd’s Market: Just off the Metro light rail line along Main Street in downtown, Byrd’s Market offers a good selection of locally-made Trentino Gelato for take-away or dining in.  Known for their commitment to locally-sourced ingredients and their never-ending imagination for new flavors, this is definitely some of the best gelato in the city. www.byrdsmarket.com, 420 Main @ Prairie

CoCo’s Crepes + Coffee: Need a late-night gelato fix?  This tiny little shop in Midtown offers up a yummy assortment of crepes and gelato in addition to some stellar people-watching from the outdoor seating along the sidewalk.  www.cocoscrepes.com, 218-A Gray St.

Gelato Blu: After doing your triathlon training at Memorial Park and building up your calorie karma points for the week, stop into Gelato Blu just up the street for a tasty treat.  Also available at Raia’s Italian Market (4500 Washington Ave.) and Giacomo’s (3215 Westheimer Rd).   www.gelatoblu.com, 5710 Memorial Dr. #B

Paciugo Italian Gelato Caffe:  This West University gelato heaven is a national franchise, so while it may be lacking a bit in local charm and ambiance, it more than makes up for it in its taste.  www.paciugo.com, 5172 Buffalo Spdwy #A

my fave margaritas

What to do on a beautiful Friday afternoon in Houston?  Skip out of work early and grab one of the city’s best margaritas.

Hugo’s:  This is my favorite place for a margarita, although the atmosphere is a bit more upscale than the others, so I tend to save it for special occasions.  www.hugosrestaurant.net, 1602 Westheimer

Chuy’s:  It’s hard to beat the free nacho bar during happy hour at the Chuy’s in River Oaks.   Hailing from Austin,  this funky Tex-Mex restaurant with a fetish for Elvis delivers a fun atmosphere with great prices.  Try the frozen swirl margarita with a “swirl” of strawberry or mango, or do a  “dot” of your flavor of choice.  www.chuys.com, 2706 Westheimer

El Tiempo + 1308 Cantina:  Although the official name for this local group of restaurants is Laurenzo’s El Tiempo Cantina, the locations are better known around town as El Tiempo (specify Richmond or Washington) and 1308 Cantina (1308 being the address on Montrose Blvd).  Their legendary fajitas are also some of the best in the city.  www.eltiempocantina.com, 3130 Richmond Ave., 5602 Washington Ave., 1308 Montrose Blvd

The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation:  If you’re going to go to Ninfa’s, this is THE Ninfa’s to check out.  It’s the original restaurant of the local franchise and a mainstay of Houston culture.  Located on the east side of downtown, it’s in a gritty neighborhood that might actually make you feel like you’re somewhere else.  If you want a good greasy spoon with atmosphere and a great patio, this is the place.  www.ninfas.com, 2704 Navigation Blvd

photo: Hugo’s serves up a delicious margarita.

my second office: the coffee shop

Prior to my life as a photographer, I used to spend nearly all of my office hours working on my laptop either at a funky little coffee shop or basking in the sun at the park.  And I wasn’t the only one.  During the day the coffee shop would be filled with like-minded people typing away on their laptops or having conference calls from their cell phones.  On my days off from photo editing and assignments, I’ve recently rediscovered this wonderful second office and have been pretty excited about the increase in options out there for places with great seating, wi-fi and power outlets. In my opinion, this might just be co-working at its finest!

1.  Te House of Tea: No coffee here, but with comfy couches, power outlets and an extraordinary selection of loose leaf teas, this is definitely one of my favorites.  They also offer a good assortment of bites to eat from fresh scones to full meals.  The atmosphere is library-like (or zen-like as the case may be) with laptop-toting tea drinkers at every table, so go elsewhere if you need to have an animated conversation on your mobile.  www.tehouseoftea.com, 1927 Fairview St.

2.  Antidote:  Seating is limited here, but if you’re in the Heights, it’s a great little place for a read and a coffee.  Check out Kaboom (“Less P”) next door for a good used book before settling in.  The munchies are super yummy here, and include locally-sourced gluten-free and vegan options.  www.antidotecoffee.com, 729 Studewood St.

3.  Black Hole Coffee House:  Recently opened and brought to you by the owners of Antidote and Poison Girl, Black Hole is a beautifully designed cafe tucked into a quiet neighborhood just south of the University of St. Thomas. The interior is spacious and comfortable, and there are outlets for laptops.  It’s also next door to a laundromat, just in case you’re up for a little multi-tasking.  4504 Graustark St.

4.  Agora:  The dimly lit interior makes this Greek coffee shop the perfect place for laptop use, although bookworms can soak in the ambiance on the outdoor patio on a nice day.  Unless you show up during the one of the belly dancing evenings, there’s typically plenty of comfy seating.  They also have a great assortment of beverage selections, including imported beers and Greek wine.  www.agorahouston.com, 1712 Westheimer Rd.

photo: Early morning coffee at Antidote in the Heights.