Jody Schmal

Most of us have a travel bucket list, places around the world that we’ve read about and hope to see and experience for ourselves one day. For some, those include surreal natural wonders [https://www.chron.com/life/travel/article/Surreal-places-to-visit-around-the-world-6483616.php]; for others, museums, religious sites or ancient ruins. This week, Lonely Planet [http://www.lonelyplanet.com/], one of the world’s leading travel media companies, has released a new book featuring hundreds of the pla…

Switchback, billed as the world’s only wooden shuttle rollercoaster, opened Oct. 17 at ZDT’s Amusement Park in little Seguin, population about 26,000, located 120 miles west of Houston.

Road warrior Dave Matthews hits the stage at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands Friday, on tour celebrating his band’s 25th anniversary. In tow? Dave Matthews Band head chef Fiona Bohane and Matthews’ own wine label, The Dreaming Tree. The latter, a partnership between the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and winemaker Sean McKenzie, includes a selection of budget-friendly California wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and two blends named after popul…

Having worked at South Shore Harbour Resort for two decades, general manager Roy Green could hardly be blamed for being especially effusive a day or two before the property officially debuts a comprehensive renovation. “I’ve been walking around, grinning ear to ear,” he said during a media preview Tuesday. Indeed, the 238-room, 11-story waterfront resort and conference center in League City opened in 1988, but this is its first top-to-bottom overhaul. South Shore will host a private grand openin…

All manner of planes, from the smaller regional variety to jumbo jets, fly in and out of Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport daily. On Tuesday, a new Airbus A350-900 joined the party. Singapore Airlines, one of the most well-regarded airlines in the world, is now using the A350 on its route from IAH to Manchester and Singapore. Service to the city in northern England originally launched with the 777-300ER in October, replacing previous stopover service to Moscow. Singapore Airlines’ A…

This week, Chronicle critic Alison Cook reviews Tacodeli, the Austin import that opened on Washington Avenue in early April. Awarding the restaurant one star, she writes that Tacodeli is “perfectly OK,” but that “OK” isn’t enough. Her favorite menu items were the place’s dark-roast coffee, salsa and breakfast tacos. She was particularly disappointed with Tacodeli’s tortillas, both corn and flour varieties. Cook’s review caught the attention of Austin American-Statesman restaurant critic Matthe…

Laurenzo’s Bar and Grill [http://laurenzosbarandgrill.com/] in Midtown has closed.The 300-seat restaurant at 1910 Bagby, which formerly housed The Republic Smokehouse & Saloon and Blackfinn American Grille, opened in January. “Regrettably it never generated sufficient sales to be viable. That’s all,” Roland Laurenzo [/search/?action=search&channel=entertainment%2Frestaurants-bars&inlineLink=1&searchindex=property&query=%22Roland+Laurenzo%22] said in a statement. Laurenzo’s sister restaurant at 4…

A few months ago chefs/married couple Erin Smith and Patrick Feges sat down with the Chronicle food team to discuss [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/bbq/bbq-state-of-mind-podcast/article/Listen-Erin-and-Patrick-Feges-on-going-whole-hog-11272274.php] the barbecue restaurant they’ve been planning for a while now. As of Wednesday, the news is official: Feges BBQ finally has a home, and should open early next year. LISTEN: Patrick Feges and Erin Smith talk about their…

Yes, it’s home to the fighting Texas A&M Aggies. But there’s plenty to do in Bryan-College Station beyond Kyle Field. Check out the handful of hip, modern hotels that have joined the scene. And the dining options may surprise even the staunchest foodie. WHAT TO DO George Bush Presidential Library and Museum On the Texas A&M campus, the museum explores the life and work of America’s 41st president (and current Houstonian). Permanent exhibits tell stories through photos, documents, videos, artifac…

Each year, the New York Times recommends 52 travel destinations around the world to visit, whether cities, countries or even a group of islands. It’s a big feature lots of people look forward to reading. On Wednesday the Times published its list for 2019, and for the second time in six years, Houston landed a coveted spot. Noting the city’s rebound from Hurricane Harvey, writer Kelly DiNardo lists the opening of Tilman Fertitta’s lavish Post Oak Hotel; the reopening of The Menil Collection and t…