Passing through: OKRA charity bar, Houston

May 12, 2014 //
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On a business trip to Houston last Fall, I wandered into OKRA Charity Saloon on a recommendation of a friend and Houston resident. Nestled on Main Street in the refurbished Historic District, OKRA offers thoughtfully crafted cocktails and local brews with an altruistic twist. After settling the tab, take your wad of tickets given for every drink or Panini purchased to the polling station and cast your vote for the local non-profit you deem most deserving. The winning organization receives the bar’s total earnings each month. On your way out, cast your gaze upward and admire the original arched ceiling from the 1880’s.

I usually go for the local brew but one Kentucky Mule had me ordering two more.

Update: Recently, the New York Times named Houston to their list of 52 Places to Go in 2019, while Travel+Leisure magazine named the multi-cultural city to their Top 50 Places to Go in 2019.

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OKRA Charity Saloon, Houston. (Photo credit: Downtownhouston.org)
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Categories Passing Through

My Travel Toolkit

January 15, 2012 //
14
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Arriving in Queenstown, New Zealand

I was two when my parents put me on a plane to spend the summer with my grandparents on the East Coast. Throughout my childhood, they continued to send me East every other summer. Other times, we bounced from Kaua’i to the other islands, to California, Canada. There was even a South Western road trip before I went to college. These were the days of Mom’s travel binder stuffed with printed MapQuest guides, printed flight and hotel confirmations. Pre-iPhone.

As an adult, I’ve taken short business trips to week long vacations, to even longer working and living situations across the country and abroad.

Below are some things that help me travel with confidence and ease because when we travel, that’s what we want. We want the process to be as painless as possible for our wallets and peace of mind. We want to get right into the experience.

These items help me do that*:

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Categories Best of, Business Travel, Travel Tips
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