Spotlight - Cycles TX

Since opening in September 2013 in the Waterway Square district of The Woodlands Town Center, Cycles TX has found success amid a community that places a high value on bicycling.

Owner Baltazar Vilchis said his store offers a wide array of bicycles for every age and ability, from children and beginners to longtime riders and serious cyclists. Cycles TX offers about 80–100 bicycles at any given time, including specialty bikes and special editions, Vilchis said.

Cycles TX, he said, is one of the few stores in the area that offers high-end bikes, such as those made by Pinarello and Cipollini, which are handmade in Italy.

Those bicycles, he said, can range from about $6,000 to $22,000.

"We also have bikes for all budgets," Vilchis said. "We have different brands that other stores don't have."

In addition to bicycles, the cycling shop also offers accessories, such as clothing, tires, tools, helmets and nutritional supplements. Vilchis said one of their distinctive features is a custom-fitting system that finds the ideal design and style for individual cyclists. The store also provides its customers with a service department to repair any bicycle, he said.

1501 Lake Robbins Drive, Ste. 160, 713-389-5776, www.cyclestx.com

Spotlight - The Refuge

The Refuge Bar and Bistro, at 24 Waterway Ave., has garnered a reputation among regulars as a throwback to the classic neighborhood bars that offered good drinks, good food and good coWDL-03-2015-60-m2mpany.

Co-owners Mark Zientek and Lewis Padilla, who also serves as bar manager, offer customers what they call "elevated classics," such as the Old Fashioned, the Mary Pickford, the Manhattan and the Last Word. The bar also serves up in-house creations, such as the Irish-Scottish Cocktail, which combines whiskey and scotch, and the Bee's Knees, a combination of gin, honey and lemon juice.

"We really try to stay with the fresh vintage drinks," Zientek said.

The Refuge also specializes in craft beers, rotating locally brewed selections regularly among the 12 selections the bar has on tap. Among the Houston-area breweries represented at The Refuge are Southern Star, Karbach and No Label.

Recently, Padilla has begun offering his own handcrafted infused bourbons aged in handmade wooden barrels.

"We age [the bourbons] for two months before we bring them here," he said.

Padilla said the flavors change with the season, adding that a peach-citrus bourbon is planned for the summer season.

24 Waterway Ave., 713-389-5674, www.refugeinthewoodlands.com

Additional businesses at Waterway Square

Baker St. Pub & Grill, 25 Waterway Ave., 281-362-7431, www.bakerstreetpub.com

Bar Louie, 24 Waterway Ave., 281-719-1900, www.barlouie.com

Crush Wine Bar, 20 Waterway Ave., 281-362-7874, www.thecrushbar.com

The Goose's Acre Bistro & Irish Pub, 21 Waterway Ave., Ste. 140, 281-466-1502, www.thegoosesacre.com

Blo Blow Dry Bar, 25 Waterway Ave., Ste. 150, 281-465-8515, www.blomedry.com

America's, 21 Waterway Ave., 281-367-1492, www.cordua.com

Burger Fi, 1501 Lake Robbins Drive, 713-389-5823, www.burgerfi.com

The Cheese Course, 1501 Lake Robbins Drive, Ste. 110, 832-246-8884, www.thecheesecourse.com

Grimaldi's Pizzeria, 20 Waterway Ave., Ste. 100, 281-465-3500, www.grimaldispizzeria.com

Hubbell & Hudson Bistro, 24 Waterway Ave., Ste. 125, 281-203-5641, www.hubbellandhudson.com

Morton's Grille, 25 Waterway Ave., 832-585-0794, www.mortonsgrille.com

Nestle Toll House Caf, 25 Waterway Ave., Ste. 125, 832-663-6895, www.nestlecafe.com

Tsukiji Japanese Cuisine, 24 Waterway Ave., Ste. 100, 281-298-1888, www.tsukiji-sushi.com

Which Wich, 1599 Lake Robbins Drive, Ste. 150, 281-364-9424, www.whichwich.com

Yucatan Taco Stand, 24 Waterway Ave., Ste. 160, 281-419-6300, www.yucatantacostand.com

The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, 281-367-9797, www.marriott.com

Comcast Xfinity, 1501 Lake Robbins Drive, 713-341-1000, www.comcast.com

Cinemark 17, 1600 Lake Robbins Drive, 281-362-4340, www.cinemark.com

Cyclone Anaya's Mexican Kitchen, 20 Waterway Ave., www.cycloneanaya.com

Ferrari, Opening first quarter 2015, 1501 Lake Robbins Drive, 713-772-3868, www.ferrariofhouston.com

Nick's Fish Dive & Oyster Bar, Opening in March, 20 Waterway Ave

Westin, The Woodlands, Opening end of 2015, Waterway Square, www.westin.com