a few local shops that are definitely worth a stop
Businesses Sponsors
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CAfe Dolce
A Savory Experience for all the senses
If you're in the mood for great food, sweet sips, and a hip atmosphere, Cafe Dolce is Laredo's premiere urban hangout. Young and old will find a comfortable setting in Laredo's historic downtown area. Having been featured in many magazines for their unique eats, it's definitely a place worth visiting. Go early because parking space is very limited! Every so often they offer mini festivals such as Woofstock, held recently which offered art, treats, and booths, focusing on our fury friends. Everyone should experience Cafe Dolce, at affordable prices, how could you not?
Hecho A Mano
Monthly Vendors show
Every month, in the cool of the evening, local artisans and vendors bring out their unique handmade items and present them at the "Hecho A Mano" market. Usually located in front of the Laredo Center for the Arts, and sometimes in conjuction with "Camin-Arte", one can find handmade, crafts, art, food, music, and more, brought to you by local artists. The quality is always exceptional and the prices are hard to beat! At this market, all the items are strictly handmade by the artists themselves. This collection of local artists, musicians, and craft hand-makers are making a business out of handmade goods. Hecho a Mano draws hundreds of visitors to their pop-up shops from the local and surrounding areas. Don't miss out on this once a month event!
Frontera Beer and Wine Garden
A new Frontier in a historic place!
Tucked inside the famous Laredo Pan American Courts on San Bernardo is a new place that has roots to the past! The Frontera Beer and Wine Garden is not just a building it's an entire area dedicated to celebrating our rich Latin culture as well as our basic need to relax and unwind. While the idea is for the adults to enjoy a variety of unique and familiar libations, children and pets can feel equally as welcome in this friendly laid back atmosphere. The owner, Sandra Rocha Taylor and her husband have done an incredible job of renovating the building located in the main courtyard into a lounge and bar area complete with walk up window for those times when you want to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. You can order food at the bar and have it delivered to wherever you are seated. It doesn't get anymore relaxed than that! Speaking of outdoors, there is a constant rotation of events, live bands, and the famous DJ "DJ The Pop Rocks" who preform on the open stage located next to the world famous "I Love You Chingos" art installation by world renowned artist Poncho Santos who also has his art space "Musa" behind Frontera. This establishment never lacks for fun, food, and a good old family environment. Next time you're looking to get out of the house alone or with the kids consider Frontera Beer and Wine Garden. It will not disappoint!
Skintology Spa
Laredo's premiere place for inner and outer beauty that sets the Bar for all Spas
With a brand new facility and a whole new look, Skintology Spa of Laredo is equipped to pamper your body inside and out! From the moment your enter the building you are greated with the light fresh aroma of essential oils that uplift and relax. The vaulted naturally lit ceilings provide an open airy feel but the atmosphere is quaint and personal. Sip on fresh homemade cucumber mint infused water while you look through the array of beautiful and unique products that only Skintology carries. From take home spa treatments, specialty vitamins, products to continue the pampering process at home, to "Aloe Yoga" gear! They are the only ones in Laredo that currently carry the line! At Skintology you can make your way to the full service salon for an entire makeover, or retire to the back to one of the many specialty rooms for some of the best and latest services. Treatments like the "Hydrovichy Shower", literally the coolest way to visibly tone, tighten up, and detox your body in one session! The traditional facial and massage rooms are outfitted with the latest equipment and most serene atmosphere aesthetics. Their "Tea Room" is a very large yet cozy sitting area that offers luxurious chairs and your choice of the most delicious hot and cold teas along with infused waters. All this while you sit back and relax listening to the bubbling water fountain nestled in the corner.
The ladies locker room is more than gracious with 2 large showers and a capacious whirlpool and steam room where clients can further relax before and after their treatments.
The men were not left out, their locker room contains all the necessary amenities for a well cared for day at the spa! At the moment they offer Pilates classes and have 5 Reformers, 2 Stability chairs, 2 Lateral Barrels, and 1 Cadillac. With their trained instructors, anyone from the novice to the expert is sure to get the most from their session! Stop by and tell them Living Laredo sent you! You're in for a real treat!
The ladies locker room is more than gracious with 2 large showers and a capacious whirlpool and steam room where clients can further relax before and after their treatments.
The men were not left out, their locker room contains all the necessary amenities for a well cared for day at the spa! At the moment they offer Pilates classes and have 5 Reformers, 2 Stability chairs, 2 Lateral Barrels, and 1 Cadillac. With their trained instructors, anyone from the novice to the expert is sure to get the most from their session! Stop by and tell them Living Laredo sent you! You're in for a real treat!
Arena Gun Club
From Young guns to veteran shooters and everyone in between!
LAredo First and only state-of-the-art Gun range
Friends, family, and firearms a fun experience that could save your life!
Don't let the name fool you! EVERYONE young and old is welcome at AGC. Come in and check out Laredo's first and ONLY state-of-the-art gun range facility. It truly is a family friendly place! There are several main goals this Gun Club peruses, teaching safety , teaching skills, and ensuring everyone has fun. Safety is the resounding theme here. From a quick mandatory virtual gun range class, to having security locks and cameras to ensure that all participants and observers are kept safe in their respective areas. They also offer attendants that will stay by your side. They understand that for many firearms have always been a curiosity but even the most comfortable handler may still need quick assistance. Here age is not the factor for determining if one is ready for a firearm, it's maturity. On our recent visit we took a youngster who had grown up around guns but was still somewhat shy on the proper safety etiquette. While I was NOT very knowledgeable, I always felt safe and in control of how far I wanted to take my curiosity and I ALWAYS felt that the youngster was ALWAYS in good hands even though I may not have had confidence in my own. By the time our VERY affordable session had ended. I felt more confident and proud of myself for learning a new skill and finally understanding something that I had always had questions about but was afraid to ask. Both of us left wiser and confident as we planned our next visit. Among the many thing they offer, you do not need to own your own firearm. They can properly fit a firearm to match your skill level, from novice to expert. You rent a lane just like at a bowling alley, you get to choose your target (Kidnapper, Zombie, Cartoon character, Blank image...), you select your firearm and amount of ammunition, then you are guided inside the safe zone, then the firing range. Planned for the Fall of 2015, they have plans to open up their upstairs range which will likely include archery lanes, as well as their underground 100yd shooting range perfect for zeroing riffles! With a fully trained staff they offer New Shooter, Concealed Hand Gun, and Young Gun Classes, as well as offer a Women's League and are beginning Laredo's first IDPA competitions! Go buy and ask for Clarissa or Jeannette and tell'em Living Laredo sent you!
Casa Yoga
Not Just a Place to Learn & Practice Yoga, but a State of Mind
From humble beginnings 15 years ago in the home of the devoted instructor Alejandra Arguindegui , to 3 years in their state-of-the facility at the Fountain Center at 107 Calle Del Norte, Casa Yoga has much to offer. After being invited to participate in a class, I must admit I was very intimidated and almost didn't accept for fear that my out of shape figure might not sustain my curiosity. Being familiar with Yoga I knew what to expect but I was in for a big surprise. The classes are large and equipped with everything you need to make the experience easy and fun. All the instructors and even the class participants were very nice and welcoming. The class was filled with many shapes and body types, both male and female, as well as beginners and those that were beyond. During the sessions their are many ways to make the experience fun by varying your positions, instructors walk around and help you with that. Your personal best is all that is needed. After the class everyone was handed a cool moist towel infused with sweet uplifting scents that refreshed your body and mind. When I spoke with Allison, one of the many friendly certified instructors, she explained how Casa Yoga as well as Yoga itself is not just stretching the body, it's about over all health, living your life to the fullest potential, and maintaining full physical, emotional, and mental balance. The philosophy here is simple, "Stay in the Positive!". They offer classes for ages 5 years and up. All ages, body types, abilities, & levels welcome. This is really true, as I experienced this first hand myself! In my class everyone of us was different. EVERYONE's first class is FREE and they are constantly offering specials. All it takes is one class. Feel what it's like to feel good! Try it with a friend. Don't let misconceptions about this beautiful and strengthening class keep you from feeling good in your body and mind. Casa Yoga is beyond Fitness! Click on the Casa Yoga pic for their home page or go HERE for their Facebook page. Either way your sure to find the class right for you!
Momentum Running CO.
Not just for the runner, for the person who cares about what goes on their body to help it move!
From the outside it may look like your typical sport aficionado's dream, but inside it's more of an athletic apparel mecca. You quickly realize that the items on the wall and the rack are NOT typical sports equipment. The shoes, most of whose brand I didn't even know existed, looked like pieces of art hanging in a museum. Yes intimidating at first, that is until, the owner Jorge Nazarin explained why his shop was different. I played some sports in school, and I thought I knew how to pick my shoes, but I was quickly schooled. Most people pick shoes based on looks and color first, that's the WORST thing you can do if you care anything about your body. Like prescription glasses you must first know what your feet need and start from there. Momentum Running CO. offers FREE personal fittings. YES that's right you need to be fitted. It's interesting, fast and fun. I thought I knew my feet after all we've been together our entire lives, but after my fitting, it's as though they looked up and said, "Really? You waited this long?". He not only has shoes, but to apparel, sunglasses, Tracking watches with monitors, pretty much anything necessary to start, motivate, or take your movement to the next level. It truly does motivate you to be in this store. This store builds relationships with every customer. Regardless of your experience, taking time to get it right is important to Jorge and his staff. They are authorized dealers for brands and items that even larger cities can't carry. Complete line-ups of special brands, direct buy from the dealer on special orders, and personal attention to your every need. It's no wonder people are now traveling down to Laredo just to visit Momentum Running CO. Whether it's curiosity, you need to try out something new, or you simply need to up your game, Momentum has it for you. Running , Cross-fit, almost any athletic need can be met here. "Lift, live, run or play, we've got the shoe for you" that's the motto here. I left knowing I would be back but not alone!
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Mario Martinez
Laredo Author finds a home in San Casimiro
No you won't find Casimiro Texas on any map, only at your local or online bookstore. You can only get there through reading. A writing style similar to a cross between David Lynch and Roald Dahl, Mario Martinez has a definite style and flavor. Like a culinary chef of writing, you may not like everything being served but you can't help but gaze and awe at the sheer genius of the presentation and details of what's being dished up. Reading his stories are like a tall fresh glass of water in a literary desert! Every one of your senses seems stimulated by the lattice of words that are woven on each page. Raised on unhealthy doses of samurai movies, horror flicks, spaghetti westerns, and Conan the Barbarian comic books, Mario E. Martinez began his storytelling career early in life. He currently teaches English at his hometown university in South Texas, where he lives. Twin Burials is his debut novel. His first collection of fiction, San Casimiro, Texas: Short Stories, 8 bizarre stories about our favorite little South Texas town, is out now. Order a copy today on this link or check out his website and Facebook for more shorts and information on his latest works of art.
Laredo's Downtown Farmer's Markets
Every third Saturday of the month downtown is the place to be! Every third Saturday of the month enjoy historic downtown Jarvis Plaza. Fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs can be found on every corner. You have vendors that make soaps and lotions from essential oils and organic bases, people who cultivate flowering plants and trees from their personal nursery's. You'll find chefs that have prepared local favorites like fresh squeezed lemonade and hot fresh tacos with all the trimmings. Music is always playing in the background, from steel drums to guitars. It is quite an experience! Click on the picture and it will take you to the link that gives you days and times!
