Guide

A Sunday in Baytown

The one day the plants slow down, the town goes to church and then to Tex-Mex, and the ferry doesn't start till eleven. Here's the rhythm, and how to fit into it. Early. The Cuban Cafe opens later on Sunday than the rest of the week — check the page — and Doughnut Wheel's kolaches are the early option.

The one day the plants slow down, the town goes to church and then to Tex-Mex, and the ferry doesn't start till eleven. Here's the rhythm, and how to fit into it.

Early. The Cuban Cafe opens later on Sunday than the rest of the week — check the page — and Doughnut Wheel's kolaches are the early option. The Nature Center at seven is empty and the birds are up; this is the best two hours of the week there.

Mid-morning. Church, for most of the town — the churches page has every service time and language. If not, the library's closed, so it's the Wetlands Center (also closed Sunday, so no), Bayland for a walk, or the drive over the bridge to Sylvan Beach for the only sand within half an hour.

Noon. Don't. The services let out at once and every Tex-Mex place fills at 12:15; Bocanegra's is closed Sunday, which sends everyone to El Toro and Mi Parrillada. Eat at eleven or at two, and know that Sunday lunch is the town's social hour — you'll see everyone.

Afternoon. The ferry from eleven — the first weekend crossing, and the line at the landing is Sunday's other social hour. The Battleground on the far side. Yepez Vineyard from one, with the music if they've booked it. Bayland with a chair. The football game at The Chute in season. Pirates Bay in summer, at opening.

Evening. Thompson's for shrimp at a picnic table, or the Hyatt terrace for the sunset, or home for the game. The ferry's last weekend crossing is 6:30; plan the Battleground return around it. Most kitchens close early on Sunday; the pages have the hours.

The rules. Liquor stores are closed; beer and wine at the grocery from ten. The Market at Town Square is Saturday, not Sunday — don't drive downtown looking for it. And the Monday alarm is at 3:40 for half the town, so Sunday night ends early, and the roads are empty by nine.

En español. Un domingo en Baytown: el Centro de Naturaleza a las siete (vacío, con las aves); misa o servicio (la página de iglesias tiene todos los horarios y los que son en español); NO coma a las 12:15 — todos salen de la iglesia a la vez; Bocanegra's cierra los domingos. El ferry desde las once; el viñedo Yepez desde la una; Thompson's o la terraza del Hyatt al atardecer. Las licorerías cierran; cerveza y vino desde las diez. El mercado es el sábado, no el domingo.