Welcome to this week's "Gish Picks", where I highlight family-oriented cultural events, products or services. Please note that I "highlight" events, but I don't know if they are appropriate for your particular children, so choose wisely based on age, maturity and interests.

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SUMMER'S ALMOST HERE. We're busy putting together THE SUMMER BOOK: A GUIDE TO HOUSTON DAY CAMPS AND CLASSES FOR KIDS AND TEENS, so if you are the director of a summer camp program, please check our website for details. The book will be available in bookstores March 1. Stay tuned for details!

TWEETIN' FOR CULTURE!  Hey tweet peeps! Follow me on Twitter and you'll get lots of PICKS of fun times in Houston – news you can use.  I look forward to being stalked by you!

Now, GO FIND FUN!

“HEAR THE FUTURE” WITH MUSICAL KIDS.

This Sunday, January 31 at 4pm, head over to South Main Baptist Church for the free concert of the “11th Annual Invitational School Choral Festival: Hear the Future.” This is a great way to enjoy an afternoon of music while showing your support for fine arts education in our schools. Co-sponsored by AMC Music, “Hear the Future” pays tribute to the essential work done by outstanding choral music educators in our region, and their excellent choirs. The professional ensemble of the Houston Chamber Choir, directed by Bob Simpson, will be joined by the HISD’s Parker Elementary Advanced Chorus directed by Marianna Parnas Simpson, the St. John’s School Les Chanteuses directed by Stephen Bedford, and the Cinco Ranch High School Chorale directed by Dorothy Wilson. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see adults and children speak the language of music together.

South Main Baptist Church is located at 4100 Main Street at the edge of downtown Houston.

“LITTLE WOMEN: THE MUSICAL” IS ONSTAGE IN STAFFORD.

I adored Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women as a child – in fact, I have the Madame Alexander doll of Beth! Lucky for we LW fans, the story of the March sisters will be onstage thanks to Fort Bend Theatre which is opening “Little Women: The Musical” this weekend. Based on the novel, this timeless production features the exciting adventures of the four March sisters - aspiring author Jo, romantic Meg, pretentious Amy, and kind-hearted Beth - and their beloved Marmee, at home in Concord, Massachusetts. Directed by the talented Glenn Sharp, Little Women offers a powerful score that soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope and is sure to delight both young and old.

Fort Bend Community Theatre was founded in 1989 in Sugar Land, Texas by Frank and Karen Letts with the mission of promoting the arts and education of the arts in that community. Productions were originally staged in a local church and they now take place at 2815 N. Main Street in Stafford.

“Little Women: The Musical” will be onstage Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm through February 20. Tickets are $15/adults, $14/seniors and students (11-22 years old with valid ID) and $12/children 3-10 years old.

BELOVED MUSIC TEACHER RACHEL BUCHMAN IS HEADLINING A CHILDREN'S CONCERT AT RICE UNIVERSITY.

This Saturday, January 30, head to Rice University for a Shepherd Society Family Concert from 11am-noon at Stude Concert Hall/Alice Pratt Brown Hall at the Shepherd School of Music. Kids will rollick to the mischievous pranks of the "Cat in the Hat" of classical music, an impish character named Till Eulenspiegel! His impetuous story is told through the energetic music of Richard Strauss. Conducted by Larry Rachleff and narrated by Rachel Buchman, the performance will feature the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra. There will be a few other musical surprises as well! The show is recommended for ages 6+ and admission is free.

Rachel will be performing at the Jewish Community Center on Sunday, February 21 at 10am as part of their "Children's Performing Arts Series" and back at the Shepherd School of Music on Sunday, April 25 1pm and 6pm for a special "Children's Chamber Music Concert: Robinhood and Friends" which will feature Rachel and the wind quintet, WindSync. Kids can wear their pajamas to this one! There is a fee for parking and only credit cards are accepted.

THIS WEEK'S ATTRACTION...FARMERS’ MARKETS. For more attractions, go to www.gishcreative.com/attractions.htm.

We’re all worried about how healthy our kids are so the best way to raise them to be good eaters is to make a pact to start choosing fresher food for and with your family. It might take more time, but it’s certainly worth it – not only for the quality of the produce but also for the environmental impact as well as your own stimulus to the economy. Shopping in season is how it used to be done – there’s no need to buy tomatoes that have been genetically engineered or traveled 1500 miles to get to us!

Here are some farmers’ markets I recommend; thanks to the Greater Houston and Convention and Visitors’ Bureau for this list:

• Bayou City Farmers' Market
  Urban Harvest's Bayou City Farmers' Market offers locally-produced vegetables, fruits and farm products once a week.
  3000 Richmond
  Saturdays, 8am-12pm, rain or shine
  
  
• Canino's Produce (713.862.8866)
  Family-owned and operated for over 35 years, Canino's is a favorite of local chefs.
  2520 Airline Drive
  Open every day 6am-8:30pm
  
  
• Central City Co-Op
  This self-serve co-op offers organic produce at reasonable prices.
  Wednesdays, 9am-6:30pm (2515 Waugh Street/Grace Lutheran Church)
  Sundays, noon-4pm (1500 McKinney/Discovery Green)
  
  
• Houston Farmers Market
  This is Houston's first Texas State Certified farmers market.
  Tuesdays 3:30-6pm (Rice University, entrance 9 off Stockton and University Blvd)
  Saturdays, 9am-1pm (University at Greenbriar)
  
  
• Midtown Farmers Market
  Located in the parking lot of famed restaurant T'afia, there is also a cooking class at 9:30am (the class is free but requires tickets which are given out starting at 9am).
  3701 Travis
  Saturdays, 8am-noon rain or shine

And if you’re interested in picking your own produce year-round, log onto www.pickyourown.org and go for it!

INDIAN WOMEN SPEAK ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

There are two events next week that I want you to know about and hope that you will attend:

• UH Women’s Studies Program: LIVING ARCHIVES
  Interview with Dr. Renu Khator
  Monday, February 1, 11am-1pm
  The Rockwell Pavillion, UH Campus
  Lunch is provided but you’ll need to RSVP to 713.743.3214.
  
  Dr. Renu Khator, president of the University of Houston and Chancellor of the UH System, will sit down for an in-depth interview in front of a live audience as part of the Friends of Women Studies’ Living Archives Series. She will speak about the challenges and successes she has encountered on her trajectory towards becoming the first Indian immigrant to head a comprehensive research university in the United States.
  
  
• Blue Willow Bookshop and Asia Society Houston
  Launch of One Amazing Thing with Author Chitra Divakaruni
  Tuesday, February 2, 7pm
  United Way Building, 50 Waugh Drive
  The event is free but you’ll need to RSVP to 713.439.0051.
  
  Houston-based, award-winning author Chitra Divakaruni will be launching her new book, One Amazing Thing, at the United Way Building with a special reading dedicated to her mother. The story begins when an earthquake rips through the afternoon lull, trapping nine wildly individual characters together who embark on a collective struggle to survive. Heralded in advance, the book will be available for sale after the reading.

Sarah Gish
Gish Creative
1940-A Fountainview, PMB 116
Houston, Texas 77057
phone/fax: 713.532.1173

email: sarah@gishcreative.com
web: www.gishcreative.com
and: www.thesummerbook.com
and: www.saveourlandmarks.org

© 2010 Sarah Gish

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