Welcome to this week's "Gish Picks", where I highlight family-oriented cultural events, products or services. Please note that I "highlight" these 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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Now, GO FIND FUN!

THE STARS ARE COMING OUT AT NIGHT.

It’s time for the Academy Awards® and Hollywood Frame Gallery is rolling out the red carpet with “Starstruck,” an evening of family-friendly fun on Oscar® eve, Saturday, February 21, 6pm to 9pm at their shop at 2427 Bissonnet (near Kirby). The party will include Oscar®-related festivities – there will be ballots for mock voting and the Gallery will tally up the points based on the Oscar results so that whoever has the most points wins a $100 Edwards Theatres gift certificate (perfect for kids!). Adding to the fun will be photographer Danny Clark and Aerosol Warfare’s Gonzo247, who will have their 2009 Art Car Parade entry present (see www.artcarhouston.com). The car’s creation was a labor of the art community’s love and all proceeds will benefit nearby Roberts Elementary School. And at “Starstruck,” those crafty boys will draw tickets for two seats for the parade! On the walls at HFG will be the 2009 group show of the Mixed Media Artists of Houston through March 21. Hollywood Frame Gallery is a full service custom picture framing business and art gallery specializing in framing original movie art, collectibles, and fine art photography. The Gallery is located at 2427 Bissonnet.

CHILDREN CAN DISCUSS GOD.

On Sunday, February 22 at 2pm at The Rothko Chapel in Montrose, I’ll be introducing popular children’s book author, Etan Boritzer, who will read from his book What Is God? My eight year old son loved the book because “It gives you lots of ideas about God and teaches you about religions!” Boritzer will read excerpts and will take questions and discuss ideas in the book with the children. What Is God? takes an ecumenical approach to the subject matter, but because of the controversy which the word God can initiate, the book did not find a publisher until 1989. Following the talk, there will be a book-signing and reception, where copies of the book will be available for purchase. What Is God? is one of the books that The Rothko Chapel offers its visitors as reading material while they are onsite. Boritzer has written an entire “What Is?” series of children’s books on character education and social values which is now published in 12 languages. The author’s open-ended approach allows for children’s most serious questions, and encourages deep discussion opportunities for children, parents, and teachers. Gently suggesting answers and unlocking layers of thought, the series helps children develop the critical thinking skills needed for important and difficult issues. The program is free, but there is a $5-10 suggested donation.

WHO’S THE BOSS?

The River Oaks Chamber Orchestra presents its third concert of the season in two shows: this Saturday, February 21 at 5pm at The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard and this Sunday, February 22 at 2pm at St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Felipe. “Conductorless!” features soloists and all 40 musicians from River Oaks Chamber Orchestra who will perform together without a conductor, removing yet another layer between audience and stage. Concertmaster Brian Lewis leads the way through pieces that will delight the audience and challenge the musicians. This is a great time to find out why River Oaks Chamber Orchestra has been called a “trailblazer in the orchestral world”! The program will include Bizet’s “Symphony in C”; Bloch’s “Concerto Grosso for Solo String Quartet and Strings”; Respighi’s “Trittico Boticelliano” and other musical surprises. And, unlike most classical music events, families can bring kids along for "ROCOrooters", a pioneering education program for children ages 2 months through 10 years that runs during the full 90 minutes of each concert at The Church of St. John the Divine location. Children 5-10 years old get fun, active music education and then are invited into the concert for one piece. All children may stay after the concert until 9:30pm for pizza and movies, allowing the parents to go out for post-concert entertainment. Tickets for the concerts are $20 and $15; "ROCOrooters" is $20/first child and $15/additional children.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH DANCE.

Sandra Organ Dance Company presents its 11th annual Black History Month Dance, "Seen and Unseen" at Barnevelder Movement Arts Complex this Friday, February 20 and Saturday, February 21 at 7:30pm and Sunday, February 22 at 2:30pm. The centerpiece of every Sandra Organ Dance Company season has been its annual Black History Month Dance Concerts, which began in 1998 and highlight significant contributions of African Americans to our American culture and history. “Seen and Unseen” was choreographed by Houston Ballet’s first African American ballerina, Sandra Organ. This year’s concert will rift off the biography of Frederick Douglass and offer reflections on Ralph Ellison’s “The Invisible Man”, as well reprise some SODC favorites in tandem with the theme “Seen and Unseen.” Sandra Organ Solis founded Sandra Organ Dance Company after a fifteen year career where she noticed far too few faces of color in the audience. SODC promotes contemporary dance as an accessible and relevant experience for the entire family, using dance to educate, tell stories of us, as well as attract a more diverse audience. Tickets are $15/adults and $12/students and there are group discounts.

"COOL BRAINS! INPRINT READINGS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE" IS COMING.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 1 at 3pm to meet award-winning African American children's author Jacqueline Woodson, who will be in town for the final Inprint "Cool Brains!" presentation of the season at The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main Street. Woodson will read from and talk about her work, followed by a book sale and signing. Newbery Honor book recipient Jacqueline Woodson is the author of 25 books, including 8 picture books, 6 middle grade books, and 11 young adult novels. Her popular works include the Newbery Honor book Feathers, about a white boy with Jesus-like looks who arrives in a mostly black school; Caldecott Honor picture book Coming on Home Soon, about a young girl from the rural South whose mother goes to work in Chicago during World War II; and National Book Award finalist Locomotion, a YA novel told through 60 interconnected poems. Woodson’s newest book, After Tupac and D Foster, a 2009 Newbery Honor book, explores the impact of rapper Tupac Shakur’s work and death on three young girls and their friend, D, who lives in Tupac’s world. "Cool Brains! Inprint Readings for Young People" is presented by Inprint, a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to inspiring readers and writers. This reading is presented in association with The Ensemble Theatre. Doors open at 2:30pm and admission is free and open to the public.

LET "THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH" INSPIRE YOUR STUDENTS.

Educators: Bring your school group to a student matinee of "The Phantom Tollbooth", presented by TUTS between March 31 and April 3 at the Hobby Center, Zilkha Hall. Nothing seems to interest young Milo--not his toys, not his friends, and especially not school. But when a mysterious tollbooth materializes in his room, he "drives on through" to discover a world of inspiration! With the help of a time-keeping watchdog named Tock, Milo gets unstuck from the Doldrums and embarks on a quest to rescue the princesses of Rhyme and Reason. Along the way, he reunites the dueling kingdoms of words and numbers and realizes that life is more exciting than his wildest dreams. Adapted from Norton Juster's beloved children's book, this inventive musical features a melodious score by Arnold Black and witty lyrics full of wordplay by Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony winner Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me). This performance is produced by The Academy at The Humphreys School of Musical Theatre and is suggested for grades K-5. To reserve your spot, call 713.558.8888 or email groupsales@tuts.com today! Tickets are $6/student and you will receive 1 free ticket for every 20 tickets purchased. There is also a study guide available online.

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

© 2009 Sarah Gish

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