Gish Picks: Week of February 27, 2008


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. I know many of you go to events based on GISH PICKS recommendations; PLEASE remember to tell the organization that you are there because of us. Word-of-mouth like yours helps our business to grow. In the same spirit, please also feel free to share GISH PICKS with friends and families. Do you have something you would like to advertise on Gish Picks? Advertisers can promote family-friendly events, products or services to Houstonians all over the city and the surrounding area who are active parents, involved citizens and great shoppers. We love doing this community service and want to keep it free for our readers but in order to justify the hours spent researching, writing and designing this newsletter, we need advertising support. If you'd like to learn more, please click below. Now, GO FIND FUN!

SECOND-HAND BAGS WITH THE TEEN COUNCIL.

This Saturday, March 1, from 11am until 3pm, join Houston Center for Contemporary Craft for "Hands-On Houston", a free craft-activity open house for the whole family on the first Saturday of every month. The Teen Council from the Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston will lead children and adults in creating a satchel or bag using recycled cloth and materials. The activity is inspired by works in "Craft in America: Expanding Traditions", on view at HCCC, and "Design Life Now: National Design Triennial 2006", on view at the Contemporary Arts Museum. This activity is suitable for all ages and materials will be provided. After creating fun and functional bags, families can enjoy the wonderful variety of fine craft on display in "Craft in America". Houston Center for Contemporary Craft is located at 4848 Main Street in the Museum District.

For more information, call 713.529.4848 or log onto www.crafthouston.org.

SEE BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATED THROUGH DANCE.

The Sandra Organ Dance Company (SODC) is presenting a retrospective of a decade's dance programming to mark Black History Month and the company's 10th anniversary. The final performance of "Black History Month Retrospective" is this Friday, February 29 at 7:30pm at the Barnevelder Movement Arts Complex, 2201 Hutchins at Preston.

The dance repertoire will include "Carver", based on the contributions of renowned scientist George Washington Carver; "Sojourner", based on Sojourner Truth's "Battle Hymn" and a tribute to the black regiments of the Civil War; "Dogan", the autobiographical account of Sandra Organ's search for information about her great uncle and a tribute to the black newspapers that helped her uncover his story; "Suite Louis", featuring Louis Armstrong's "Mack the Knife" and "Dream a Little Dream of Me"; "Song of Mary", incorporating seven poems by Lucille Clinton, professor of humanities at St. Mary's College and former Maryland Poet Laureate; "Phenomenal Women", based on Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman" poem; "Douglass", a newly choreographed collaboration between Sandra Organ and InterActive Theatre based on the life of Frederick Douglass; and "There is a Time", Jose Limon's 1956 work based on Ecclesiastes 3 set to the music of Norman Dello Joio. Tickets are $15/adults and $10/children and seniors.

For tickets or more information, call 713.529.1819 or log onto www.barnevelder.org.

SUNDAYS ARE HOPPING AT THE ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER.

Each Sunday from 1 until 4pm, the Armand Bayou Nature Center hosts two events perfect for families: a "Natural History Demonstration" and a "Farm Life Demonstration". In the "Natural History Demonstration", visitors will learn about the animals of Armand Bayou and the habitats they live in. Demonstrations vary from week to week and include mammals, birds and reptiles. In the "Farm Life Demonstration", visitors can observe life as it once was at the Martyn farm. Each week knowledgeable volunteers demonstrate activities common to daily life on a 19th-century farm in southeast Texas, including butter- and cheese-making as well as carpentry and blacksmithing.

For more information, call 281.474.2551 or log onto www.abnc.org.

STUBDOG'S DOING IT ALL FOR YOU.

Hey Moms! Here is your chance to shop till you drop! America's favorite shopping party, Shecky's Girls Night Out, debuts in Houston and StubDog.com has your ticket! Shop up to 50 hot brands in the emerging fashion and accessories pavilion in the Crystal Ballroom at the Rice Hotel. Sip delicious cocktails & refreshments at their 5-hour complimentary bars and sample fabulous products & services by supreme sponsors. You'll score loads of goodies in Shecky's Deluxe Goodie Bag which comes with all tickets purchased on StubDog.com. Oh yeah, all of their tickets are half price and supply is limited.

For more information and to browse theatre, comedy, dance, music and more visit www.stubdog.com!

SIGN YOUR KIDS UP FOR A WET & WILD SPRING BREAK AT THE ARBORETUM!

Spring Break is only two weeks away and what will your kids be doing? The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is offering a week-long Spring Break camp March 17-21 for children ages 5 to 12.

In "Wet & Wild", campers will explore the watery worlds of the Arboretum’s ponds and wetlands and they will scoop up and examine some of the critters that live below the water’s surface to find out how they breathe, move and eat. Arboretum naturalists will lead children through hands-on and fun activities to discover the natural wonders living in aquatic habitats, including ferocious dragons, insect piranhas and water tigers. The "Wet & Wild" camp will include games, crafts and indoor activities, as well as nature walks and other outdoor adventures at the 155-acre nature sanctuary.

Children can attend camp for the day, 9am until 3pm, or for a morning-only option from 9am until noon. Campers are divided into classes by age: 5 & 6, 7 & 8 and 9 to 12 and class sizes are limited.

The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is a non-profit organization located at 4501 Woodway, just inside the 610 Loop West.

For more information, call 713.681.8433 or log onto www.houstonarboretum.org/springcamp.asp.

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My goal is to serve as an information resource for Houston parents through my various endeavors, including:

GISH PICKS, which is online (www.thesummerbook.com/gishpicks_archive.html) and in print through the Houston Community Newspaper group (www.hcnonline.com);

THE SUMMER BOOK®: A GUIDE TO HOUSTON DAY CAMPS AND CLASSES FOR KIDS AND TEENS (www.thesummerbook.com) which comes out annually on March 1 and is sold at bookstores all over Houston, including Barnes and Noble and Borders; and

Speaking engagements, interactive workshops, private consultations, and art programs that cover topics such as parenting (www.freewebs.com/glowfished), marketing, historic preservation, activism, and passion-finding. All of these services can be tailored for any audience and budget.

The purpose of GISH PICKS is to help parents become aware of all the fun things they can do with their children in Houston and the surrounding area, so HAPPY TRAVELS! Please do give me feedback and ideas, as you are out there in the trenches also looking for interesting things for your family and I want to hear what you find. If you are having trouble getting to a website listed here, try hitting the “Ctrl” button and left-clicking on the web address, which should make it “live”.


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 © 2008 Sarah Gish Designed by West of the World