Greetings! Many of you have inquired about my unique guide to Houston summer day camps, The Summer Book®, which comes out annually March 1.

I wanted to let you know that it is now stocked now in these stores (and coming soon to Barnes and Noble and other locations as listed on www.thesummerbook.com): The Blue Willow Bookshop, British Isles, Fundamentally Toys, The Health Museum, Meyerland Plaza Borders Books, River Oaks Bookstore, and the Second Baptist Bookstore. It's got over 200 day camps, organized alphabetically, by date, by age, by scholarship information, and by category. There is no need to stress, as The Summer Book® is your key to summer planning!

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.

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Now, GO FIND FUN!

FAMILY MUSIC WAS NEVER SO MUCH FUN!

Come prepared to clap, stomp and sing along with Sō Percussion when Da Camera of Houston presents a free concert for music lovers of all ages this Sunday, March 9 at 3pm at the Jewish Community Center, 5601 S. Braeswood. Sō Percussion introduces young people to percussion instruments and performs short classical and contemporary pieces. There are interactive elements and lively question-and-answer sessions with the musicians.

Sō Percussion creates a rare and wonderful breed of music that both compels instantly and offers vast rewards for engaged listening. “If you’re sick of the sounds you’ve got, you go and find more. There’s always something to hit or rub or whatever.” is the group’s sonic philosophy. Bringing along an assortment of instruments from around the world, the ensemble asks kids to clap, sing and stomp along as they learn the characteristic rhythms and patterns of different cultural styles of music. Sō Percussion is Josh Quillen, Adam Sliwinski, Jason Treuting and Lawson White. The concert is the kickoff of Da Camera’s annual "Community Residency Project", a week-long residency with the ensemble in which they visit HISD elementary and middle schools. The concert is free and open to the public.

For more information, call 713.524.5050 or log onto www.dacamera.com.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN FORMER "DEL FUEGOS" HIPSTER DAN ZANES, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

This Saturday, March 8 at 11am and 2pm at Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, the Society for the Performing Arts (SPA) is bringing "Dan Zanes and Friends" for a rollicking "House Party" show. As their website says: "Here are two things you should know right off about Dan Zanes that set him apart from the huge field of people who have in the past few years begun making music for families: First, he is making homemade family music and encouraging similar behaviors in friends and neighbors. Second, he is the guy who is always interested in singing along with people, people everywhere."

This show is for kids and kids-at-heart and everybody will get to sing and dance with wild abandon to the sounds of their 21st century all-ages folk music. This group of 2007 Grammy winners occupy a unique place in American music where sea shanties, Broadway standards, North American and West Indian folk music, fiddle tunes, the spirit of rock-and-roll, and soulful originals collide.

Immediately following the 11am performance, Palais Royal will treat theatergoers to a Spring Fashion Show featuring the latest children’s styles in the Grand Foyer. The show is part of SPA's annual "Family Fun Series".

For more information, call 713.227.4442 or log onto www.spahouston.org.

THE “SOLO ZYDECO FESTIVAL” IS COMING TO HUMBLE.

Solo Productions is presenting the “Solo Zydeco Festival” from 11am until 10pm on Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9 at the Humble Civic Center Arena, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway. The Festival is a fun, family-friendly event that draws not only the top zydeco talent, but also thousands from across the Gulf Coast region and beyond. The Festival is bursting at the seams with a three-day, all-star lineup featuring the best and hottest zydeco bands from Texas and Louisiana. The Festival also features an array of vendor-provided food and beverages, professional services and products, arts and crafts, attractions for children, two-step and accordion contests, and giveaways. Tickets are $15/Adults ($25 for two days) and $5/Kids ages 6 to 12. It’s free for kids 5 and under and there are group rates available.

For more information, call 713.204.8800 or log onto www.solozp.com.

DON'T LET SPRING BREAK SNEAK UP ON YOU -- SIGN YOUR KIDS UP FOR CAMP AT THE HOUSTON GYMNASTICS ACADEMY (HGA).

It's always bouncing at the Houston Gymnastics Academy and this spring break they are offering a "Colossal Camp" experience. The camp runs from March 17-21 and is for 3-12 year olds (potty trained please!) from 9am until 3pm. Kids can choose from gymnastics and dance camps and after care is provided from 3-5:30pm for an extra $20. The camps are $50/day for members ($200/week) and $60/day for non-members ($250/week). Campers will enjoy gymnastics, arts and crafts, open gym, the "pit", an inflatable, zip line, and more! Lunch is provided each day.

For more information, call 713.668.6001 or log onto www.houstongymnastics.com.

SIGN YOUR KIDS UP NOW FOR THE JOHN COOPER SCHOOL IN THE WOODLANDS' SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS.

The John Cooper School 2008 Summer Program, now in its 15th year, is for students PreK-12th grade who will participate in exciting and enriching summer experiences from June 2-July 11. Summer Program classes and camps are open to all children regardless of school affiliation. The sessions are as follows:

Discovery Camps:
Session I: June 9 - 20
Session II: June 23 - July 3

Academic/Enrichment classes:
Lower School: June 9 - 20
Middle & Upper School: June 9 - 27

Adventure and Robotics classes: June 2 - July 3

Fine Arts: June 9 - July 3

Recreational Activities & Sports: June 2 - July 3

For more information, call 281.367.0900 or log onto www.johncooper.org.

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

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