Gish Picks: Week of March 25, 2009


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 promote 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. I am a journalist and I work with the media when marketing my clients, so this week's news of layoffs at the Houston Chronicle moved me to the point of wanting to acknowledge it in this forum. I hope that my friends at the Chronicle land on their feet and are able to open new doors with this news. I wish them the best of luck with what lies ahead. May each of you find glimmers of hope in these trying economic times – I feel that it’s more important now than ever to enjoy cultural activities as a respite! Take time to breathe deeply, forget your worries, and enjoy all that this city has to offer us!

ART IN THE PARK.

This weekend is the 12th annual “Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park” from Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29, 10am-6pm all three days. This festival is an art lover’s treat and even has a “Creative Zone” for kids. The annual, juried, fine art event has an outdoor gallery brimming with 300 artists working in 19 artistic media. Adding to the festive outdoor gallery are wine cafés, restaurants, Broadway in Houston’s Broadway Café, and a performing arts stage with on-going multicultural musical and dance entertainment presented by The Houston Arts Alliance. The Festival is put on by the Art Colony Association and is an outgrowth of the original Westheimer Arts Festival that began in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood in 1971. The Festival is now ranked among the top 3 fine arts festivals in the nation.

Admission is $10 and free for children 12 and under. There is no parking at Memorial Park so there are free shuttles from Northwest Mall on all 3 days and from downtown on Saturday and Sunday (parking fees apply). No pets or animals as per City of Houston Ordinance.

“BROTHER TADPOLE” HITS THE BIGTIME!

Take the brilliant mind of Croatia–born, Houston-based concert pianist/mother/piano teacher/composer/rock electronic keyboard player Dr. Loreta Kovacic and combine it with her cartoons, a band called the Lude Wiggs, and almost 30 cast members…and you have “Brother Tadpole”! “Brother Tadpole” started out as a series of cartoon books about some imaginary creatures who live in the grand country of Balvaria…the theme morphed into a series of songs about bunnies, cows, Cyclops, and subjects like peace and peaceful resolution of conflict. It eventually wound up as a musical that will be debuted at Discovery Green this Saturday, March 28 at noon. Bring your family and enjoy the witty story of hardworking cows and cute little bunnies and fun loving Cyclops and many other incredible creatures all dancing and singing to original music by Loreta. I’ve heard the cast’s favorite piece is the “Cyclops Dance” because seeing the world through the Cyclops’s eye can improve our lives. There’s no telling what you’ll encounter during “Brother Tadpole” but I guarantee it will be FUN!

VISITING GALVESTON NEVER MEANT SO MUCH.

In case you haven’t heard the news: Galveston is BACK! Six months after the ravages of the third largest hurricane in our country’s history, the city is rebuilding and ready for you to come. Events are back on calendars and venues have been repaired and re-opened, so I recommend going to the beach to support the city that’s always been there for us and that, after Ike, I realized I took way too much for granted. There’s a host of indoor and outdoor attractions that are up and running, including Stewart Beach for families; Galveston Island State Park (only the park’s north side is open); Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark; The Lone Star Flight Museum; Moody Gardens; and historic spots like the Strand and the 1894 Grand Opera House. This Saturday, March 28, from 5–8pm, “Music Night on the Strand” will take place at Saengerfest Park (23rd and Strand Streets) – this is an event that takes place every third Saturday of the month through September (weather permitting) that features Houston-area bands as well as local talent. And next month, the “Grand Kids’ Festival” will be at the Opera House on Saturday, April 4 from 10am-5pm and “FeatherFest 2008,” Galveston Island’s annual nature festival, is coming to town that same weekend.

SPEND QUALITY, ARTSY TIME WITH YOUR KIDS.

This weekend I am leading a special workshop for families and parent (or caregiver)/child pairs. In this focused art workshop, parents will learn how to encourage their children to follow their heart, kids will learn about what makes them sing, and the family group will get to make a piece of art together. Join me at Body Mind & Soul this Saturday, March 28 from 2-4pm; for more information, click here. This is a great way to connect with children and also to get in touch with your inner ARTIST. I'd love to see you there!

Sign up early, as class size will be limited. It's $30 per pre-registered parent/child pair (children 6-10 years old, please); $35 for walk-ups. If you have more than one child you will be bringing, please add $5/child. Each attendee will receive a $25 gift certificate for Hollywood Frame Gallery.

LET THE WORLD KNOW ABOUT THE MILESTONES OF YOUR LIFE WITH "CELEBRATIONS".

The Houston Community Newspapers and the Examiner Newspaper Group are thrilled to announce a new community communications feature called “Celebrations”. It's the easiest way for you to share the important moments of your life with the 1 million readers of their newspapers! Their self-service system allows you to publicize the momentous events and accomplishments of you or your loved ones at an affordable price. Whether you are celebrating a birth, a wedding, or anything in between, it has never been easier to get the word out!

"Celebrations" offers a variety of styles and packages at affordable prices. All announcements are published weekly in the local paper(s) of your choice and online for 30 days, which is a great way to keep your out-of-town relatives and friends in the loop. Detailed guides and samples take you through this easy process. And, as always, personal assistance is a phone call or email away. What better way to share your celebrations!

For more about my marketing company, Gish Creative, and the services we offer, please click here. You are on this list because I thought this e-newsletter would be helpful to you or because you signed up for it. However, if you want off this list, click here and you're a goner. Please feel free to tell your friends to subscribe by clicking here.

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 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 summertime fun, passion-finding (for adults, children, and parents helping their children), marketing, historic preservation, art classes, and activism. 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 © 2009 Sarah Gish Designed by West of the World