Gish Picks: Week of April 7, 2010

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WHAT'S NEW THIS WEEK?

Portraits aren't just for pets! Join Danny Clark Photography at Hollywood Frame Gallery this Saturday for Pet Portraits from 10am-5pm -- call 713.942.2272 for details and to reserve a time. And special this month, the studio is waiving portrait fees all April, so make an appointment today! Danny spent time with me last week getting some great headshots and I loved his relaxed style and high quality of work. Come see his work for yourself on Wednesday, April 21 at the studio, located at 2427 Bartlett. I'll be there from 6-8pm talking about summertime fun (RSVP and see more details here) and you’ll be able to get exclusive studio specials all evening. Danny will be giving away copies of THE SUMMER BOOK to the first ten responders and I'll have plenty on hand to sell that night. Let’s have some fun and learn how to THRIVE (not just survive) in summer!

THADDEUS REX ROX THE HOUSE

Thaddeus Rex is rocking into town this Saturday, April 10, 6pm for a show at the Centrum as part of the Cypress Creek FACE Family Series. Rex got his start in a Las Vegas Borders Bookstore and is now a PBS veteran and award-winning singer/songwriter, thus proving that what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay there! Described as “part Monty Python, part Dr. Seuss,” Rex uses books as a springboard for music that encourages his young fans around the country to “Read Like A Rock Star!!” Once a one man show, now a one man/one dinosaur show, Thaddeus Rex blends the energy of rock with the sensibility of folk and his special brand of interactive “Rock ‘em Sock‘em Songs” have earned him a loyal following. He travels the country non-stop, readin', rockin', and even promotin' an ongoing, online writing contest that’s been dubbed “a…kiddie take on American Idol” (New York Magazine). Join Thaddeus for his awesome celebration of words!

The Centrum is located at 6823 Cypresswood Drive. Tickets are $15/adult, $12/senior and $8/children & students.

KTRU’S 19TH ANNUAL OUTDOOR SHOW IS FOR EVERYONE

Rice University’s KTRU-FM 91.7 is one of my favorite radio stations because you never know what you’ll get when you tune in – it could be electronic, Africana, or, if it’s Saturday between noon and 1pm, their kids’ show. This Saturday, April 10, from noon-10pm, they’re hosting their 19th annual “Outdoor Show” on the Rice campus. Bring the whole family and enjoy a picnic on the lawn while listening to hours of music. Kid music teacher and musician Rachel Buchman will be performing at noon with her Homemade Band and the lineup also includes Rafter, Fat Tony, Ghost Mountain, Wasp and Pear, Space City Gamelan, and Office Party. While on the campus, check out “Sometimes in My Dreams I Fly,” an exhibition of cool extraterrestrial-looking art by Romanian artist Andrea Dezsö at the university’s Rice Gallery, which is open 11am-5pm.

Rice University has several entrances and visitor lots (all of which require credit card payments) so once you’re on the campus, look for signage for the show – it’s in the quad between RMC, Brochstein Pavilion, and Herring Hall. The Outdoor Show is free and open to the public.

CATCH THE SOUNDS OF THE SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR ONE NIGHT ONLY!

This Friday, April 9, 8pm in Jones Hall, Society for the Performing Arts will present the Soweto Gospel Choir in a very special show. The vibrant, two-time Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir, praised by The New York Times for music that is, “both meticulous and unstoppable,” is coming to Houston for one night only. With glorious voices, rich harmonies and dance-in-your seat rhythms, the dynamic young singers will perform traditional and contemporary gospel music, and, adding its own unique feel and interpretation, tunes made famous by internationally known musicians. The 52-member choir is made up of the best singers from various Soweto churches and will sing in six of South Africa’s 11 languages, all while dressed in colorful costumes.

Tickets are $22-$52 and group discounts are available.

THIS WEEK'S ATTRACTION...THE HOUSTON RAILROAD MUSEUM. For more attractions, go to www.gishcreative.com/attractions.htm.

“Bluegrass by the Tracks” is happening this Saturday from 11am-6pm at the Houston Railroad Museum, my recommended attraction for this week. The museum's collection includes a wide variety of artifacts, including signals, time tables, correspondence, lanterns, coffin carts and a huge neon sign that once stood atop Houston's now-demolished Grand Central Station. The Museum's unique rail collection includes locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars and cabooses – all available for kids to climb on and learn more about. This weekend’s bluegrass festival is a benefit concert for the Museum that will include music by the Lonestar Bluegrass Band, Digger Davis and Tombstone, and Texas Harmony. There will be a flea market, model trains, guided Museum tours, food and drink and pickin’ and jammin’ for those that want to join in.

The Museum is located at 7390 Mesa Road and admission is $8/adults, $3/kids 3-12 years old. Museum admission is included in that price.

STUBDOG IS GIVING AWAY FREE TICKETS FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR! REFER FRIENDS TO WIN!

Win tickets for an entire year! StubDog.com is giving one lucky winner a FREE pair of tickets, each month, for an entire year. Here is your chance to see the hottest upcoming events in Houston on their dime. Music, Theatre, Sports, Comedy, Festivals, Family Fun Shows and much more can be yours for FREE.

It has always been their goal to provide you with great opportunities to experience all that Houston has to offer. StubDog has grown mostly by word of mouth thanks to people like you telling your friends about them. That is why StubDog wants to reward you for all of your help. So tell a couple of your friends, co-workers, family members and anyone you think might be interested in great deals on great events.

Don’t miss this amazing opportunity! Someone has to win... why shouldn’t it be YOU?

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE HOSTS A RECEPTION HONORING THE FACE FOUNDATION

You are invited to a cocktail reception for the Face Foundation tomorrow, Thursday, April 8, from 6:30-8:30pm. The Face Foundation offers free plastic surgery to victims of domestic violence. Its founder, Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Russell Kridel, is a nationally recognized facial plastic surgeon who represents all facial plastic surgeons in the United States through the American Medical Association. Special guest Dr. Neal Sadick, a New York-based dermatologist, is Christian Dior's global representative. The event is a meet and greet reception and gourmet cuisine is being donated by Haute Box Meals. PaperCity is covering the event for their social pages.

For more information call 713.522.2438 or email karencreativeoutsourcing@msn.com.

GISH PICKS is a free weekly email in which 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. 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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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 and children together), marketing, historic preservation, art classes, and activism. All of these services can be tailored for any audience and budget.


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 Designed by West of the World