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!

HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONTINUES THEIR "SATURDAYS AT CENTRAL" THIS WEEKEND WITH "INSPIRATION!"

This Saturday, April 12 at 10am, the dance department of HCC Central wraps up their season with a free kid-sized version of their annual dance concert, "Inspiration!". HCC Central Dance welcomes guest artists and choreographers in a concert honoring the great innovators in modern dance, from Isadora Duncan to Broadway's Bob Fosse to the dynamic young choreographers who will shape the future.

After the show, families can stay to meet the dancers, learn cool moves, enjoy snacks and crafts and hands-on arts activities. The performance takes place at the Heinen Theatre, 3517 Austin at Holman.

For more information or to make reservations (which are strongly recommended), please call 713.718.6570 or log onto www.centralfinearts.info.

BRENÉ BROWN AND THE HOUSTON SEMINAR PRESENT "THE GIFTS OF IMPERFECT PARENTING: RAISING CHILDREN WITH COURAGE, COMPASSION, AND CONNECTION".

Dr. Brené Brown will present a lecture on Tuesday, April 22, from 7-9:30pm at the Children's Museum of Houston, 1500 Binz Street. There will be a follow-up discussion (only for participants who have attended the April 22 lecture) on Tuesday, May 6, from 7-8:30pm, also at the Children's Museum of Houston. Based on eight years of ground-breaking research, Dr. Brown offers a new perspective of the subject of perfect parenting. She writes, "We all know that perfect parenting does not exist; however, we still struggle with the social expectations that teach us that being imperfect is synonymous with being inadequate. It's not true. It's actually our ability to embrace imperfection that will help us teach our children to have the courage to be authentic, the compassion to love themselves and others, and the sense of connection that gives true purpose and meaning to life."

Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW is an educator, writer, activist and researcher. She is a member of the research faculty at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work where she has spent the past eight years studying shame, empathy and vulnerability and how these powerful emotions affect the way we live, love, parent, work and build relationships.

To register or for more information, call 713.666.9000 or log onto www.houstonseminar.org.

SIGN UP FOR "LEMONADE DAY" IN HOUSTON.

"Lemonade Day" is a city-wide educational event designed to teach youth how to start, own and operate their very own lemonade business. Companies, schools, neighborhoods, community organizations, places of worship, and individuals all join together to help children become successful while having fun and making their own money. Mark your calendar for Sunday, May 4 for the 2nd annual "Lemonade Day" hosted by Prepared 4 Life and its many community partners (including Gish Creative). Sign up to join Jeff Bagwell along with Amegy Bank of Texas and local business leaders, community organizations, parents, teachers and young people for this historic event!

For more information, call 713.626.5437 or log onto www.lemonadeday.org.

THE HOUSTON POLO CLUB'S SPRING SEASON JUST GOT MORE FUN THIS YEAR!

The spring season of the Houston Polo Club kicks off this Sunday, April 13 at 4:30pm and they open the gates with a new dedication to family fun. The Club and Gish Creative are hosting a "Children's Chukkers" tent from 4:30-6:30pm which will provide supervision as well as fun from many organizations around the city, including (in scheduled order) Eticool School, Hope Stone Inc., Cookies in Bloom, Camp Invention, Houston School of Art and Design, Young Chefs Academy, The Light Way School, Page Parkes Corporation, Circle Lake Ranch Inc., City ArtWorks, the Downtown Aquarium, and "I Can Fly!".

The Houston Polo Club showcases the best in the sport of polo and has offered spectacular special events since 1928, including weekly tournaments each spring and fall. The spring season starts this Sunday, April 13 and runs through June 29, with matches at 4:30pm Sundays. The atmosphere is friendly and fun with people of all ages enjoying themselves and the sport of polo. The matches are open to the public and tickets are $25 (open seating) and $50 (reserved seating).

For more information, call 713.681.8571 or log onto www.thehoustonpoloclub.com.

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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