Gish Picks: Weekend of April 27, 2012

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WHAT'S YOUR PICK THIS WEEKEND?

A much-beloved member of Houston’s yoga and Zen community died recently and suddenly and it prompted me to reflect. Those moments usually end up with my taking electronic pen to paper and this time was no different. Here’s what I wrote; may it inspire you to enjoy each day as it if were your last:

Slow down. Take the time to tell those you love that you love them. Hug your kids. Make up. Be kind to everyone. Laugh. Go to lunch with friends. Let go of all the little piddly things that hold you back. Say what you want to say. Work less. Enjoy the moment more. Love deeply. Find your passions. Create the life you want. Count your blessings. There is no set path -- just follow your heart.

And, now, stepping away from slowing down, there are so many things going on in our fair city, my head is a-spinnin’! One big event coming up soon is the 25th Annual Houston Art Car Parade on Saturday, May 12, 1pm. My car, HUBBA HUBBA ART CAR, will be rolling along with 250 or so other entries so I’m spiffing it up to get it all ready…think bling and mermaids! The best party of the year that celebrates Art Car-ness is the Legendary Art Car Ball on Thursday, May 10, 7-11pm. How about supporting the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art (host of the Parade) by purchasing artist tickets to the Ball from me? I’ve got them for $20 each – a $10 savings off the door fee of $30. If you’d like some, contact me by reply email; I take credit card or check payments but tickets won’t be mailed until money is received. I’d love to see you there!

A new film that changed my diet to more plant-based foods, FORKS OVER KNIVES, will be screened next Wednesday, May 2 at 7pm – I HIGHLY recommend it. Speaking of health, if your child is having trouble sleeping, I recently read that UH is opening a new Sleep and Anxiety Center for Kids (SACK).

I’m still tweeting daily about “Houston Gems” – places, people, and things that make Houston great – so follow me on twitter (www.twitter.com/sarahgish) or “like” my new Facebook page for it. All my past gems are archived there so you can grab them and EXPLORE! While you’re in Facebook land, don’t forget to slide over to my GISH PICKS site to like it too. For more explorations, my website, Gish Creative, has a list of Houston area attractions so hop on there if you’re ever looking for ideas for family fun. By the way, one of my favorite gems, KPFT-FM Pacifica Radio, has a transmitter up north that was struck by lightning in our last big storm. The bill will be substantial to repair it, so if you’d like to reach into your pockets and help out this “radio for peace,” click here to donate. They’d appreciate it.

Before I let you check out this week’s PICKS, I want to point out one that’s happening TONIGHT: it’s “The Art of Baseball” and is happening at 7:30pm in the Woodlands (events start at 5:30pm). It’ll be quite a treat with Milo Hamilton, the “Voice of the Astros”! Alrighty, it’s yet another gorgeous Wednesday (how many can we have in a row?!) so get out there and GO.FIND.FUN.

BASEBALL AND MUSIC DO MIX.

Take me out to the symphony for “The Art of Baseball” featuring the Houston Symphony tonight, April 25 at 7:30pm (events start at 5:30pm) at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. This major league event features the best music from the ballpark including “Star-Spangled Banner,” “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “National Game March.” To keep the baseball theme going, the program also includes Main Theme from “Batman,” referring to a person who steps up to the plate to hit a grand slam, “Across the Stars: Attack of the Clones,” referring to the famous Houston Astrodome, “Orange Blossom Special” and “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” relating to Minute Maid Park, and Borodin’s Symphony No. 2, Finale, referring to teamwork. The “Voice of the Houston Astros” and Hall of Famer, Milo Hamilton, joins the symphony to narrate “Casey at the Bat.” Don’t strike out and miss this lineup made of all-stars under the stars at The Pavilion. During the concert, a special live art performance takes place with art students from Conroe Independent School District and ORWALL baseball players creating a one-of-a-kind painting relating to the evening’s program. Pre-concert activities begin at 5:30pm with the “Hats Off to Reading Celebration” in the House of Blues Hospitality Tent. Other pre-concert activities in the Fidelity Investments Plaza begin at 6pm.

Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased here.

KIDS GET TO MEET CHILDREN’S AUTHOR
TRENTON LEE STEWART.

I love this series because kids get to hear first-hand what makes authors tick: “Cool Brains! Inprint Readings for Young People” presents an afternoon with bestselling children’s author Trenton Lee Stewart this Sunday, April 29, at Johnston Middle School, 10410 Manhattan Drive at 3pm (doors open at 2:30). Stewart will make a presentation about his new book The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict and will take questions from the audience. A book sale and signing will follow, giving families a chance to visit with the author.

Trenton Lee Stewart is the author of the New York Times bestselling “The Mysterious Benedict Society” series, which includes The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma, and The Mysterious Benedict Society: Mr. Benedict’s Book of Perplexing Puzzles, Elusive Enigmas, and Curious Conundrums. The series has sold over 1.5 million copies and has spent more than 85 combined weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. The stories follow four gifted kids, Reynie, Katie, Sticky, and Constance, through page-turning mysteries, mind-bending brain-teasers, and inventive journeys. He comes to Houston to read from his fifth book in the series, The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict, to be released in April, which, according to a starred Booklist review "gives readers a reason to fall in love with the series all over again...[with] adventures, danger, cleverness, dry wit, and good-hearted characters at the center of the action." The story takes readers back in time to the childhood of Nicholas Benedict, an orphan with narcolepsy who encounters vicious bullies, selfish adults, strange circumstances, and discovers a mystery that could change his life. Booklist calls it an “invigorating novel [that] stands on its own. Two hundred years after Dickens’ birth, this orphan story plays notes in a familiar key but creates its own memorable tune.”

“Cool Brains! Inprint Readings for Young People” is presented by Inprint, a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to inspiring readers and writers. Admission is free and open to the public.

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart

CHILDREN MAKE THE BEST ART.

Three organizations are presenting art by children this week and this month so I hope you’ll take the time to visit them. The first is the Children's Prison Art Project, which has the show “Art Behind Walls” at Bohemeo’s at 3801 Polk Street. Artwork from the Earth Day Houston Art Contest will be on view at the Heritage Plaza Building, 1111 Bagby Street the month of May and travelling to other venues until the end of summer. And The Watercolor Art Society of Houston is presenting "Making a Mark", a special exhibition of children’s art they created in conjunction with The Periwinkle Foundation and Texas Children’s Cancer Center Centre.

NON-VIOLENCE IS THE WAY TO GO.

There are two very cool non-violent communication workshops coming up soon that look really good. The first one is called "Communicating From the Heart" and starts this Sunday, April 29 at Unity Church. The second one is hosted by the Houston Nonviolent Community and include workshops and talks called “Communicating to Connect,” “Living Deeply in Connection,” and “The Strength of Connection.” The event starts next Thursday, May 3 and ends Sunday, May 6. Peace out!

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Sarah Gish Gish Creative 1940-A Fountainview, PMB 116 Houston, Texas 77057 phone/fax: 713.482.7065 GISH AT THE MOVIES GISH PICKS: A GUIDE TO CULTURAL ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES THE SUMMER BOOK: A GUIDE TO HOUSTON DAY CAMPS AND CLASSES FOR KIDS AND TEENS HOUSTON: OUR ROOTS ARE STRONG © 2012 Sarah Gish Designed by West of the World