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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“National AmeriCorps Week” is May 9-16 and I want to acknowledge the great work this organization does in communities across the nation. They inspire service work – a concept near and dear to my heart. I work with the Harris County Department of Education AmeriCorps group – and I highly recommend the program to anyone! I encourage you to learn more about it.

Now, GO FIND FUN!

THIS AIN’T YOUR MAMA’S HOT PEAS AND BUTTER.

Society for the Performing Arts presents Hot Peas 'N Butter this Saturday, May 9 at 2pm at Wortham Center's Cullen Theater. Hot Peas 'N Butter is a unique children's musical group from New York that have hit videos “Number 1” and “Deep Down” on Noggin’s “Jack’s Big Music Show” and Nickelodeon’s “Move to the Music.” By combining an interactive, invigorating approach to performance with mature, multicultural music, Hot Peas 'N Butter has developed a distinct way of inspiring creativity in kids and adults alike. If you liked Dan Zanes, you’ll like these guys! In honor of Mother’s Day, kids get half-priced tickets when accompanied by mom. Or if you’d like to mix in a little Tex-Mex with your Hot Peas ‘N Butter, SPA is holding a “Fiesta Luncheon for Cherubs” before the Hot Peas N’ Butter performance, especially for members of the Cherub program. For more information about Cherub Membership ($250 per family with children ages 12 or younger, limit five people per family), call 713.632.8108. Now that’s a food group I really like!

CELEBRATE MOTHERS AND CHILDREN AT THE HOUSTON POLO CLUB THIS WEEKEND.

If you think polo is out of your league or not for you because you have kids, guess again. The Houston Polo Club kicked off their spring season a few weeks back and they’ve opened the games to members and non-members alike – tickets are only $15 (open seating) and $20 (reserved seating). To make it more fun for families, the Club has a special “Children’s Chukker” tent that will have rotating activities just for kids each week. This Sunday, May 10 at 5pm, Mother’s Day will be celebrated in a special way while kids create art under the direction of artists at Monart School of Art. Other organizations under the tent this season will be Michael Martinez Photography, the UH School of Technology Robotics Camps, and Gish Creative. Matches take place every Sunday through June 28 and start times vary based on the heat (the later in the summer, the later the start time!). Happy trails!

“KID’S PLAY: THE MUSICAL” TOMORROW NIGHT.

Tomorrow night, Thursday, May 7, Hope Stone will present “Kid’s Play” at the Jewish Community Center’s Kaplan Theater, 5601 S. Braeswood, at 7pm. Under the direction of master teachers and the creative force of renowned modern dance choreographer Jane Weiner, the 55 plus group of young artists band together to communicate to the world their version and vision of the “American Musical.” Utilizing such musicals as “Singing in the Rain”, “Sound of Music” and “Annie”, the children and teens present a tongue in cheek parody that is fun for all ages! Kid’s Play and YouthSound are the brainchild of Hope Stone’s founder Jane Weiner as a way to serve at-risk youth through the power and freedom of art.

ATTRACTION: FORBIDDEN GARDENS

Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas, is a great place to take kids to learn about Chinese culture and you can even tie the field trip into a lesson about last summer’s Olympics which took place in Beijing, China. Forbidden Gardens is an amazing outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours are about an hour and take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as the palatial compound for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Since Forbidden Gardens is mostly outdoors, it is recommended that visitors dress comfortably and in walking shoes; an umbrella, hat, and/or sunscreen are also recommended on sunny days. Forbidden Gardens will close in the event of inclement weather and it is wheelchair accessible. It’s open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only from 10am-5pm.

Tickets start at $21.50 and there are summer season passes and group discounts available.

SIGN YOUR KIDS UP FOR ROBOTICS CAMPS!

The American Robotics Academy® offers “Lego Robotics”, “Crazy Action Contraptions” and “Robots on the Rampage” summer camps. Classes are divided by age and skills level and teach students to understand "how things work" through hands-on activities that demonstrate the principles of simple and motorized machines. They gain experience with design and problem solving through the use of gears, motors, wheels and axles, pulleys, and remote control devices. Working in teams of three, students learn a variety of ways to design a robot to do the things they want it to do. They decide and build, as a team, the best design of their robot for the competition to be held at the end of each class session.

The camps are offered in several convenient locations in all areas of Houston, including Missouri City, Beaumont, Clear Lake and the Woodlands. Their two main camps are at the Gateway Academy near downtown and the Met Private School in Memorial. All American Robotics Academy® camps are designed around a curriculum that enables students to take a full day/week program or choose to enroll in just morning or afternoon classes.

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

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