Gish Picks: Week of May 12, 2010

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WHAT'S NEW THIS WEEK?

May is National Preservation Month 2010 and “Old is the New Green!” is the theme as designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which founded the month to encourage saving our history around the country. I’m excited because Houston is celebrating by actively creating ways to get more historic. I’m on the education subcommittee of the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission and we’ve been working on a new site for citizens about preservation which will include online walking tours of historic neighborhoods, information on our preservation ordinance, city sites that are threatened/saved/lost, workshops on preservation, preservation news and much more. Check it out starting next week: www.houstonpreservation.org. Our new Mayor has moved quickly to put historic preservation on the city’s radar by creating the Mayor’s Task Force on Historic Preservation whose goal is to study and strengthen the current preservation ordinance currently in place – it helps that her home is historic as she understands that our ordinance definitely needs more teeth! Any progress on that Task Force will most likely be reported on the city’s new site.

Upcoming preservation-related events include a special City Council meeting next Tuesday, May 18, 2pm at City Hall to present the Mayor's Award for Historic Preservation to Kelly Trammell, one of the founders of Preservation River Oaks. I’ll be there and the public is invited, so I hope you’ll join me! And there is an instructional window repair workshop on Saturday, May 22, 9am-noon, that will teach homeowners how to weatherize and repair their historic windows. Having your home or other property designated as a protected landmark by the city gets you tax abatements – so if you think your home is eligible, call the very helpful City of Houston Preservation Officer, Randy Pace, at 713.837.7796, who can let you know if the designation is worth pursuing.

Let’s all make history this month!

HOUSTON BOYCHOIR SPRINGS INTO SPRING.

The Houston Boychoir Spring Concert takes place this Sunday, May 16 at 4pm at the Moores Opera House and it’s going to be a fully staged musical in the tradition of the Vienna Choir Boys. All three of the Houston Boychoir ensembles will perform: the Preparatory Choir, the Chamber Choir and the Men of the Houston Boychoir, an alumnae group. The highlight of the concert will be the fully staged, abridged version of the beloved family musical, “Oliver,” by Lionel Bart.

Originally known as the Singing Boys of Houston, HBC began in 1962, as established by Houston Independent School District. Today, HBC is an independent arts organization, developing boys’ voices throughout the Greater Houston area and creating avenues for performance locally, nationally and abroad. Today men from the Houston Boychoir can be found singing professionally in the Houston Grand Opera Chorus, with the Houston Bach Society, with VOX: The Rob Seible Singers, with the Houston Chamber Choir and Cantare.

As ambassadors for Houston, the acclaimed Houston Boychoir has performed across the state, throughout the country (including a debut at Carnegie Hall in 2008) and around the world (England, Germany, China, and Mexico to name just a few countries).

The HBC organization includes 24 boys in its Chamber Choir and 50 boys in the Preparatory Choir. Choirs meet in two convenient locations and auditions are held throughout the year at various locations across the city. The choir takes boys from a diverse set of experiences to develop their skills and talent as choristers while nurturing a love of music and appreciation of all the arts within each child.

Tickets are $7/advance and $10/door or you can email tickets@houstonboychoir.com.

ANIMALS ARE THE THING THIS SUNDAY AT BAYOU BEND.

The third Sunday of each month is reserved for families at Bayou Bend. This Sunday, May 16, from 1-5pm, they are hosting “Creature Comforts,” a great day of fun and entertainment with a full line-up of activities, demonstrations, and performances throughout the home and gardens, all of which relate to animals and insects. Tours of the home’s first floor are hosted by volunteers of the Houston Junior Woman’s Club and stationed docents will be available for tours throughout the day. Refreshments will be served. Performances include Susan McDonald (performing “The Aquarium”) at 1:30pm and Tom’s Fun Band (a duo of guitar and tuba) performing “Animal Songs and More” at 3pm -- both on the Diana Terrace; Puppet Pizzazz and their “Animals of the Gardens” roaming on the grounds from 1:30-2:30pm and 3-4pm; Jacob Millwee telling stories of Aesop’s Fables and Other Animal Tales at 2:30pm and 4pm. Craft activities include butterfly mobiles and creature masks on the Diana Lawn until 4:30pm and a Folk Art Porch from 1-4:15pm.

Admission is free and reservations are not required.

PIG SCOUTS MASTER A WOLF.

“The Three Little Pigs” like you’ve never seen them before are coming to town this Saturday and next at 2pm, courtesy Express Theatre. It’s a bilingual (Spanish/English) show about three brothers…one messy, one a daydreamer and one a visionary. The brothers are “Pig Scouts” and must set up camp to earn their merit badges. It won’t be easy because their Scout Master is “Big-Bad” the Wolf! “The Three Little Pigs” teaches self-reliance, responsibility and the wisdom of following instructions -- as well as caution, observation and teamwork. This adaptation was written and directed by Alex "A.C." Gardner and the cast includes Greg Hall as Scout Master Wolf, "Pig Brothers" Phil is Nicholas Lewis, Paul is Clay Ratcliff and Pedro is played by Terren Gamble.

Express Children’s Theatre is Houston’s oldest and largest performing and arts education organization dedicated specifically to children and families. Founded in 1991 with two shows, four actors and a shoestring budget, the award-winning theatre company has presented professional, culturally diverse performing arts designed to entertain and educate. Express offers weekly performances at its 90 seat theatre in Northwest Mall (located between Hempstead Highway and 18th Street, just off 610 Loop in Northwest Houston) and their touring series brings the magic and excitement of quality theater directly to children in their schools and communities.

Tickets are $8/each and they offer group discounts.

"The Three Little Pigs" presented by Express Theatre

THIS WEEK'S ATTRACTION...FISHING AROUND HOUSTON. For more attractions, go to www.gishcreative.com/attractions.htm.

I’m not a big fisherwoman – in fact, I haven’t thrown a line more than the fingers I have on one hand – but I wanted to share information I discovered on the new Texas Parks & Wildlife "Free Fishing in State Parks" program in case you have a hankering for angling. This year-long program is designed to encourage more people to get out and enjoy fishing – a great family sport for summer! To do that, TPWD has waived the normal fishing license and stamp requirements for anyone fishing inside the property boundary of a Texas state park (note: bag limits, length limits, and other regulations will still apply, and be enforced). Fishing is available at these parks within an hour of Houston: Stephen F. Austin, Brazos Bend, Sheldon Lake, San Jacinto Battleground, Huntsville State Park, and Galveston Island. And if you’re interested in catching specific fishing-related events, check out www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/calendar/?calpage=a0210.

Happy Fishing!

NONPROFITS THAT HELP AT-RISK YOUTH.

I keep a file of nonprofits I want to promote through GISH PICKS and when rummaging through it today, I found three fliers on organizations to which I tip my hat for their work with at-risk youth. I hope that you’ll click through to learn more about each one and perhaps support them with your time, talent or treasure. I feel so blessed to have healthy, happy children and am glad to know that organizations are helping at-risk children reach a degree of health and happiness too. Giving back is a great way of sharing (and keeping!) what you have, so ponder if you can help other kids out in some way – even if it just means smiling at one.

Art Bridge is an organization dedicated to helping homeless children create works of art, ROYALTY was created to save young women from domestic violence and the Cathedral At-Youth Risk Project (ARY) just celebrated ten years of assisting families with children in emergency situations.

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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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