WHAT'S NEW THIS WEEK?

Everyone's headed out of town but you're broke? Then I recommend a "staycation" for your family as a way to change your scenery without breaking the bank. There are plenty of places to stay as a local tourist; here are a few I recommend. For your first stop, head west on the Katy Freeway to the new $500 million, 37-acre CITYCENTRE development adjacent to Town & Country Village. The Centre’s Miami flair has transformed the area into a dazzling, pedestrian-friendly epicenter of cool with an array of sleek restaurants surrounding a large central plaza. Drop your keys at Hotel Sorella and enjoy the scene and the cuisine, including Brio, Straits, Cyclone Anaya’s, Eddie V’s, RA Sushi and Alex Brennan-Martin’s Bistro Alex. La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa in Conroe offers just the right mix of amenities to keep both adults and kiddos occupied – a 3.5-acre Aqua Park with sandy beach, five swimming and activity pools plus the Lay-Z River Rapids and 300 slip marina, not to mention golf, tennis, racquetball, and even mini golf! Nearing its 30th anniversary, La Colombe d’Or is one of Houston’s real gems and a Montrose landmark. Billed as one of the world’s smallest luxury hotels, its handful of rooms – all recently renovated as part of a major property refurbishment – and villas are probably each larger than your first apartment. Enjoy a stroll down Lower Westheimer and through its many quaint and cool shops – and be sure to divert down side streets to explore some great turn-of-the-century architecture. Only thirty minutes north of downtown is the Woodlands Conference and Resort Center where you can enjoy spa services and golf alongside family fun at the Forest Oasis Waterscape that boasts a double helix water slide, hidden treasures at an underwater island, and family-friendly "dive-in" movies all summer. And finally, to REALLY get out of town, head to Galveston for an easy escape! There are plenty of hotels and beach houses that beckon...I can hear the surf now!

BAYOU FUN FOR KIDS

Enjoy historic Buffalo Bayou with your kids this Saturday, June 5, from 10am-5pm with their special annual “KBR Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou,” hosted by Buffalo Bayou Partnership. This is a great chance for your kids to enjoy the downtown section of our largest bayou (55 miles long from downtown to Katy!) and one of my favorite family activities, boat rides on the bayou. Activity stations will include a showcase of bayou animals and insects, wildflower seed ball making, sun prints, recycling crafts, crab marsh, and numerous other hands-on activities from over 25 Houston nonprofits. The event’s highlight will be bird shows (eagles, hawks, falcons) by the Last Chance Forever Raptor Rescue organization and there will be wetland hikes, pontoon boat rides, kayaking demonstrations, and much more. The day will start out with skateboarding demos at 10am, break dancing at 10:30am, and Japanese drumming at 11:30am, followed by an appearance by CLUTCH of the Houston Rockets and the folks at Radio Disney.

The event is free and open to the public and there is free parking available at City Lots H and C (Memorial Drive between Sabine Street and Houston Avenue).

THIS WEEK'S ATTRACTION...CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM. For more attractions, go to www.gishcreative.com/attractions.htm.

What better way to get your children’s attention than to take them to a museum that became infamous with exhibitions of dyed bread and roaches? I take my kids to the Contemporary Arts Museum from time to time and I recommend it for your family, but suggest that you check the schedule first if you’re concerned about content (their “Family Days” are your best bet). The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston was created by seven dedicated Houstonians who opened its doors in 1948. Its mission was to be a non-collecting institution dedicated to presenting the best and most exciting international, national and regional art. These days, the Museum presents new and emerging current art in its main gallery and edgier “Perspectives Gallery,” while complimenting these shows with lectures and artist talks, original publications, cocktail parties, musical performances, and cool events like “Steel Lounge,” a party with live dj’s. They also host a Teen Council that organizes interesting events for youth, such as their annual film festival. This Sunday, June 6, from 1-4pm, the Museum is presenting a “Family Day” inspired by their current exhibition “Hand+Made: The Performative Impulse in Art and Craft.” Kids can enjoy limitless creative fun through hands-on art activities; all activities are free and art supplies are provided.

Curious about the roaches and dyed bread? Early exhibitions at the Museum’s shiny corrugated metal building (and which opened when the Museum moved there in 1972) boasted a piece by artist Ellen van Fleet which focused on life cycles and included dozens of live pigeons, cats, mice, rats and roaches and, later, they hosted a giant sculpture created from dyed loaves of bread by Spanish artist Antoni Miralda. Art pushing boundaries is what contemporary art, and the Contemporary Arts Museum, is all about. I doubt you’ll see any more roaches or bread, but you may catch a huge dripping nose like we did several years back (thanks, Art Guys!) or other pieces that will light your and your kids’ imaginations.

The Museum is free and open to the public and its hours are Tuesdays/Wednesdays/ Fridays/Saturdays, 10am-5pm; Thursdays, 10am-9pm; and Sundays, noon-5pm.

ENJOY "NATIONAL TRAILS DAY" THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 5.

I present lots of talks on summertime fun and one of the recommendations I always give parents is to get their kids outdoors -- even in Houston, even in the summer! This Saturday is “National Trails Day®”, a celebration of trails that evolved from the report of President Ronald Reagan's President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. In 1987, the report recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps. The recommendation, dubbed Trails for All Americans, became the impetus behind several public and private parties joining American Hiking Society in launching National Trails Day® in 1993. The United States has 200,000 miles of trails which allow us to access to the natural world for recreation, education, exploration, solitude, inspiration, and much more. Hiking trails provides us with a chance to breathe fresh air, get our hearts pumping, and escape from our stresses.

Perhaps you are lucky enough to have a trail near your house -- but if not, I suggest you look for nature around you and create your own "trail" of sorts with any patch of green you can find. We found a creek near my Galleria area neighborhood -- when we go there, we feel like we're in a completely different world and we get connected to nature, to ourselves, and to the greater universe. It takes creativity to enjoy outdoor Houston in the summer, but Houston Wilderness can help you out. Your best bet is to visit spots in the early morning or late afternoon and evening and be sure to bring plenty of bug spray, water, snacks, and sunscreen. Happy Trails to you!

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

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