Gish Picks: Week of June 9, 2010

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WHAT'S NEW THIS WEEK?

I'm not a big sports person but I am always excited about World Cup Soccer and this year's match-up is no exception. Organized by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), the kick-off takes place this Friday, June 11, in Johannesburg, South Africa pitting South Africa against Mexico. I support the Houston Dynamo and how they've revitalized Houston's love for the sport. In fact, I would love to see world cup soccer here (a girl can dream, right?!). If you want the same for the 2018/2022 World Cup, go to http://www.gousabid.com/city/local/houston-tx/ and register your vote. Go Houston soccer!

WISH YOU WERE HERE AT THE MFAH!

The Museum of Fine Arts is kicking off summer vacation by taking visitors on a trip to ancient Mexico with a performance of traditional Aztec dancing, storytelling, poetry and songs tomorrow (Thursday), June 10 at 2pm in the Museum's Law Building. Throughout this cultural and educational performance, guests will learn much about the history, philosophy, language, culture, ceremony, food and art of the Aztecs.

Be sure to come back to the Museum often over the summer as they are jam-packed full of activities and fun for kids! Each month features a different theme at the MFAH: June is "Stories and Symbols in Art"; July is "Discover Faces and Places"; and August is "All about the Art of the Outdoors" which kids can enjoy alongside the Museum's varied exhibitions, from Japanese architecture and photography to work by "cowboy artist” Charles Russell.

The MFAH is also hosting "Wish You Were Here…Summer 2010 Photo Contest" -- to win, submit the best photos you have taken of friends, family, loved ones —anyone— enjoying the museum, and they will pick a winning image to use in upcoming ads for the Wish You Were Here… campaign. Strapped for cash? Check out their list of top 10 ways to enjoy the MFAH for free or almost free.

Other programs offered by the MFAH this summer include "Creation Station and Gallery Investigations"; "Sketching in the Galleries"; "Summer Storytime Tours"; "Family Tours"; "MFAH Family Packs"; "Five Paintings to See with Your Little One"; "Free Summer Movie Matinees" (with paid museum admission); "Looking Lab"; "Artful Thursdays"; "Target Free First Sundays" which include first free Sunday films; "Breakfasts and Boxed Lunches, MFAH-Style"; MFAH House Museums (Rienzi and Bayou Bend) which feature Storytime Tours and Family Art Workshops at Rienzi and "Detective Days" at Bayou Bend.

All-day parking is only $3 at the Museum's Visitor Center Garage, Bissonnet and Fannin or free across the street.

HEAD TO EUROPE ON AN OUTDOORS VOYAGE.

Pack your bags for a musical journey with the Houston Symphony as they present “European Adventure” this Thursday, June 10 at 8pm at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. With the Symphony’s Associate Conductor Robert Franz in the driver's seat, buckle your seat belts for an exciting family concert for all to enjoy! Franz leads this musical tour with tunes from all across Europe. Travel to Germany with Humperdinck's "Hexenritt" ("Witch's Ride") from "Hänsel und Gretel." On your next stop, the symphony performs Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G minor. The Hungarian Dances are a set of 21 lively dance tunes based on mostly Hungarian themes. Continue your melodic journey to Italy with the sounds of Rossini's Overture to Il barbiere di Siviglia ("The Barber of Seville") and Overture to Guillaume Tell ("William Tell"). Pre-concert activities begin at 7pm in the Fidelity Investments Plaza. The first 500 guests can take home free t-shirts as souvenirs! Pack your camera and capture your memories of this summer European Adventure!

Tickets for this show are $15/orchestra seating and free mezzanine and lawn seating. Free parking is available all around the Pavilion. For more information about The Pavilion's complete performing arts season, visit www.woodlandscenter.org.

MORE CLASSICAL MUSIC WITH THE TEXAS MUSIC FEST

The Texas Music Festival opens this weekend with two performances that are a great way to expose kids to classical music: the Festival Orchestra Celebratory Opening this Saturday, June 12, 7:30pm at the Moores Opera House (UH) and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition Final Round on Sunday, June 13, 2pm at Dudley Recital Hall (UH). The Immanuel and Helen Olshan “Texas Music Festival” is based at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston and is a summer orchestral training program with component vocal, guitar, jazz, and piano programs.

The Texas Music Festival Orchestra participants (Orchestral Fellows), chosen by competitive live and recorded auditions, are approximately 95 advanced students and young professional musicians who come from such noted music schools as New England Conservatory, the Curtis Institute, Eastman School of Music, the Cleveland Institute, and Houston’s Shepherd School of Music (Rice University) and the Moores School of Music (University of Houston). The Festival attracts participants from across the U.S., Europe, Mexico, Asia, Canada, Central and South America to become a part of the June 7– July 3 residency program on the UH campus. The Orchestral Fellows study and rehearse under the direction of an international faculty of conductors and artist/teachers who also perform on the PERSPECTIVES Series concerts, presented weekly at Texas A&M University (College Station, TX) and in the Moores Opera House at the University of Houston.

Tickets are $15/general public and $10/students and seniors. The June 13 performance is free.

THIS WEEK'S ATTRACTION...CHUNG MEI BUDDHIST TEMPLE. For more attractions, go to www.gishcreative.com/attractions.htm.

Head out to Stafford, Texas (12550 Jebbia Lane to be exact) and you’ll find a beautiful temple taking over the skyline: The Chung Mei Buddhist Temple. The Temple was built in the spring of 2001 with blessings from Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the Founder of Fo Guang Shan and the International Buddhist Progress Society (IBPS). The main building complex houses the Main Shrine, a museum and a gift shop, a library, classrooms, Zen meditation rooms, and a newly renovated tea room. Surrounding the temple is a peaceful and scenic Ch'an Garden. You can visit the temple when they have activities or just enjoy the tranquility of the temple's grounds or tea room.

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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