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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Happy Independence Day to everyone! This holiday always reminds me and my family that we are so blessed to be American citizens and to be FREE to celebrate our country's birth! Enjoy your weekend of red, white, and blue...I have given you several great ideas for how to celebrate below.

FOURTH OF JULY AT BAYOU BEND.

It’s the fourth of July weekend and Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is holding a historic celebration of the 4th that makes history fun for families. This Saturday, July 4 from 1-5pm they are presenting their third annual 4th of July extravaganza of Americana – historical performers, crafts, activities, and refreshments – and kids can make history by signing a Texas-sized reproduction of the Declaration of Independence before they leave. With its unique blend of the arts and American history, Bayou Bend is the perfect place to celebrate American freedom in style.

Here’s a list of all the great activities taking place:

• Roaming Performance
  1-4pm
  Texas Army Fife & Drum Corp
  
  
• Diana Terrace
  1:30pm
  The Houston Museum of African-American Culture
  A presentation about African-American life in the American colonies.
  
  
• Main Lawn
  2:30pm
  Paragon Brass Ensemble
  Presenting more great patriotic marches and brass band songs.
  
  
• Main Lawn
  3:30pm
  Reading of Declaration of Independence / Cake Cutting
  A ten-minute reading of the Declaration of Independence followed by birthday cake for the U.S.A. that everybody gets to share.
  
  
• Main Lawn
  4pm
  The Blue Gnus
  20’s – 30’s style American Jazz
  
  
• East Terrace
  4pm
  The Houston Museum of African-American Culture
  Encore presentation
  
  
• Diana Lawn
  1-4:30pm
  Colonial Era Soldier (Bill Covington)
  View recreation uniforms and equipment of soldiers who fought in the American Revolution and meet the man who made them.
  
  
• Main Lawn
  1-4:30pm
  Kids sign the Declaration of Independence
  
  
• Varner and Mineola Rooms
  1-4:30pm
  Craft activities including Red, White, & Blue Bracelets, Coffee Can Drums, and Watercolor Fireworks
  
  
• Visitor’s Cottage
  1-3pm
  Refreshments including lemonade, water, cookies, etc.

Bayou Bend, the historic American treasure house of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is located at 1 Westcott Street off Memorial Drive. Admission to this historic event is free.

FOURTH OF JULY AT MECA.

MECA (Multi-Cultural Education and Counseling through the Arts) presents “Independence/Independencia! 4th of July Celebration”. There’s no need to fight the crowds downtown to see the city’s fireworks, as this multicultural festival promises the best view! The Dallas based Inner City All-Stars heat up the dance floor with their New Orleans style jazz and old-school funk and the festival will also feature Houston's very own Urban Souls Dance Company. Local DJs Jason "jay¢ee" Colunga, Chris "Meshak the Bubbla" Garza, and Nibu Abraham (promoter/DJ for 90.1 KPFT's Generasian Radio) will also join the festivities. “Independence/Independencia!” is a great way to celebrate America’s cultural and ethnic diversity.

The Old Sixth Ward Fun n' Food Fest, a citywide celebration of the diverse cultures represented in the First and Sixth Wards, was the impetus for what is now known as MECA. This annual festival originated in September 1977 at St. Joseph Church. Community leader and music educator Alice Valdez was asked to develop a special program that would build upon the community spirit created by the festival and provide year round fine arts activities and alternatives for children and youth in the community. As a result, the festival organization merged with the Alternative Arts Education Program to become St. Joseph Multi-Ethnic Cultural Arts which became the nonprofit Multi-Cultural Education and Counseling through the Arts in 1979.

This event is free and open to the public, but no outside food or beverage is allowed (there will be plenty to purchase on site). “Independence/Independencia! 4th of July Celebration” takes place from 4-10pm at the Old Sixth Ward Art Park, 1500 Lubbock at Trinity.

THIRD OF JULY IN THE WOODLANDS.

American spirit takes center stage at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion with the return of the annual "Star-Spangled Salute" this Friday, July 3 at 8pm. The Houston Symphony performs an array of patriotic selections at this FREE Independence Eve celebration proudly sponsored by The Woodlands Development Company. Led by Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski, this performance ignites the Fourth of July weekend in true American style! Pre-concert activities for families begin at 6:30pm in the Fidelity Investments Plaza.

At the Star-Spangled Salute, the symphony performs a variety of traditional favorites, American classics and patriotic medleys, ending with Tchaikovsky’s ever-popular “1812 Overture” complete with cannons blasting away at the top of the hill. Selections include “American Salute,” “Oh! Susanna,” “The Yellow Rose of Texas,” “Service Medley” and “America the Beautiful.” In honor of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, the Houston Symphony also performs Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” featuring a narration of excerpts of Lincoln's great documents, including the Gettysburg Address. “Lincoln Portrait” was written by Copland as part of the World War II patriotic war effort in 1942.

All seating is general admission and beverages cannot be brought into The Pavilion.

THIS WEEK'S ATTRACTION...CHEESEMAKERS, INC. For more attractions, go to www.gishcreative.com/attractions.htm.

HERE’S SOMETHING CHEESY.

Take a tour of Cheesemakers, Inc.(CMI) in nearby Cleveland (Montgomery County)! CMI was founded by James C. Keliehor, P.E., who is originally from South Texas where he grew up on his family farm. He learned from his aunt and uncle about making dairy products such as butter, butter milk, and fresh soft cheese curds on their dairy farm. Keliehor created customized cheese formulations and produced and sold cheese ingredients to various food processors across the nation while working with Custom Ingredients, Inc. and Land O’ Lakes. CMI was born in 1997, and is now in the process of becoming a state-of-the-art cheese-making plant for the manufacture of many fresh specialty cow's milk and goat's milk cheeses in the state of Texas, including Lone Star Texas Goat Cheese and Jaimito Mexican Style Cheese. Their manufacturing plant has co-packing capabilities, pilot plant product development, label development, unique sizes and packaging options, and nutritional database and testing. A family owned and operated company, you can schedule a personal presentation given by the owner's mother, Kate Cawthon, during which you will view films and enjoy a cheese tasting with a variety of Mexican and goat cheeses.

Tours are $6. CMI is located at 2266 South Walker Road in Cleveland, Texas.

THRIFT STORES GALORE.

I recently visited the Sand Dollar Thrift Store on Yale Street in the Heights with my kids after camp one day and it was a hoot – they had a great time putting together costumes and playing with toys (and spending the $2 I gave each of them!) while I actually did some shopping! I found some great clothes for myself and friends (how can you resist a $3 dress?) and we all enjoyed a different kind of field trip. And as an avid recycler, thrift store shopping fulfills my mission of re-using items – as they say “one person’s trash is another’s treasure”! And thrift stores are a great way to save money – a necessary job anytime but particularly in this economy. The Houston Press named Value Village at 6425 Harrisburg Street as their fave pick, but I like many others as well. There’s no comprehensive website on thrift stores, but I recommend starting with CitySearch’s compilation. Happy Hunting!

"LISTEN TO YOUR BUDS".

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has launched "Listen To Your Buds," an educational campaign in conjunction with the Parents' Choice Foundation and a division of the National Institutes of Health. This campaign features an important hearing protection message for school-aged kids, delivered through music. Dozens of recording artists are signing on to be part of a national coalition of performers who will encourage healthy listening habits for kids when they use personal audio technology. People, particularly children, are at risk for noise-related hearing loss from misusing MP3 players and other devices. Check out the site with your kids and ensure they can hear for years to come.

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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