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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Now, GO FIND FUN!

ROCK IT ON THE BOARDWALK.

Wind up your summer season with Kemah Boardwalk’s annual summer event, “Rock the Dock.” Free concerts featuring a variety of bands, including rock and roll, pop, Cajun, and blues are held on the Plaza starting at 6:30pm each week.

Here’s a schedule of what’s to come:

August 6: THE REDS – Reds Rock & Roll

August 13: TEXAS UNLIMITED BAND – Rock / Pop

August 20: A-RIVAL – Houston’s Rock Alternative / Dance Band

August 27: EZRA CHARLES & THE TEXAS BLUES BAND – Rockin’ Piano Man and Blues Band

Kemah Boardwalk, a 40-acre entertainment complex, was developed by Landry's Restaurants, Inc. and offers themed restaurants, the Boardwalk Inn hotel, amusement rides, a water park for kids, mid-way games and retail shops. The Boardwalk’s two newest attractions include The Boardwalk Bullet, a 96-ft. tall wooden rollercoaster and a multi-level carousel. Kemah suffered serious damage during Ike, but has been rebuilt and is back to pre-Ike conditions with the addition of brand new structures.

GET YOUR TOES TAPPING WITH THIS ONE.

The Royal Academy of Fine Arts' Broadway Studio Workshop presents “Footloose” this weekend August 7, 8, and 9 (Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm). Performances will take place at The Oliver Theatre located at RAFA - CentrePointe at 17170 Mill Forest Road in Webster. The hit movie starring Kevin Bacon was made into a Broadway musical, full of favorite tunes from the film, including 'Holding out for a Hero', 'Let's Hear It for the Boy' and of course, 'Footloose'. Students from Clear Lake, Houston, Pearland, Friendswood, Deer Park and La Porte appear in this production of "Footloose".

RAFA's Broadway Studio Workshop is an advanced musical theatre program designed for the "triple threat" performer focusing on the combined skills of music, theatre and dance. BSW provides professional level training for the more experienced theatre student ages 18 and under through auditioning, rehearsing and performing popular musical theatre pieces. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts also offers classes in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre and hip hop to ages 3 to adult at both the Webster/Clear Lake and Pearland locations.

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

If you saw “Food, Inc.”, you may have made a pact to start choosing fresher food for and with your family, like we did. It might take more time, but it’s certainly worth it – not only for the quality of the produce but also for the environmental impact. Shopping in season is how it used to be done – there’s no need to buy tomatoes that have been genetically engineered or traveled 1500 miles!

Here are some farmers’ markets I recommend; thanks to the Greater Houston and Convention and Visitors’ Bureau for this list:

• Bayou City Farmers' MarketUrban Harvest's Bayou City Farmers' Market offers locally-produced vegetables, fruits and farm products once a week.
  3000 Richmond
  Saturdays, 8am-12pm, rain or shine
  
  
• Canino's Produce (713.862.8866)
  Family-owned and operated for over 35 years, Canino's is a favorite of local chefs.
  2520 Airline Drive
  Open every day 6am-8:30pm
  
  
• Central City Co-Op
  This self-serve co-op offers organic produce at reasonable prices.
  Wednesdays, 9am-6:30pm (2115 Taft Street/Taft Street Coffee House)
  and Sundays, noon-4pm (1500 McKinney/Discovery Green)
  
  
• Houston Farmers Market
  This is Houston's first Texas State Certified farmers market.
  Tuesdays 3:30-7pm (Rice University)
  and Saturdays, 8am-noon (3106 White Oak/Onion Creek Coffee House)
  
  
• Midtown Farmers Market
  Located in the parking lot of famed restaurant T'afia, there is also a cooking class at 9:30am (the class is free but requires tickets which are given out starting at 9am).
  Saturdays, 8am-noon rain or shine (3701 Travis)

And if you’re interested in picking your own produce year-round, log onto www.pickyourown.org and go for it!

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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