Gish Picks: Week of August 13, 2008


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. 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. Do you have something you would like to promote on Gish Picks? Advertisers can promote family-friendly events, products or services to Houstonians all over the city and the surrounding area who are active parents, involved citizens and great shoppers. We love doing this community service and want to keep it free for our readers but in order to justify the hours spent researching, writing and designing this newsletter, we need advertising support. If you'd like to learn more, please click below. Now, GO FIND FUN!

THIS CIRCUS IS FOR KIDS BY KIDS.

Moody Gardens presents the "Russian American Kids Circus on Stage" at their Convention Center daily begining August 16 through August 24. There will be a 50-minute afternoon children’s matinee show at 1pm and a 90-minute evening show at 7pm. Tickets range from $6-25 and if you want to spend the night, get special deals online for the Moody Gardens Hotel.

The RA Kids Circus has transformed professional performances into a circus spectacular on theatrical stages worldwide. Trained and produced by veterans of the world famous Moscow Circus, these young artists fill the stage with a blur of spangles, dazzling audiences with their synchronized acrobatics, black lights, unicycling, expert juggling, daring aerial feats, and balancing acts. Their shows feature outrageous costumes staged under magical lighting and state of the art techniques in the hallowed tradition of the circus.

For more information, call 409.683.4186 or log onto www.moodygardens.com.

"The Wizard of Oz" presented by Houston Family Arts Center

"THE WIZARD OF OZ" IS HERE AGAIN.

Follow the yellow brick road to catch the final weekend of the Houston Family Arts Center presentation of “The Wizard of Oz” at the Berry Center Theatre, 8877 Barker Cypress Road. This classic story is adapted from the book by L. Frank Baum and will include wild special effects such as the flying witches and monkeys and other surprises. Thankfully, the production will closely resemble the original 1939 movie and includes such favorite songs as “We're Off to See The Wizard!” “If I Only Had a Brain”, “The Merry Old Land of Oz” and “If I Were The King of The Forest”.

Founded in November 2005 by a group of experienced and enthusiastic community theatre veterans, the Houston Family Arts Center offers quality theatre experiences in northwest Houston. They produce original and established works for family audiences, including drama, comedy, musical theatre, percussion, and dance while incorporating stories with moral excellence and cultural diversity.

Remaining shows are this Friday, August 15 at 7:30pm and Saturday, August 16 at 2:30pm. Tickets start at $12 and discounts are available for groups of ten or more.

For more information, call 281.664.1418 or log onto www.houstonfac.com.

END THE SUMMER WITH A LITTLE TEXAS LEARNIN'.

Here's an idea: sign the kids up for an exciting week full of Texas history! The final children's summer history week at the Fort Bend Museum will take place August 12-15. Each program is a half-day of learning and fun and you can sign up for one or all four in any combination. All programs will be offered in the morning and afternoon on alternative days. Programs are suitable for children ages 8 through 12, but younger children are allowed with parent participation. Each session is limited to 20 so it's best to reserve a spot in advance. The cost is $6 per program for non-members and $5 for members. While at the Museum, be sure to stop by the George Ranch Historical Park (www.georgeranch.org).

For more information, call 281.342.6478 or log onto www.fortbendmuseum.org.

Children's Summer History at the Fort Bend Museum

VIRTUOSI OF HOUSTON ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS FOR ITS 2008-2009 SEASON.

Talented young musicians ages 11-18 are invited to audition Friday, September 5 from 4-8pm and Saturday, September 6 from 9am-5pm at the company's Memorial City Mall Studio. Rehearsals take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Virtuosi's Studio. There will be a Concerto Competition on February 7, 2009 and three concerts: December 7, 2008; April 4 and May 9, 2009. This season Virtuosi will be performing a side-by-side concert in Jones Hall with the Houston Symphony. Tuition assistance is available.

Virtuosi was formed in 1996 to increase education and performance opportunities leading to a music profession for Houston’s exceptionally gifted middle to high school age musicians and to bring an expanded repertoire of chamber works to Houston audiences. The chamber group is smaller (55) than a typical symphony orchestra, allowing these exceptional musicians to experience increased confidence, leadership, responsibility and skill through individual attention from two world-class conductors.

For an application or more information, call 713.807.0888 or log onto www.virtuosiofhouston.org.

LEARN THE SECRETS OF THE WHITE HOUSE KITCHEN.

Hotel Granduca (1080 Uptown Park Boulevard) hosts an elegant reception this Thursday, August 14 from 6:30 to 8:30pm featuring former White House executive chef, Walter Scheib, benefiting The Brilliant Lecture Series. Chef Scheib, who served two first families from 1994 to 2005, will share with guests his experiences at the White House while serving samplings of dishes he prepared for official White House events. In addition he will be on hand to sign copies of his book, White House Chef: Eleven Years, Two Presidents, One Kitchen. The cost is $100/person.

For more information, call 713.974.1335 or log onto www.brilliantlectures.org.

JOIN ME FOR A PARENT/CHILD ART WORKSHOP AT BODY MIND & SOUL.

This Saturday, August 16 at 2pm, I’m presenting an “I Can Fly!” workshop for parents and children together. This is a great opportunity to connect with your child (or children) in a unique way: by learning what makes them sing and by creating a work of art together that you will take home. Enjoy this quiet two hours to learn concrete ways to encourage children to find their bliss. This discussion will be followed by an art activity specifically designed to reveal each person’s creativity and joy. Children will be encouraged to speak up about what makes their hearts sing!

Sign up early, as class size will be limited. $30 per pre-registered parent/child pair (children 6-10 years old, please); $35 for walk-ups. If you have more than one child you will be bringing, please add $5/child. Each attendee will receive a $25 gift certificate for Hollywood Frame Gallery.

For more information and to register, call 713.993.0550 or log onto www.bmshouston.com.

For more about my marketing company, Gish Creative, and the services we offer, please click here. You are on this list because I thought this e-newsletter would be helpful to you or because you signed up for it. However, if you want off this list, click here and you're a goner. Please feel free to tell your friends to subscribe by clicking here.

My goal is to serve as an information resource for Houston parents through my various endeavors, including:

GISH PICKS, which is online (www.thesummerbook.com/gishpicks_archive.html) and in print through the Houston Community Newspaper group (www.hcnonline.com);

THE SUMMER BOOK®: A GUIDE TO HOUSTON DAY CAMPS AND CLASSES FOR KIDS AND TEENS (www.thesummerbook.com) which comes out annually on March 1 and is sold at bookstores all over Houston, including Barnes and Noble and Borders; and

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS, PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS, AND ART PROGRAMS that cover topics such as summertime fun, passion-finding (for adults, children, and parents helping their children), marketing, historic preservation, art classes, and activism. All of these services can be tailored for any audience and budget.

The purpose of GISH PICKS is to help parents become aware of all the fun things they can do with their children in Houston and the surrounding area, so HAPPY TRAVELS! Please do give me feedback and ideas, as you are out there in the trenches also looking for interesting things for your family and I want to hear what you find. If you are having trouble getting to a website listed here, try hitting the “Ctrl” button and left-clicking on the web address, which should make it “live”.


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 © 2008 Sarah Gish Designed by West of the World