Gish Picks: Week of August 25, 2010

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WHAT'S NEW THIS WEEK?

I have a friend that is a fan of rescue dogs and, in particular, golden retriever rescues. Because of her, I have learned to love them myself and a local organization called Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue. GBGRR is an organization dedicated to providing shelter, veterinary care, and comprehensive evaluations for homeless, stray, abandoned, abused, and neglected golden retrievers. It's an all-volunteer nonprofit peopled by dog lovers of all kinds. This Saturday night, August 28 from 6-8pm, you can join them and meet mystery author and dog rescuer David Rosenfelt who will present Dog Tags, the latest novel in his Andy Carpenter series, featuring a smart-mouthed attorney and his beloved rescued golden retriever Tara. David is passionate about goldens and rescue and he and his wife (who have adopted two GB seniors) share their California home with around 30 senior and special needs dogs. He's a great speaker, so you're in for a treat! The evening will also feature a delicious buffet provided by Bayou City Seafood and Pasta, a fun raffle and a silent auction. The event takes place at the historic French Alliance at 425 Lovett Boulevard in Montrose and the sponsors are Murder by the Book, Chris Mannery of Bayou City Seafood and Pasta, Chef's Buddiez, and Diego Montoya of Subaru of America. The suggested donation is $10, quite a steal for all that food and fun!

NO FLEAS IN THEIR MARKET

Traders Village is closing out their “Summer Concert Series” this weekend with The Buck Yeager Band (Country) on Saturday, 8/28 and Mango Punch with Walter Suhr (Latino) on Sunday, 8/29. The concerts begin at noon in their new 50,000-square-foot covered Gray Expo building at Traders Village, rain or shine. Traders Village opened in 1989 and is home to thousands of shops in their “Flea Market” and also features storage units, an RV park, and ongoing festivals such as the concert series. Upcoming festivals include “The 12th Annual Village Bluegrass Festival” (9/18-9/19); “The 10th Annual Volks in the Village Volkswagen Show” (9/26) and “The 12th Annual Halloween Boo Bash for Kidz” (10/23). Known nationally as the largest weekend flea marketplace, you can find family fun every weekend because the staff serves up a state fair-style menu of food and drinks for all ages and kiddie rides and games. I loved Flea Markets as a kid and this one is no exception. Give your kids a little spending money and have a ball finding good deals – you can even teach them the fine art of bartering!

Admission is free and it’s $3 to park. Traders Village is located at 7979 North Eldridge Parkway near Highway 290.

MARKET SQUARE IS REBORN

This is exciting news for those of us who are preservationists and fans of downtown Houston (hopefully that includes you and your family!). This Saturday, August 28, the Houston Downtown Management District is hosting the Market Square Park Grand Re-opening. The newly re-designed park will now feature Niko Niko's Greek Cafe, gardens, lots of shade and the most amazing dog runs in town. From 2-6pm, there will be dog activities sponsored by the Houston Dog Park Association, Historic District Tours sponsored by Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, and a “Meet & Greet” with Dimitri Fetokakis of Niko Niko's who’ll be offering free coffee samples (if you’ve never met and greeted Dimitri, you’re in for a treat!). At 6pm, there will be a Ribbon Cutting with Mayor Annise Parker followed by musical performances by singer/songwriter Andrew Karnavas and The John Evans Band.

The Downtown Redevelopment Authority and the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department have spearheaded the redesign that gives the urban green space a much-needed makeover. Art installations are a major component of the park's redesign and the work in Market Square Park is a collaboration of artists coordinated by DiverseWorks. Those same artists – Richard Turner, Paul Hester, James Surls and Malou Flato – played a role in the redesign, along with newcomer Ketria Scott.

The grand re-opening is free and open to the public.

THE THEATRE DISTRICT IS HOPPING THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday, August 29 from noon-4pm is your chance to check out all that our Theater District has to offer. Visit the Alley Theatre (615 Texas Avenue), Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (800 Bagby), Wortham Theater Center (501 Texas Avenue) and Jones Hall (615 Louisiana), for all kinds of family fun, including performances on stage at all 4 of the Theater District's venues, backstage tours, a costume trunk, an instrument petting zoo and much more. Grab an event program when you arrive and check out what's happening throughout the day and you can take a Capital One Bank Trolley from venue to venue all day long. The day ends with a free Houston Symphony concert starting at 4 pm at Jones Hall.

There will also be an opportunity to purchase the best season package deals of the year to member performing arts organizations. Those organizations include Alley Theatre, Da Camera of Houston, Houston Ballet, Gexa Energy Broadway at the Hobby Center, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Symphony, Society for the Performing Arts, Theatre Under The Stars and Uniquely Houston.

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

The Rothko Chapel is a quiet place to bring kids when slower reflection and an escape from the noise and heat are needed. I don’t recommend bringing squirmy, busy younger ones but kids 6 and up will probably be able to appreciate all that is Rothko Chapel. The Chapel was founded by John and Dominique de Menil in 1971 as an intimate sanctuary available to people of every belief. Mark Rothko, one of the most influential American artists of the mid-century, was commissioned by the de Menils and given the opportunity to shape and control the chapel’s environment to encompass a group of fourteen paintings he especially created for this meditative space. He worked closely with the original architect Philip Johnson on the plans, then with Howard Barnstone and Eugene Aubry who completed the building. The Rothko Chapel and Barnett Newman’s sculpture, “Broken Obelisk,” facing the Chapel and dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., have achieved world recognition as examples of the greatest artistic achievements of the second half of the twentieth century.

As an institution, the Rothko Chapel functions as chapel, a museum and a forum and I think a great way to introduce your kids to the Chapel is either by attending a special event or by bringing them to the grounds first and letting them climb nearby trees (something my boys LOVE to do) and perhaps even having a picnic in the Menil Park nearby. Upcoming events that you and your family could attend include the “Museum District Day” on Saturday, September 25 from 2-6pm.

The Chapel is located at 3900 Yupon Street in Montrose and is open daily from 10am-6pm (including holidays). There is no admission fee.

KICK OUT THE SUMMER WITH "SPIN 6"!

Want to be a part of the best end of summer party around? Houston Center for Photography is partnering with Buffalo Bayou Partnership to wrap up the summer and have some fun! This Friday, August 27 between 8 and 11pm, head over to HCP at 1441 W. Alabama for live music, great drinks, and awesome food all in one place! Plus, they are creating an exhibition with audience participation -- that night they will have your summer photos and stories installed in their galleries for all to see and enjoy. How did you spend your summer? Did you go to a far off land? Did you spend your summer in Houston? Let them know! You can send them your pics and stories any time before August 27 to be included in the exhibition to info@hcponline.org with "Submission for SPIN 6" in the subject line. And if you don't want to submit your pictures early, bring them along to the party! They will add pictures to the exhibition throughout the night.

Tickets to SPIN 6 are $15 -- see you there!

GISH PICKS is a free weekly email in which I highlight family-oriented cultural events, products or services. Please note that I "highlight" 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.

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Sarah Gish Gish Creative 1940-A Fountainview, PMB 116 Houston, Texas 77057 phone/fax: 713.482.7065 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