Gish Picks: Week of October 7, 2009


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 THEATRE IS FOR EVERYONE.

Here’s a great idea: “Free Night of Theater”! Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) has teamed up with the national Theatre Communications Group (TCG) initiative, where theaters around the country open their doors to new audiences free of charge. The goal of “Free Night of Theater” is to attract new and diverse audiences to nonprofit theatre, music and dance organizations – and all of us benefit!

The free performances in Houston will be this week and next, October 8-18, and will feature 20 organizations offering over 2000 seats that will include a wide selection of theatre as well as dance performances. Participating organizations include: Classical Theatre Company, DiverseWorks Artspace, Encore Players, Ensemble Theatre, Express Children's Theatre, Frenetic Theatre, Horse Head Theatre, Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, InterActive Theater, Main Street Theater, Mildred's Umbrella, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Stages Repertory Theatre, Texas Repertory Theatre, Theatre Suburbia, Theatre Under The Stars, Upstage Theatre and Voices Breaking Boundaries.

Reservations can then be made online through www.freenightoftheater.net, a site which will be continuously updated throughout the week. See a free show and then pay for others!

HELP PREVENT FOREST (AND OTHER) FIRES.

National Fire Prevention Week is coming to a close, so the Houston Fire Department and the nonprofit Houston Fire Museum, Inc. teamed together to light up “Fire Fest 2009” this Saturday, October 10, 10am-5pm, at the Jahnke Fire Training Facility next to Hobby Airport. Kids will learn about fire and life safety and good fire prevention practices from firefighters first-hand. For fun and games, there will be a giant kids’ entertainment zone, food, drinks, music, live HFD firefighting and rescue demonstrations, HFD’s unique Fire Safety Trailer, tours of HFD’s new state-of-the-art fire simulation trainer, and a barbecue cook-off.

Admission to this annual festival is free and proceeds from rides and food benefit the many programs of the Houston Fire Museum. The HFD Jahnke Fire Training Facility is located at 8030 Braniff Street on the south side of Hobby Airport. All parking will be at a lot located at Monroe and Braniff Roads, which is just north of Almeda-Genoa Road and is only a three minute bus ride from the event. Free shuttle buses operate throughout the day.

DON'T ENTER THIS SHOP ALONE.

Texas Repertory Theatre has the perfect Halloween show, "Little Shop of Horrors," on stage through October 31. Who knew florists could be so fun?! One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time, this hilarious spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies centers around a nerdy flower shop owner who begins raising a plant that feeds only on human blood. Lest you think this show isn't family friendly, don't worry: it's full of soaring pop-rock music, lovable comic characters, and the plant ends up being from outer space!

The theatre is located in northwest Houston at 14243 Stuebner Airline Road. Showtimes are Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm.

"Little Shop of Horrors" presented by Texas Repertory Theatre

THIS WEEK'S ATTRACTION...THE PORT OF HOUSTON. For more attractions, go to www.gishcreative.com/attractions.htm.

The Port of Houston is not what you’d expect – it’s actually a pleasant destination in our city which offers free public boat tours daily except for Mondays. Embarking from the port's Sam Houston Pavilion, visiting sightseers can enjoy passing views of international cargo vessels and operations at the port's Turning Basin Terminal. The 90-minute free boat tour is a great way to see up close one of the busiest ports in the world. The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located just a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico. The port is ranked first in the United States in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in the U.S. in total tonnage (more than 225 million tons of cargo moved through the Port of Houston in 2007!)

No food or drinks are allowed aboard the boat, but one drink will be given to each passenger. Note that no picnics are allowed in the pavilion.

Bon Voyage!

ANDREA WHITE INTERVIEW KICKS OFF THIS YEAR’S UH FRIENDS OF WOMEN’S STUDIES LIVING ARCHIVES SERIES.

The UH Women's Studies Program is presenting an event with Andrea White, First Lady of Houston, who will be interviewed next Wednesday, October 14 at UH Blaffer Gallery, where all "Living Archives" programs will take place for this season. The event is part of the University of Houston's "Living Archives" series and Ms. White will discuss her life as an author, community activist and wife of a prominent political figure. There will be a networking reception at 6:30pm, with the interview beginning at 7pm. The "Living Archives" program explores the history and experience of Houston women and is captured in video form to become part of the Women's Archive and Research Center at the University of Houston. Ms. White is the author of several books, most recently PS: Passionate Supporter and Political Spouse and Radiant Girl. She will be interviewed by Chitra Divakaruni, whose most recent novel is The Palace of Illusions.

Andrea White will be the first woman featured in this year’s “Living Archives” series; Sylvia Garcia, Harris County Precinct Two Commissioner and the new President of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) and University of Houston System Chancellor Renu Khator are both scheduled to appear later in the season.

The "Living Archives" event is open to the public but seating is limited. There is a $5 charge for general public and it's free to students, seniors and members of the Friends of Women’s Studies or Blaffer Gallery. Call 713.743.3214 to reserve your spot or for further details. The Blaffer is located in the UH Fine Arts Building.

THE COMPANY ONSTAGE ANNOUNCES ITS 2009-2010 CHILDREN’S THEATER SCHEDULE -- HAVE FUN!

Frosty The Snowman - by Rob Howard
November 14 - December 19, 2009

The children of Glenville love their magical walking, talking, dancing snowman, Frosty. When Magnificent Max tempts him with a place in a traveling circus, Frosty’s new friends help him make an important decision and learn the true meaning of friendship. Bring your whole family and join Company OnStage for this holiday tradition.

Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs – by Laura Williams
January 16 - February 20, 2010

Watch one of your favorite stories brought to life on the stage, with all the memorable characters: beautiful Snow White, the handsome Prince, the jealous Queen and seven kind, hard-working dwarfs. This fairy tale joyfully reminds us that kindness and compassion can overcome wickedness.

Sleeping Beauty: The Hundred Year Adventure - by Linda Daugherty
March 13 - April 17, 2010

A spell is cast over the beautiful daughter of the King and Queen. Is a prince the only one who can break the spell or will the noble squire become our hero? Come see how love overcomes all obstacles in this magical story.

Cinderella - by Laura Williams
May 8 - June 12, 2010

While the Fairy Godmother tries to protect Cinderella from her greedy Stepmother and Stepsisters, Prince Charming looks for true love with glass slipper in hand. In this delightful version of Cinderella we discover how she came to live with the Stepmother and Stepsisters and how one magical night completely changed her life. This classic story delights both the young and the young at heart.

Beauty & The Beast - by Laura Williams
July 3 - 31, 2010 (5 weeks)

When a good witch and a bad witch make a bet, a handsome Prince is transformed into an ugly beast. Can Beauty see beyond his appearance to break the spell? Come share in the enchantment of this wonderful story about love’s power to transform.

Performances are held on Saturdays at 11am and 1:30pm. Tickets are $8/each and coupon books of 10 tickets are available for $60.

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GISH PICKS, which is online (www.thesummerbook.com/gishpicks_archive.html) and in 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 and children together), 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 © 2009 Sarah Gish Designed by West of the World