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!

KICK OFF HALLOWEEN WITH ART.

Art Mix Creative Learning Center is hosting a special free Halloween party and open house this Friday, October 23 from 4-6pm. Kids can come in costume for lots of fun at the Art Mix Studios -- storytelling, games, art activities, and cookie decorating (and eating, yum!). And their "Studio 3" will be open for pop-in art fun for kids 7 and up.

Art Mix is an art school for children ages 2-12, centrally located in Houston at 3701 West Alabama, Suite 250. In addition to regularly scheduled weekday art classes and Saturday Workshops which are offered throughout the year, Art Mix features camps throughout the Winter Holiday Season, Spring Break and Summer. Art Mix also features Pop-In Studios for children up to age 12, which are open during their business hours, 9am-6pm, Monday through Thursday, 9am-5pm Fridays, and 10am-5pm Saturdays. The cost for Pop-Ins is $15/hour.

HOPE STONE'S "VILLAGE OF WALTZ" IS DANCING ONSTAGE THIS WEEKEND.

My talented buddy Jane Weiner is at it again – her dance company, Hope Stone, is presenting her latest piece, “Village of Waltz” this Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 at 8pm at the Wortham Theater Center. The show is set completely to live music by Peter Jones with guest soprano Ana Trevino-Godfrey and musicians (and Hope Stone teachers) Chris Howard, Terrance Karn and Noel Martin. “Village of Waltz” is an artistic examination of time and the cycle of time and how we can reconcile that understanding with the enjoyment of life. Performing on stage are Hope Stone dancers/performers: Bonnie Collins, Roberta Cortes, JoDee Engle, Patrick Ferreri, Spencer Gavin Hering, Christian Holmes, Danny Magner, Lindsey McGill, Joe Modlin, Candace Rattliff, Penny Tschirhart, and Brit Wallis. Also collaborating with Weiner is Bessie award winning lighting designer Roma Flowers and set designer David Graeve. One vital part of each evening is the offering of 400 free seats to at risk children and youth from local Houston schools and after school programs, a key part of Hope Stone’s mission.

Tickets are $25/each but check out www.stubdog.com for half-price tickets.

"TRAVELER" TAKES YOU DOWN THE WINDING ROAD OF FOLK (AND OTHER) MUSIC.

If you haven’t experienced a Traveler concert, you’re missing out! This Houston-based trio (husband and wife Carol and Charlie Burrus and Andy Black) are performing a benefit concert for the First Unitarian Universalist Church this Saturday, October 24 at 7pm – the concert will be preceded by a yummy lasagna dinner at 5:30pm. Traveler will be joined on stage by friends (and family) James Metcalfe (drums), Janet Kavanagh (viola), and Howard Hendrix (clarinet), as well as an entire women's chorus! This family-friendly event will feature mellow songs, funny songs, rockin’ songs and pensive songs – something for everyone. Carol sings, plays the flute and piano, and writes just about all of the band's songs and, God bless her, she’s a teacher (at Neff Elementary)! Her husband Charlie plays guitar, sings, plays the piano and percussion and occasionally messes with other instruments and he’s been a math teacher for many years. Andy plays double bass and fretless electric bass, sings, plays percussion and has occasionally been seen playing the banjo. When he's not onstage with Traveler he also plays the guitar, mandolin, and dulcimer and messes about with the piano, pennywhistles and other strange wind instruments. Don’t miss out on this musically versatile evening!

Tickets to both the dinner and concert are $17.50/each; children under 12 are free.

THIS WEEK'S ATTRACTION...MOUNTED PATROL FACILITY. For more attractions, go to www.gishcreative.com/attractions.htm.

I’ll bet you didn’t know that Houston had a Mounted Patrol Facility! That’s right, our men and women in blue giddyup when necessary as part of the Mounted Patrol Unit. The Mounted Patrol Detail serves as an invaluable tool in crowd control and public relations. Officers, supervisors, and horses form a close team that provides surveillance downtown and throughout Memorial and Hermann Parks. Due to their increased height on a horse, mounted officers are able to survey an area quickly and address problem situations effectively. Mounted officers also provide crime deterrence due to their increased visibility in the public eye. In fact, one mounted officer and his/her horse are as effective as 10-12 foot officers in crowd control situations! The unit has provided crowd control in many different and diverse situations, including Super Bowl XXXVIII, the Houston Rockets Championship Parades, the Galveston Mardi Gras, the Republican National Convention, and the Baseball All-Star Game 2004.

The Mounted Patrol Facility is located at 5005 Little York and is open to the public for free visits. The Patrol also performs demonstrations; call 832.394.0394 to request one. This is one place where the kids will have fun “horsing” around!

PARLEZ FRANÇAIS AT THE ALLIANCE.

The French Alliance is starting up a new series of French classes for children next Saturday, October 31. Their children’s program immerses children ages 4-15 in the French language, allowing them to learn in a natural way, through visual, kinetic and auditive experiences. Classes meet in seven-week sessions on Saturday mornings at either 9:30am or 11:15am. Tuition is $175 for the 7-week session. Registration must be in advance or a $25 late fee will be assessed and there is a one-time registration fee of $15 for children. You may register by phone anytime using a credit card.

TEXAS RECREATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE (“T-ReX LaX”) STARTS SOON.

Sign-ups are going on now through November 15 for Houston’s T-ReX Lacrosse League, a league that any child can join (it’s not school-selective). The goal of T-ReX LaX is to give young players an opportunity to learn and compete in an age-appropriate manner. With top instructors from respected area coaches and players, T-ReX LaX is dedicated to meeting the needs of developing lacrosse players. Sessions take place Sunday afternoons from 2-4pm for girls grades 3-8 and boys grades K-8. Players will work on skills, drills, and have the thrills of putting it together in games. Featured guest speakers will add to the education of young athletes. The final session will conclude with a raffle of lacrosse gear and tournament championship games.

The League will take place on Sundays, November 15 and 22, December 6 and 13, and January 10, 17, and 24 and is $235. Rental equipment is available on a limited basis. Each fully paid player will receive a free jersey, harrow packet with water bottle, lanyard, and sticker. All sessions are at the St. John's School fields at 2401 Claremont Drive.

Register by October 31 and you'll receive a free copy of Head Case - Lacrosse Goalie, written by T-ReX Director Sam Chambers and Bob Rotella, premier sports psychologist.

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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