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!

THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROVIDES SPOOKY, BUT NOT SCARY, FUN FOR KIDS.

Step into the world of magic and mystery at the Children's Museum of Houston’s McDonald’s® Halloween Mansion, which is open until 8pm Thursday, October 29 through Saturday, October 31. I think this is one of the best and safest ways to get into the Halloween mood for kids as they wander through the Museum’s “howlific” hallways in search of goodies and trinkets. The Museum’s exhibits will be converted into their own Halloween theme complete with ooey gooey experiments and hair raising activities such as:

• Monster Mix and Match: Play Dr. Frankenstein and bring to life frightening 3-D monster sculptures.
  
  
• Spider Hat: This itsy bitsy spider won’t crawl up the water spout, but up your head to be worn as a hat!
  
  
• Black Cat Halloween Card: Make a festive card in the shape of this common Halloween symbol.
  
  
• The Mad Scientist Lab: Explore the eeriness of static electricity, the grossness of slime or the madness of Martian goo. Plus, there will be sewer creatures dancing, worms swimming, electricity flying, and ghostly bubbles.
  
  
• Trick-or-Treat: Make your way through the Mansion as you stop by several stations to pick up a treat of trinkets and toys.
  
  
• Jitter Critters: Use real electric motors to invent a creature that jitters. Oct. 27-31

THEY'VE GOT YOUR BEAT!

Texas BigBeat is back in town this Sunday, November 1, 3-5pm for another full day of drumming, learning, and entertaining. The day of drum kicks off with the “World's Fastest Drummer Contest” at 12:30pm and moves to a “Celebrity Meet & Greet Reception” from 1:45-2:45pm (drummers on hand: Chris Layton who drummed for Stevie Ray Vaughn, Herman Matthews who drummed for Kenny Loggins and others, and Rick Latham of Juice Newton and Edgar Winter bands). Vendors will be open all day with refreshments and music including organizing sponsor Percussion Center and there will be kids’ activities, a dancing drum percussion and performance, drawings for prizes, and a hand drum circle led by Steve Campbell and Lindsay Rust. At 4:45pm, drummers from all eleven cities hosting this event will play simultaneously. The beat goes on…and on!

Texas BigBeat takes place at the Bush Intercontinental Airport Services Complex and tickets are $10/adults, $5/kids 6-12, free/kids 5 and under. All proceeds benefit Cherish Our Children Foundation and the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON THIS HALLOWEEN?

Here's a handy-dandy list; for a list of haunted houses – which I recommend for teens and up only – click here to see what our friends at KHOU-TV recommend.

• Houston Museum of Natural Science
  “Tricks, Treats, and T. Rex”
  Saturday, October 31, 10am-2pm
  
  
• Houston Zoo
  “Zoo Boo”
  Saturday, October 31, 9am-4pm
  
  
• Kemah Boardwalk
  “Boo on the Boardwalk”
  Ends October 31
  
  
• Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center
  “Creepy Crawly Critters”
  Saturday, October 31, 10am
  
  
• Lawndale Art Center
  “Family Day Fiesta”
  Saturday, November 1, noon-4pm
  
  
• Body Mind & Soul
  “Halloween Hat Happy Hour”
  Thursday, October 29, 5-8pm

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

Spaghetti Warehouse is not only the site of the founding of Houston, but is also a great place to sup with ghosts and celebrate Halloween. The building used to be an old produce warehouse and, according to David Wierman, President of Spaghetti Warehouse, they heard that several of the company’s employees died in the back elevator shaft. This prompted rumors that the families of these men spend their days looking for them in a ghoulish way. Ghost activity is reported daily at the Warehouse – lights flickering, unexplained noises, objects moving – so you’re sure to experience something while there! I have always believed that Halloween (a form of which is celebrated around the world – be it “Dia de los Muertos” in Mexico or “Obon” in Japan) is the time when the veil between our world and the world of the dead is lifted, so visiting the Warehouse at this time would be special. You might want to make reservations first, which they take for groups of ten or more.

The Spaghetti Warehouse is located at 901 Commerce Street and features an array of antiques, roadside advertising signs, a real trolley car, stained glass windows and Tiffany-style lamps as well as a yummy kids’ menu. They are open Sundays through Thursdays 11am-10pm and 11am-11pm, Fridays and Saturdays.

JOIN ME FOR SPECIAL ART TIME WITH YOUR CHILD ON NOVEMBER 7.

Join me for an “I Can Fly!” workshop on Saturday, November 7 from 2-4pm at Body Mind & Soul. My workshop provides a great opportunity to connect with your child (or children) in a unique way: by learning what they love and by creating a work of art together that you will take home. We'll come together for a quiet two hours to learn how to teach children to “fly” – to follow their heart and uncover their bliss. I'll give you a list of concrete ways to encourage your children’s passions which will be followed by an art activity specifically designed to reveal each person’s creativity and joy. During the workshop, there will be time for each child to talk about what makes their heart sing while the group listens. Sign up early, as class size will be limited.

Here's what one mom said about her afternoon with her children at this workshop: "My two kids and I got a chance to explore and re-live great memories by talking about and then expressing them in a collaborative manner on paper. We walked away proud of our art work and happy to have spent time creating both the art and the new memories!"

The workshop is $35 per parent/child pair (children 6-10 years old, please); if you have more than one child you will be bringing, please add $5/child. Each attendee will receive a $25 gift certificate from Hollywood Frame Gallery. REGISTRATION IN ADVANCE IS PREFERRED.

I look forward to seeing you!

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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