Gish Picks: Week of November 26, 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!

ORGAN RECITAL AND CHORAL EVENSONG AT
ST. MARTIN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This Sunday, November 30 at 6pm, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church Choir sings "Choral Evensong", which will be preceded by an Organ Recital by George Mims at 5:30pm. The service music includes Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis Collegium Regale, Preces and Responses, Richard Ayleward, and an anthem, “Lord, thou hast been our refuge” by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The church is located at 717 Sage Road, off Woodway Drive, west of Loop 610. A love offering is welcome and child care is available.

MIXTECO BALLET FOLKLORICO DANCES ITS WAY INTO OUR HEARTS.

Nothing lifts me up more than the tap-tapping of folklorico dancing! Mixteco Ballet Folklorico will be celebrating “Fiesta Folklorica” on Friday, November 29 at 7pm at the Wortham Center in the Cullen Theater. This annual showcase of dancers celebrates the company’s sixteenth anniversary. The group will mix together traditional dances from each Mexican region with other dances from more than half of Mexico's 31 states and federal districts. Mixteco comprises approximately 100 students who are 5 years old and up. Mixteco Ballet Folklorico is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research, preservation, and education of Mexican customs, traditions and culture. José Sada, artistic director, founded this organization in 1992 in Houston to promote the rich and colorful Mexican folklore through dance, music, and art. Tickets are $10-$30.

JOIN MAIN STREET THEATER FOR "A LITTLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS".

Main Street Theater presents “A Little House Christmas”, based on one of my favorite books, Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Weekend family performances will be Saturdays at 1 and 4pm, November 29, December 6 and 13. School matinees will be Mondays-Fridays through December 13. Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books are beloved for their depiction of the joys and struggles of a family settling the American Prairie. In “A Little House Christmas”, the Ingalls family hosts their neighbors for an early Christmas dinner to thank them for welcoming them to the area. They awaken on Christmas Day to find themselves stranded by bad weather, and it seems all is lost for any hope of Santa’s arrival. Join Mary and Laura in this Holiday classic as they learn the true meaning of friendship and the Christmas spirit. The show is recommended for Kindergarten and up; children under the age of 3 not allowed in the theater. Tickets are $12/adults and $10/seniors and children.

FUNDRAISER FOR THE SURVIVORS OF HAITI.

The Haitian Mission at the South Park Baptist Church at 5830 Van Fleet Street is hosting a special fundraiser this Saturday, November 29 from 9am-3pm. There will be music, food and fun for all. Under the direction of Pastor Marvin C. Delaney, the church's mission activities include the Haitian Mission in which volunteers will build a church in Port Au Prince Haiti with an orphanage. Cash donations, clothes and food donations are all accepted. For more information, call 713.644.1666.

WHAT ARE YOUR KIDS DOING OVER THE WINTER BREAK???

Worry not, as some organizations around town are offering camps during the holidays in November and December. Sign up now as spots are filling fast!

These organizations are here to help you out:

Art Mix Creative Learning Center - Join Art Mix as they explore diverse and exciting holiday traditions from around the world and create awesome multimedia projects from each destination! Camps are offered November 24-26 (that’s THIS WEEK!); December 22, 23, 29, 30, 31; and January 5th. Camps are from 9am-12pm and Pop-In Studio hours are from 1-5pm on each of these days (except 11/26 when they close at 1pm) and Saturdays from 10am-5pm.

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center - Explore the frosty forest and discover who's around the Arboretum in winter with the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Naturalists who will lead kids on a fun-filled winter camp experience. Camps are from 9am-3pm and will be offered Monday, December 29; Tuesday, December 30; and Wednesday, December 31.

Houston Gymnastics Academy - Kids can bounce around at HGA during the “Holly Daze Camps” which are offered December 22-24 and 29-31 from 9am-3pm. After care is available from 3-5pm.

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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 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