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 advertise 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!

CLAIRE SCHOOL OF DANCE PRESENTS A DIFFERENT VERSION OF THE "NUTCRACKER" STORY THIS WEEKEND.

"New York Nutcracker 2007" will be performed at 2pm on Sunday, December 2 at St. John's School. This sixth annual production gives a twist to this holiday classic by basing the story on Eloise at Christmas and setting it in 1950s New York and using the Duke Ellington arrangement of Tchaikovsky's well-known music.

Eloise at Christmas was a very popular book for young girls in the late '50s and early 60s. The show not only uses the story line of the book - Eloise is a little girl who lives in the Plaza Hotel who runs through the hotel at Christmastime, spreading cheer and magic - but also uses the color scheme. All the costumes are black and white, with just a touch of shocking pink.

Duke Ellington's arrangement gives a whole new sound to Tchaikovsky's familiar music and, appropriately, the choreography reflects its modern, jazzy approach. Kim Stafford, formerly a soloist with Houston Ballet, dances the role of Sugar Rum Cherry while the other dancers are all students at the Claire School of Dance. The show is a family friendly 45 minutes, to help those "little wrigglers" and the parents who bring them. Tickets are $5/children and $10/adults. St. John's School is located at 2401 Claremont, near Buffalo Speedway and Westheimer.

For more information, call 713.880.5565 or log onto www.clairedance.com.

THE HOUSTON CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY CRAFT IS PRESENTING THEIR MONTHLY "HANDS-ON HOUSTON" EVENT THIS WEEKEND.

"Abstract Pin Dolls" will be the focus of "Hands-On Houston" this Saturday, December 1, from 11am until 3pm. "Hands-On Houston" is a free craft-activity open house for the whole family on the first Saturday of every month and this month’s pin dolls would make great holiday gifts! December’s theme is inspired by "Women’s Tales: Four Leading Israeli Jewelers", which features beautiful contemporary jewelry and objects.

Artists from the Texas Original Art Doll Artists (TOADA) will instruct children and adults in creating abstract pin dolls constructed of hardware-store items, craft wire and buttons. Participants will add colors of their choice using a technique involving permanent markers and rubbing alcohol and no two dolls will be alike! Supplies will be provided. After creating their work of art, attendees can stay to see “Women’s Tales” in the main galleries and "Fine Focus: Art Quilts" in the Artist Hall. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft is located at 4848 Main Street in the Museum District.

For more information, call 713.529.4848 or log onto www.crafthouston.org.

DAME JULIE ANDREWS WILL BE IN TOWN NEXT MONDAY, DECEMBER 3 AT 7PM.

The "Brilliant Lecture Series" is bringing Julie Andrews as part of their annual offerings to the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Dame Andrews is a Broadway actress and a movie star who received an Oscar® for her first film, “Mary Poppins”, and also created memorable roles in “My Fair Lady”, “Camelot”, “Victor/Victoria” and “The Sound of Music”, one of the most successful motion pictures of all time. Recently she had roles in “The Princess Diaries (1 and 2)” and as the voice of Shrek’s mother-in-law in “Shrek (2 and 3)”. She is also the author of numerous children’s books and was made a “Dame Commander of the British Empire” in the New Year’s Honours List of 2000.

The “Brilliant Lectures” series aims to inspire and increase public awareness within Houston by providing a forum for national and international leaders and role models, philanthropists, artists and authors. The guest speaker will provide a 30- to 45-minute lecture and there will be an equal amount of time allocated for a question-and-answer period. As appropriate, there will be a VIP reception before or after the program. Tickets start at $15.

For more information, call 713.974.1335 or log onto www.brilliantlectures.com.

STUBDOG EVENTS IS HELPING YOUR TICKET PURCHASES ASSIST CHARITY.

Looking for a way to give during the holidays but not sure how and can't find the time? StubDog Events has the answer...they are proud to be working with the Texas Children's Hospital’s Cancer Center in an effort to raise money for the hospital’s “Arts in Medicine” program. From December 5 until December 12, StubDog Events will donate 100% of its profits to “Arts In Medicine” so that not only will this money go directly to supporting the arts groups and their presentations, but proceeds from ticket sales will directly benefit Texas Children’s Hospital and their programs that assist emerging artists.

StubDog is offering a few different ways to make a contribution to the “Arts in Medicine Program”: they will donate profits for all tickets purchased between December 5 and 12th and they will also donate profits for tickets purchased outside of these dates, but whose show date falls within that time period. For example, if you purchased tickets on December 1 for a show that performs on December 8, they will make a donation for this purchase because the show time falls within the week-long period.

StubDog Events offers steep discounts to great productions in Houston including theatre, music, dance and much more. If you need “Secret Santa” gifts or aren’t sure what to do for the office party or perhaps need a gift idea for the in-laws, browse all of the StubDog events this holiday season. Your purchases will not only help them raise money for the “Arts in Medicine Program”, but will also support the arts in Houston.

For more information, call 866.573.0454 or log onto www.stubdog.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR “SIX: INSECTS GONE WILD!”.

“SIX: Insects Gone Wild!” is a dance program choreographed by Kathy Wood of FLYworks. The show premieres next Saturday, December 8, at Barnevelder Theater, which is located at 2201 Preston at Hutchins in downtown Houston across from the Minute Maid Park parking lot. There will be two performances of this family-friendly, one-hour piece: a matinee at 2pm and an evening performance at 7:30pm. The performers will be children ranging from third to seventh grades with adult guest artists.

“SIX: Insects Gone Wild” is a hip-hop dance concert inspired by insects that features photography by Alex Wild and music ranging from the classical “Flight of the Bumblebee” to Michael Jackson songs. In traditional Kathy Wood style, the concert will have a lot of hilarity, using velcro, flyswatters, projections, robbers, and studies of crazy insect behaviors, all interpreted through dance. Tickets for the matinee performance are $10/adults and $7/children and tickets for the evening performance are all $10.

For more information, call 713.523.3709 or log onto www.flyworks.org.

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

© 2007 Sarah Gish

Designed by West of the World