Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in houston, TX

Fun for Families in Houston weekend August 6 - 9, 2009

August 06, 2009

The indoor where it's air conditioned and lots of neat things to see and do version. . .

Children's Museum of Houston

www.cmhouston.org
(713) 522-1138

MindFest WonderWeek challenges kids challenge to fuse technology, art and science through fun, engineering activities.

Holocaust Museum Houston

www.hmh.org
(713) 942-8000

Houston Museum-Natural Science

www.hmns.org
(713) 639-4629

All weekend continues the Terra Cotta warriors exhibit.

Menil Collection Bookstore

www.menil.org  (713) 535-3180

FREE admission: Film Screening in Memory of Merce Cunningham and Robert Rauschenberg
Friday, August 7, 2009 8 p.m.

The Menil Collection, ARTPIX, Microcinema International, and Society for the Performing Arts present an evening of filmed performances of Merce Cunningham Dance Company at a program in memory of Merce Cunningham & Robert Rauschenberg.

The Menil screenings of Split Sides (2003) and Interscape (2000) use archival footage made by Charles Atlas to document Cunningham’s work as dancer and choreographer. Just published on DVD by Houston’s ARTPIX, Split Sides has original scores by Radiohead and Sigur Rós. Robert Rauschenberg designed both sets and costumes for Interscape.

The film will be screened on the Menil's front lawn.

Museum of Printing History

www.printingmuseum.org
(713) 522-4652

Great for children, "In our galleries and working studios, we demonstrate the traditional processes of stone lithography, letterpress printing, papermaking, and bookbinding." Many interesting exhibits right now.

Museum of Fine Arts Houston: Bayou Bend Collection

www.mfah.org
(713) 639-7750

Summer Storytime Tour
Friday, August 7, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Summer Creation Station: Majestic Mountains
Friday, August 7, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Summer Storytime Tour
Friday, August 7, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Lawndale Art & Performance Center

www.lawndaleartcenter.org
(713) 528-5858

All weekend: The Big Show -- The Big Show is Lawndale Art Center’s annual open-call, juried exhibition. It has been an important venue through which emerging and under-represented Houston area artists gain exposure since the show’s conception in 1984.

Buffalo Soldier National Museum & Heritage Center

www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com
(713) 942-8920
Saturday, August 8 from 1-3 p.m. Summer Lecture Series

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

www.camh.org
(713) 284-8250

Czech Center Museum Houston

www.czechcenter.org
(713) 528-2060

Beginners Children’s Czech language class. Eight weekly sessions Saturday mornings 10:30 to 1:30 a.m. Donation $30.00.

The Health Museum

www.thehealthmuseum.org
(713) 521-1515

Friday: Planet You -- World Premiere Friday, August 7!
Journey into a world you've never seen before...at least quite like this!  Be one of the first in Houston to see Planet You 3D, the newest 3D film at the McGovern Theater, at the world premiere Friday, August 7.  Take a 3D microscopic adventure into the alien landscape of your own skin and find out all about the creepy, crawly things that live on us - dust mites, lice and ticks!

Houston Center for Photography

www.hcponline.org
(713) 529-4755

Digital Camera Basics on  Saturday Aug 8 with Kristy Peet
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
more info

The John C. Freeman Weather Museum

www.weathermuseum.org
(713) 529-3076

The Rothko Chapel

www.rothkochapel.org
(713) 524-9839

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

www.crafthouston.org
(713) 529-4848

6 best things to know about bat viewing in Houston

July 21, 2009

It's bat season in Houston right now! So if you and your kids really want a nighttime animal viewing adventure, venture down to the Waugh St bridge to catch the sunset emergence of the bats. You might even see some baby bats because it's "maternity season."

It's best to go view bats with an expert or some solid knowledge in hand. Diana Foss with Texas Parks and Wildlife gives free 20 minute bat presentations on the East side of the Waugh Street bridge at Allen Parkway on the first and third Friday and Saturday of the month. Here are some upcoming dates:

Saturday, August 1
Friday, August 7
Saturday, August 15
Friday, August 21 

But before you go check out bat colonies, here are a few things to know:

1. During maternity season, you might see some small bats -- probably babies -- on the ground. Or you might have a close encounter with a bat. Keep your distance, and don't try to touch the bat. Remind kids that this is a "look not touch" experience.

2. Swooping bats are probably not interested in you. They are likely using their sonar to find food or water. Keep number 1 in mind. Bats are gentle and unlikely to harm you, but they might carry disease and you might unintentionally harm them, so "look, no touch" is always the best policy.

3. Bats come out at sunset. It might be hard to see them in the dark, so put red cellophane over a flashlight and use that to help enhance your ability to see. But make sure to keep that light dim with the red cellophane.

4. The Waugh St Bridge bats are Mexican free-tailed bats and there about 250,000 of them. They eat fruit, nectar, and insects such as moths. In fact, they can catch up to 1200 tiny insects an hour.

5. Most bats migrate south during the winter, but many of the Waugh St. Bridge bats remain here all year round.

6. There is a bat observation deck, and the city suggests that you park in the free public parking at Spotts Park, located at 401 S. Heights Boulevard at Memorial Drive. The park is a short stroll across Buffalo Bayou from the observation deck along the Waugh Drive Bridge.

For more information see the Buffalo Bayou Partnership's PDF about the bat colony and the city of Houston bat page. The city of Houston bat page offers more great information and tips:

Out and About in Houston weekend of July 16-19, 2009

July 16, 2009

The Circus is in town!

This weekend Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is in Houston at Reliant. The super cool part is that when you buy a ticket, you can also go to the pre-show where you get to tour the rings, see the animals, and meet the performers (you can even ask for autographs!). What an amazing experience!

Even better, tickets are very reasonably priced---I have a coupon code you can use. Here's the deal:

• The coupon code is MOM— four tickets for $44, any additional tickets are still priced at $11.  
• The tickets can be purchased from http://www.ticketmaster.com and by entering the MOM code in the “MC promotion” box when purchasing tickets.
• Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.
• Offer not valid on Circus Celebrity, Front Row, or VIP seating.
• Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges, facility & handling fees will apply.

• Be sure to get to the arena early to check out the Animal Open House and the All Access Preshow.  At the Animal Open House, which begins at 6:00pm, you can see the furry stars up close before their big performances.  The Preshow begins at 6:30pm and will give you a chance to head down to the circus floor to meet the performers, get autographs, try on costumes, and clown around! These two extras are free for all ticket holders, so feel free to mention them in your outreach. 

Enjoy!!

6 Best Not-Too-Spooky Tales for Ages 0-12

July 14, 2009

Whether it's around a campfire on a family camping trip, snuggled in the living room for a sleepover, in the middle of a power outage, or on special days and holidays, every now and again it's just right for a not-too-spooky story. These are the six fantastic books to either get inspiration from or read to your kids for those spooky-but-not-too-spooky times. From a friendly and fun spooky board book to a creepy Roald Dahl collection of stories, this list of book should satisfy a family even with a broad mix of age.

Ages: Baby to 5

Bright Baby Touch & Feel Spooky
Roger Priddy
Interactive board book for babies and toddlers, featuring images and simple text on a spooky theme. Touch and feel patches on every spread encourages child to interact with the book. Aids in the development of early vocabulary.

The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree (Bright & Early Book)
by Stan Berenstain
Children's 4-8
Three terrified little bears explore the inside of a mysterious old tree and go "into, up, through, over, down, and "out." Described as humorous, fun, and including favorite characters.

Ages: 5 to 8 and up

Seriously Spooky Stories
Super Shorts
Grade Range: k to 3, Age Range: 5 to 8
There are thrills and chills galore in this spine-tingling collection of stories about ghosts, ghouls, and haunted happenings. Young readers will shiver with delight at stories by favorite writers such as Ruskin Bond, Adle Geras, and Tony Ross. With a winning combination of contemporary original stories and retellings of traditional ghost tales, this is an irrestible blend of scary and fun.

The Kingfisher Treasury of Ghost Stories
Kenneth Ireland; Editors of Kingfisher
Grade Range: k to 3, Age Range: 5 to 8
This spooky anthology provides a shivery thrill on every page. Frightening and friendly, menacing and mischievous, here are tales about ghosts and ghouls for any occasion. Atmospheric black line illustrations on every spread add to the eerie mood. Featuring stories by high-profile contributors such as Dick King-Smith, Joan Aiken, Robert Swindells, and Catherine Storr, this collection is perfect for children who enjoy having their spine tingled. From folktales to original stories, there are ghost stories for everyone...Black-and-white illustrations complete these ghostly grim tales that will haunt and delight children of all ages.

The Kingfisher Book of Scary Stories
Chris Powling; Peter Bailey
Grade Range: 2 to 5, Age Range: 7 to 10
Here are ghouls, goblins, and ghosts galore! With its chilling mix of contemporary stories and retellings of old favorites, this anthology is illustrated with haunting detail and offers a satisfying, spooky read. The tales from top-notch writers make this an ideal read-aloud for Halloween, and a must-have gift book for all young fright fans.

Ages: 10 and up

Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories
Roald Dahl
Grade Range: 6 to 12, Age Range: 12 and up
Who better to investigate the literary spirit world than that supreme connoisseur of the unexpected, Roald Dahl? Of the many permutations of the macabre or bizarre, Dahl was always especially fascinated by the classic ghost story. As he realtes in the erudite introduction to this volume, he read some 749 supernatural tales at the British Museum Library before selecting the 14 that comprise this anthology. "Spookiness is, after all, the real purpose of the ghost story," Dahl writes. "It should give you the creeps and disturb your thoughts." For this superbly disquieting collection, Dahl offers favorite tales by such masterful storytellers as E. F. Benson, J. Sheridan Le Fanu, Rosemary Timperley, and Edith Wharton. Roald Dahl has selected fourteen of his favorite ghost stories that will deliver chills and goose bumps.

"This is the best book of its kind in years."-The Washington Post Book World

Out and About in Houston weekend of 7-9 to 7-12-2009

July 09, 2009

This week it's been about bringing culture to your kids. Here are some fun weekend events for this weekend that let you do just that:

Friday, July 10th

AFA (American Festival for the Arts) presents AFA Solo Voice Recitals. Outstanding young vocalists will perform a variety of opera arias, art songs and song from the popular repertory. Check their site for more performances!

Saturday, July 11th

30th Annual ArtHouston Image gallery -- Houston Art Dealers Association

Calling all art enthusiasts to take part in the 30th Annual ArtHouston opening Saturday, July 11th. The main purpose behind ArtHouston is to exhibit emerging, mid-career and well-known artists in order to display diverse talent. 37 participating galleries will be open to showcase these local, national and International artists.

3rd Annual Frida Festival (Frida Festival©)

Come celebrate the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo at the 3rd Annual Frida Festival on Saturday, July 11, 2009 at East End Urban Market located on 716 Telephone Road.

This year’s FREE family festival from 2pm to 6pm will feature a children’s art show with students from the Flor de Canto program at Talento Billingue de Houston, Frida look-alike contest, piñata, arts & crafts activities, DJ, dance groups, and poetry. Artist Butter de la Garza aka Reverend Butter will create an ice sculpture.

Sunday, July 12th

Aurora Picture Show -- Popcorn Kids Workshop with The Story Pirates

Aurora Picture Show presents a Popcorn Kids Workshop with The Story Pirates, Sunday, July 12th 1-2pm. Location: Aurora Video Library, 1524 Sul Ross. Sunday the Striking Viking Story Pirates will present a special workshop at the Aurora office for 12 children where they will bring a story to life right before the kids’ very eyes! Snacks provided.

All weekend (and beyond)

The River Performing and Visual Arts Center

The River Performing and Viusal Arts Center Fine Arts Recitals (Fridays) June 19-August 7, 2009 iinvite you to attend our 2009 Summer Camp Recitals!

MECA's 1st Annual Storytelling from an Immigration Nation

July 3-July 31, 2009

The Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA) presents MECA's 1st Annual Storytelling from an Immigration Nation. This event features a Visual art show and also spoken word performance.

Bringing culture to your young children in fun and tasty ways!

July 06, 2009

We all like to add some diversity and culture to our lives, but what's the best way to bring it to young children? The challenge is to make it interesting, engaging, and age-appropriate. To find out the best way to bring culture to young kids, I turned to two local talented ladies, Carrie Pacini and Marla Trevino, who are experts in inspiring life and culture through food, parties, and travel. They co-founded OPMOM to share their ideas, inspiration, experiences, recipes, and more.

Ideas for introducing your heritage or another heritage to young children

Carrie Pacini suggests reaching out to children using their own interests, particularly through language, food and music.

"I have found the children love learning about other countries and traditions through learning new words, trying different cuisines, and dancing," said Pacini, a mother to two young children and entertainment connoisseur, "Dancing has brought out cultures from Spain, India, Italy, and Czech Republic. Even if you can't travel to find culture you can create a window of it in your home."

Houston offers a wide variety of multi-cultural festivals that are family-friendly. Many, such as the Chinese Culture through Dance, include dancing or are centered around dancing. My own children are fascinated by any kind of dancing, and even just watching a few dances from So You Think You Can Dance has prompted them to ask about dance styles from India (Bollywood) and Spain (tango). Our family has also enjoyed the local Greek festival, where the children are exposed to a mini-taste of a complete culture, from food, to music, drinks, singing, dancing, and more.

You can find links and information about Houston festivals at this site on Thursdays. Another good source is ArtsHound.com, which specializes in information and schedules for the arts and performing arts, from poetry, to theater, and dance and cultural events. You can specially select events for kids and families.

Pacini also suggests themed holidays, "We have always celebrated Christmas with different cultures and the children love it. Every year they pick a country and we buy an ornament that represents that country and make the traditional meal. So far we have celebrated Germany, England, France, and Belgium. We haven't picked one out for 2009 but I am hoping for Spain!"

It's easy to make holidays and festivals fun, but convincing children to try new foods might pose a challenge. Pacini has an idea for that, too.

Best methods for introducing children to food that is foreign to them

The best path to success is simple: accentuate the familiar to children.

"Find similarities that you can pull from that doesn't make it so foreign to them. So try to think of what it is that they like and find that common thread in other cuisines. For example we eat a ton of pasta because we are Italian but I can serve the kids an Indian Rice dish in a sauce with Nan and they love it," said Pacini.

Work in the familiar, such as, "Quesadillas are like grilled cheese, except with yummy tortillas." Also, consider your child's preferences and work the new ethnic food around that. If your child doesn't prefer spicy food, but does like chicken, consider letting them sample Chinese orange chicken. If you're at a restaurant, see if the waiter has a suggestion, and don't be afraid to ask if they can customize. For example, my children love quesadillas, but don't prefer the meat inside, so we ask for that on the side, instead.

Many foreign foods, including the familiar such as quesadillas, are easy to make, and that's the point: keep it simple. Kids often want food quickly, and they frequently prefer it to be simple enough that they can break down the ingredients in their minds without a struggle. Remember they have developing taste buds. It's okay if they don't like it the first time; leave the door open for future tries because their tastes do change.

Feel free to offer new tastes at snack time, too. Pacini has some delicious suggestions for "cultural" snacks, "I find the children love dipping pita or veggies in Hummus which is a big hit. The kids love Brie and blue cheese, Crepes, and thimble pasta which is called D'itallini, a childhood favorite. All kids who come to our house love this dish and always surprise their parents by polishing the bowl off. We also love serving Nutella and brie sandwiches, Panini's with veggies melted in a good cheese. We have also introduced our children to Sushi by getting them used to California rolls and they love it!"

Serve interesting lessons with and around the snack, such as:

• Language - "Did you know that Hummus is an Arabic word for chickpeas?"
• Music - Consider playing some music from the region while the kids eat. Talk about what sounds different and familiar in the music, and what you do and don't like about it.
• Art - Try an art project that incorporates cultural elements---much Middle-Eastern art uses patterns or simple line drawings that can inspire children. The Houston Museum of Fine Art has a nice collection of ethnic art---you might even like to take a field trip!
• Social Studies - Show a map of the Middle-East and point out places such as Lebanon and Palestine, areas where hummus originated.
• Stories - Tell a funny story about the food and history. Hummus carries a story that my kids would love: the famous Roman orator, Cicero, was named for an ancestor who had a wart on his nose shaped like a chickpea. Grossology is always a big hit with kids.

You and your children might feel more comfortable initially trying new ethnic foods at home, but when you're ready, Pacini said, "I think great ethnic restaurants for kids would be Italian, French, Spanish (tapas), Mexican, Middle Eastern, Indian, and German."

Many ethnic restuarants display culturally specific art, play native music, and some, if you're lucky, are owned by people originally from a foreign place. Interesting culture and diverse ethnic experiences are frequently all around us. If you make a point to notice, you can use it as a great teaching moment with your kids. At home, small but fun things that appeal to children, such as art, music, food and language offer a wide open door to show kids the broad and fascinating world beyond their own borders. That's one of the greatest gifts you can give a child.

Out and About in Houston weekend of June 18 - 21, 2009

June 18, 2009

It's Father's Day this Sunday, so what kind of fun can your family have this weekend? Plenty!

Kids are FREE! all summer at Astros games starting June 23. Why not present Dad with a gift of tickets to a game? Hint: if you get tickets for Thursday, June 25, the first 10,000 fans get free retro t-shirts!

On Father's Day at Bayou Bend, all dads are free! Everyone else is just $5 per person. As an MFA bonus, this summer AGES 18 and under admitted FREE on Saturday & Sunday with a Houston Public Library PowerCard or any public library card (see number 5 for details).

On Friday, the Children's Museum of Houston is celebrating Juneteenth, and on Saturday kids can make a fun gift for dad, such as a tie or photo frame. Sunday includes more craft-making and a super fun Father's Day celebration. They've got special events this weekend:

• Spotlight Performance:  Kunama Mtendaji.  This exciting storyteller and musician will perform tales related to African and African American History.
  Saturday, June 20:  2 p.m.
• Target 2 Sunday Performance: Mariachi Houston.  Enjoy the traditional sounds of Mexico with this group of young and talented performers.
  Sunday, June 21:  2 p.m.

Discovery Green has a full lineup of good times for families, with special Dad events, including, on Saturday, a 7 pm live music by POP STARS: Dads Who Rock followed by 8:30pm film screening of "The Best of Children's Film Festival Seattle 2009."

On Friday:

• Fireworks Friday on the Kemah Boardwalk at 9:30pm    
• Gulf Coast Juneteenth at the Miller Outdoor Theatre at 7:30pm    

On Saturday:

• Summer Symphony Nights at the Miller Outdoor Theatre at 8:30pm  
• Come, Blow Your Horn at the Houston Family Arts Center at 8:00pm  
• World Beat Music Festival at Hermann Square at 12:00pm  
• Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake at Robertson Stadium at 7:30pm

Wait until dark! Quick and easy recipe for a special "date night" at home for moms and dads

May 25, 2009

You've probably seen that Target commercial---the one where the voiceover says, "This is the new dining out," and shows a couple eating a magnificent dinner on their backyard patio.

Many of us are trying to find new, budget-friendly ways to have fun and special times. Parents have some extra challenges trying to achieve this!

When your kids are little it's hard to go out---you need to find a sitter you trust, then you have to find a time that sitter is available, not to mention pay for the sitter. Before you even walk out the door, you've spent at least $50.Then there's the fun of trying to get all fixed up nice to go out---with kids digging in to your clothes and face creams, or hanging on your leg. We love them, but as long as they are little, they aren't too keen on us living a life outside of them. We treasure this time, though, because we know too well that in a few years they'll be begging us to go out and leave them alone. I know how too often it feels like too much trouble and expense.

Still, despite the challenges and some of those mixed feelings you might have sometimes, it's important to make this effort to have couple time outside the home now and again.

So how about some nice, laid-back, budget-friendly fun in the home?

Get a movie and have a nice evening with your partner!

Here's my recipe for a nice summer movie night in...

Ingredients:

You, Partner, Comfy bed or sofa, Casual clothes, Yummy food and drink

1.  Get those kids in bed asleep---try to wear them out during the day, such as swimming at the pool, if possible.

2.  Set-up easy, healthy, finger snack foods. Consider matching the snacks to a theme in the movie.

For example: Revolutionary Road will release to DVD on June 2. This movie about a couple with two children who move to the suburbs in Connecticut in the 1950s is well-acted, and based on a striking and riveting story. It begs for a Rat Pack style movie night.

Pre-packaged food surged in popularity in the 1950s, as did basic but filling food. So go simple and delicious. I'd pair silver dollar burgers with guacamole dip. Two other options are shrimp cocktail with red sauce or bagel bite pizzas. If you want some little appetizers, go with fruit kabobs and/or stuffed mushrooms. You can make any of these things relatively easily or buy them pre-made. I know Target sells them all in their frozen appetizer section.
Quick tip: Easy gucamole: Mix half of a small can of diced garlic tomatoes with salsa and avocado.

For a drink, go with the classic martini! Make it fruity if you prefer. Or, go international with a Daiquiri or a Mojito, both of which were very popular in the 1950s. If you prefer to avoid alcohol, serve ginger ale and/or root beer. Root beer can even double as dessert when served with ice cream as a float!
Quick tip: If you like frozen drinks but don't want to run a noisy blender that might wake kids, get one of the easy freezer bag mixes. You can serve it "virgin" or just add the liquor and freeze. Very easy and most brands I've tried are delicious.

 3. Set up your food on a coffee or side table, kick back, and enjoy the film!

Note: Check MovieWeb to see new DVD releases each week.

Tomorrow I'll list my favorites for most "cuddle-friendly" films coming out on DVD this summer!

Explaining work and work demands to kids

May 11, 2009

For Mother's Day, my kids delivered a heap of wonderful, handmade presents. In addition to beaded necklace and earrings, countless drawings and sweet notes, my older daughter made a little "book" in which she told a story about me.

Usually, we tell our children stories, typically about made up characters or baby stories about themselves. Until I sat and read what my daughter thought of me, I hadn't paused to wonder how she perceived the things I do. After each prompt on the page, my daughter answered (correctly) that I like chocolate best, enjoy singing in the car, and give her and her sister cuddles every day. The last was most important to her. But when it came to the meal I make best, she'd scratched out "cooked" and replaced it with "gets." Even harder to read was that I dislike working at the computer. I wasn't sure that I had conveyed that, and I wasn't sure whether it was really me she meant, or herself.

Sometimes it's hard to be a working parent, especially one who works from home. The children leave to go to school, as does their father, but I stay home, and work from here most of the time. The purpose of this is that my career can be done remotely, and because we both wanted to make sure there was a primary parent available for the kids.

So how do I explain to my children that home is also a workplace for me, and how do I explain my complicated job to them? How does any parent explain, especially when dealing with a child's resentment of how the work intrudes on what a child wants from a parent?

I've explained to my kids that I'm a writer and editor. This is a pretty easy job to explain. Kids understand some people write, and they understand that someone will always "grade" what other people write. I can also show them books I've co-written and also books I've edited, and the pieces of building a book. I've even published a children's book, so there's actually something I did that is interesting to them, with nice picture as well! My husband is an architect. That's an even easier job to explain. He has shown them how he thinks about designing buildings using legos and blocks, and they've gotten to tour buildings he's worked on.

Handling their frustration and disappointment when work "steals" us from them is harder, but I find the key is following through on my promises. What my kids usually want is my time and attention, so if I promise that at a specific time we'll do a specific thing, and then follow-through, it usually keeps the balance in place, and builds their trust that even though mom is working now, she'll play a game later.

How do you explain jobs and work to your kids? And how do you handle that work-demand and child-demand conflict?

out and about in Houston weekend of 3/27-3/29/2009

March 26, 2009

This weekend is the famous Bayou City Art festival in Memorial Park!

Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park
March 27-29, 2009 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all three days
Admission is $10 for adults and free for children 12 and under.
City ordinance prohibits bringing pets.

The annual, juried, fine art event boasts a stress-free outdoor gallery brimming with 300 artists working in 19 artistic media. Adding to the festive outdoor gallery are wine cafés, an interactive Creative Zone for children, restaurants, Broadway in Houston’s Broadway Café, and a performing arts stage with on-going multicultural musical and dance entertainment presented by The Houston Arts Alliance.

For more information about the Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park, please visit the Web site.

Fun all weekend...

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Jones Hall - 615 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77002

One of our all-time favorite dance troupes comes to Houston this weekend (Fri-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm), with performances by Grammy Award-winning female a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey In The Rock. The performance is suitable for ages 5 and up, and tickets range from $22-$58. For more informaiton: 713.632.8113. www.spahouston.org/grouplounge

Tomball German Heritage Festival
Old Downtown Tomball - W Main Street & N Cherry Street, Tomball, TX 77375

Catch the spirit of Germany (for free!) at Tomball's 9th Annual German Heritage Festival. Fri 6pm-10pm; Sat 10am-10pm; Sun 10am-6pm all ages can enjoy the live music, ethnic food, street vendors, arts and crafts, fireworks, a carnival, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more. For more information:  www.tomballsistercity.org/festival.htm

Friday and Saturday only...

Cry Baby Matinee
Angelika Film Center - 510 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002

First-run, grown-up films are featured for parents with their little ones. Lights are kept dimmed, the sound is turned down, and baby changing tables are available. Matinees are run at 11:45, and adult tickets are $6.25. Children under 5 are free.  For more information: 713.225.1470. www.angelikafilmcenter.com/houston/events.asp.

Saturday only...

The Reluctant Dragon
Main Street Theater at Chelsea Market - 4617 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, TX 77006

This sweet play is good for children 3 and up. Shows are at 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Tickets cost $10 for children and students; $12 for adults; group rates (10 or more) available.For more information: www.mainstreettheater.com

Play synopsis: Once upon a time there lived a boy who befriended a lonely dragon who hated such dragonly things as fighting knights and breathing fire. Nonetheless, the simple-minded villagers in the local town beg a fierce knight - St. George himself -- to slay the dragon, even though he was doing them no harm. Just when it seems hopeless, the resourceful boy finds a solution that changes the hearts and minds of the entire village in this touching adventure by renowned author Kenneth Grahame (The Wind in the Willows). 

Kid's Market Day - Bayou City Farmers' Market
Bayou City Farmers' Market, 3000 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77098

Note: Bring cash for purchases.

From 8-noon all ages can enjoy the Urban Harvest's Bayou City Farmers Market Fourth Annual Kid's Market Day. Kid's Market Day offers children of all ages the opportunity to see where their food really comes from. Students who have participated in Urban Harvest's School and Youth gardening programs will bring their produce to sell at the farmers market. Vendors will bring animals and equipment from their farms to show kids what farming is really like. Kid-friendly activities will include seed planting, face painting, scavenger hunt, raw vegetable tasting and egg dyeing using natural colors. Live music and a cooking demonstration will also be featured. For more information:  www.urbanharvest.org.

Water Wall Wonder

by Rachel Mosteller

August 27, 2008

Kids love water, that's for sure. It's wet, it splashes and is fun to play (or swim) in. But it is also really fun to look at. Next time you're in the Galleria area, check out the water wall over by the Williams Tower. The water wall is a curved piece of aquatic architecture that's known as one of the most romantic spots in town. It's also pretty cool, literally. If you go in the day, the kids  Read more...

This Weekend in Houston...

by Rachel Mosteller

August 01, 2008

Fridays always sneak up on me. One minute it is Monday and I'm worrying what we'll do for the entire week and the next thing I know, BOOM, weekend is here and we haven't made any plans! Let's face it, when the kids are screaming and it is hot outside, it is pretty easy just to want to lay on the couch and veg out in front of a video. Don't do it! Get out! Enjoy life! And, if you're feeling a  Read more...

MFA Houston Sundays

by Rachel Mosteller

June 02, 2008

Art. It isn't just in a coloring book. In my house, it is on the walls, literally. (Also, on the floor and on the brick fireplace.) Perhaps you'd like to show your kids how to properly display art on the walls. If so, I'd suggest bringing them down to The Museum of Fine Arts to give them a bit of exposure to a wide variety of artists. I f you're worried your preschooler might make  Read more...