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Festivals

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.

Animal Open House and All Access Preshow

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.

You can get more information about the Over the Top circus here, including dates.

Enjoy!!

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.

6 Best Kid-Friendly Cultural Events in Houston

July 07, 2009

Carrie Pacini, culture maven and co-founder of OPMOM, a blog and organization dedicated to inspiring life and culture through food, parties, and travel---offers her suggestions for six fantastic upcoming kid-friendly cultural events in Houston.

She thinks that festivals are one of the best ways to let children experience culture because they are designed to be fun for us and the kids, so everyone enjoys themselves. Luckily Houston offers some fantastic festivals and opportunities for children to discover new cultures year round. Pacini's family enjoys:

Festa Italian happens every year and is a great place for kids to learn about Italian Culture. It will be at the University of St. Thomas this year in October.
Greek Fest is also another amazing festival to take the kids too! It's also in October.
Miller Outdoor Theater has great shows for the kids to watch. We love going on Friday night and having a picnic---sometimes a French Picnic sometimes an Italian one!
The Turkish Festival is another children's festival that happens every year at Outdoor Miller Theater.
Carnivale in February is a fun way to celebrate Fat Tuesday at restaurants esp. Louisiana cuisine.
Different embassies in Houston have great language programs for children.

Pacini said, "The important thing is for the parents to bring these cultures to life in the home through the Traditions, Food and Stories that tie that all together."

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

out and about in houston weekend april 4-5, 2009

April 02, 2009

The BIG event in Houston this weekend is the Houston Children's Festival!

Sponsored by HEB, this festival benefits Child Advocates, Inc.

"Scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 4 & 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the event takes place around City Hall, Tranquility Park and Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston. Designated as one of the “World's 300 Best Events” by Frommer's Travel Guides, the festival is expected to attract an expected attendance of 50,000 plus people. Proceeds benefit Child Advocates, Inc. and the abused and neglected children it serves.
Special attraction this year is the personal appearance of Keke Palmer, star of Nickelodeon's “True Jackson, VP,” the number two kids' television show and the critically acclaimed movie, “Akeelah and the Bee.” The talented actor and singer will appear at the festival on Sunday only. The excitement continues with the Saturday guest appearances of WWE Wrestlemania super stars, Layla and Matt Hardy who will appear on stage for a Q & A session. Nick Jr's Dora, the Explorer and Diego and PBS Kids' “Sid, the Science Kid” will be on hand all weekend to entertain the younger set.
The Houston Children's Festival also offers six stages of music and entertainment and more than 300 exciting activities, music, crafts, exhibits, participatory games, sports and rides. The non-stop fun continues in the exciting, interactive Family Adventure Areas including the H-E-B Power Kids Kingdom, featuring Child Advocates, Inc., Baker Hughes Circus Town, McDonald's Family Fitness Zone, Wells Fargo Great American Barnyard, The Sports Zone and Art Alley."

For more information about the eight family adventure areas, click to read here or read about the festival highlights here.

Admission is $5.00 with one McDonald's discount coupon per ticket; $8.00 at the gate with no discount coupon. Under 3 years free.

Bayou City Art Festival: Interview with Susan Farb Morris

March 27, 2009

Yesterday I promoted all the fun events this weekend for families, with the Bayou City Art Festival at the top of the list:

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.

It sounds great---but sometimes a brief blurb about an event doesn't do it justice. So I sat down with Susan Farb Morris, who is promoting the Bayou City Art Festival at Memorial Park, and asked her to answer a few questions that parents might have about how this event is good for families with preschoolers, and to elaborate a bit more about this exciting festival:

Me: What do you think preschoolers will get out of the Bayou City Art Festival?

Susan: Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park is a wonderful sensory experience for preschoolers -- the sights of colorful visual and performing arts, musical performances and tasty treats such as Marble Slab ice cream and chocolate-dipped fruits from Fruitful Endeavors.

Me: I know you have an area set up for kids---the Creative Zone. What can kids do there?

Susan: The Capital One Bank Creative Zone is an interactive children's area where children can explore the fun of art. Activities are sponsored by the Festival's Nonprofit Partners and Capital One Bank will make a donation to the Nonprofit Partners in appreciation of their participation. Art projects include Mini Art Car Building, Ornamental Rocks, Sun Photos, Spangles that Dangle, Felt Garden,Museum of Fine Arts Mascot Crowns, Springy Bonnets and Bowlers, Flutterby Butterflies, Assemblage Animals and Wax Hand Sculptures.

Me: Historically, do many children accompany parents to this event?

Susan: The Capital One Bank Creative Zone is extremely popular -- 7,000 children participated in the Capital One Bank Creative Zone last fall.

Me: Many parents worry about taking little ones who might dash off to crowded, open spaces or to spaces with important and valuable things (such as art). Is this space a good one for preschoolers? How?

Susan: Children participating in the Capital One Bank Creative Zone must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The art projects are very interactive and provide a great entertainment element at the Festival as well as a take-home souvenir.

Me: Are there areas for tots to take a break and have a snack?

Susan: There is an international cafe area with foods ranging from barbecue to Chinese, Mexican, Indian and Greek foods. Picnic tables abound in Memorial Park.

Me: Please share your favorite things about the festival and why families should go.

Susan: Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park presents an incomparable value for the entertainment dollar. Tickets are $10 for adults and children ages 12 and under are admitted free. The Festival helps introduce children to the visual and performing arts in a very welcoming environment -- the park. They get to see the art up close and even meet the grown-ups who create it! They also enjoy the sights and sounds of diverse, multi-cultural musicians and dancers. This year, for the first time, families are encouraged to ride their bicycles to the festival. There will be the KPFT 90.1 Bike Depot, where for a $2 donation, your bikes will be tended for safe-keeping.

Thanks so much, Susan, for telling us more about the Bayou City Arts Festival at Memorial Park!
Read more...

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.

Go Medieval!

by Rachel Mosteller

October 16, 2008

When you live in Houston, you typically hear a lot about going Texan or going western. I mean, it is understandable-- western and cowboy themes can be pretty big. But...if you'd like to go a bit further back in time, why not go medieval? The Renaissance Festival is going on right now! Located north of town in Plantersville (near Magnolia), this event really does have something for everyone. Read more...

Where to Find Fireworks in Houston

by Rachel Mosteller

July 04, 2008

I'm not a huge fan of the Fourth of July. To me, it is one of those holidays that get played up and always end with a big letdown. I guess I could just say I'm just not that into hot dogs. But, there's one thing I enjoy and I know my kids do, too: the fireworks. Luckily, in the Houston area, there's probably a fireworks show near you, no matter which side of town you live in. To help you out, I Read more...