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

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.

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5 fun and funky spots to wow preschoolers in Houston

June 23, 2009

All moms know about the zoo, the Children's Museum, the location of every jumping place (and free jump time) (or maybe that's just me), and the rest of the great, but standard, fare to entertain and wow preschoolers.

But what about going off the beaten path every now and again? I'll tell you about 5 fun and funky spots that will wow your preschooler!

The Art Car Museum

Museum highlighting art cars of Houston, custom-decorated cars with zany themes prominently displayed in the annual Art Car Parade. Free admission.
Open Wednesday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
140 Heights Blvd.
For more information, call (713) 861-5526

Lawndale Art Center

Known for its offbeat art happenings, such as the Hair Ball and the 20th Century Modern Market, Lawndale Art Center displays contemporary works by more than 500 artists each year.
Located in a period Art Deco building at 4912 Main Street in the Museum District.
Admission is free during regular gallery hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, call (713) 528-5858

Museum of Health & Medical Science

The Museum of Health & Medical Science’s Amazing Body Pavilion gives visitors an exciting tour through the human body. The exhibit contains huge sculptures of human organs, including a 10 foot brain and a 22 foot rib cage, with more than 80 interactive exhibits.
Every Thursday is Free Family Thursday from 4-7 p.m.
For more information, call (713) 521-1515

The Mad Potter - River Oaks

The Mad Potters are “paint-your-own-pottery” studios, where children and adults alike can try their hand at becoming the next modern day Picasso. Individuals and groups come in and choose a piece of pottery from over 400 shapes and sizes. They then design and paint their pieces with The Mad Potter’s instruction, brushes, tools and paint... all you need to bring is your creativity and desire to have a great time.
Hours: Mon-Thur 10-10, Fri-Sat 10-11 sun 12-6
1963-A W. Gray
Houston, TX 77019
713-807-8900
central@themadpotter.com
(Three other locations around Houston---check the Mad Potter Web Site)

Armand Bayou Pontoon Boat Cruise

Start your weekend by enjoying a leisurely Saturday morning breakfast drifting down the bayou on our "Bayou Ranger" pontoon boat. Observe wildlife searching for their breakfast on the bayou. This trip through the heart of the Nature Center presents an uncommon opportunity to watch and learn about bayou life. Enjoy rolls, juice and coffee while underway. The "Bayou Ranger" will pick you up at the Bay Area Park boat launch. Maximum: 12 people
Hours: Saturdays from 8 - 9:30 am
Ages:  5 - adults (An adult must accompany children under 18.)
Fee:    Members: $20 adults, $15 children & seniors
Non-members: $25 adults, $20 children & seniors.
Armand Bayou Nature Center
8500 Bay Area Blvd.
Pasadena, Texas 77507
281-474-2551
Web site: http://www.abnc.org/things-to-do/pontoon-boat-cruises.html

 

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Discovering Seabrook, a charming coastal town just outside Houston

June 22, 2009

Just south of Houston, a charming coastal town is tucked in between Galveston Bay and Clear Lake. Most Houstonians speed west of this town, Seabrook, on the way to Galveston or Kemah, and when they do, they miss a lovely spot that is very family-friendly.

The town motto is, "As grand by land as by bay, and why many choose to stay."

The town offers wonderful outdoor activities along with water fun and beautiful bay views. Seabrook has 15 parks and 10 miles of hike and bike trails, and is only 30 minutes from downtown Houston and four miles from Johnson Space Center.You can learn about the trails in the easy to follow Seabrook trails map the Parks and Recreation Department includes on its Web site. While enjoying a seaside trek, consider helping your kids spot and identify some of Seabrook's beautiful land and sea birds with the helpful birds of Seabrook species list.

We are always, always awed by the pelicans---the town bird! In fact, there are artistic statues of pelicans throughout Seabrook, which makes for some fun art appreciation and also attention-catching and time-passing spotting car games. The Pelican Path Project provides some good information about the artistic pelicans.

For nature, try the Seabrook Wildlife Refuge & Park at 700 Red Bluff Rd. This 10+ acres, primitive nature site provides trails for bird watching and observing other wildlife in their natural habitat. Armand Bayou is very nearby, too.

For a day of good family fun, we love Pine Gully Park. It has a fun play area for the kids, easy hike trails, is seaside, has a fishing pier on Galveston Bay, includes a Karawankawa Indians camp site, wetlands, wooded area, nature trails, restrooms, picnic tables and BBQ grills. It's easy to access off of 146 at 605 Pine Gully Rd.

Seabrook is the third largest boating community in the US, and there are plenty of boat rides, dinner cruises and fishing charters.

It also includes many wonderful, family-friendly restaurants. Although our beautiful town was hit hard by Hurricane Ike and lost quite a few cherished establishments, many are back in business or new ones are claiming our respect. Our favorite is T-Bone Tom's---which is back in business!---but you can also venture down to Kemah and eat seaside at one of the Boardwalk restaurants. Seabrook Tourism has a good guide to other restaurants.

I always told visitors to stop by our fresh fish markets, but most were wiped out by Ike. A couple have opened, though, so exit 146 and drive down Waterfront to stop in. I noticed another Grand Opening sign today!

Seabrook is closer than Galveston---which is looking fantastic, by the way---and offers so much day trip fun for Houston families.

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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!
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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.

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Looking Back at...September

by Rachel Mosteller

September 30, 2008

I've always disliked the month of September (well, not as much as I absolutely hate August) because of the fact that we in Houston are THIS CLOSE to fall but are still in total summer temps. This September has brought us very unusual nice cooler weather and also a hurricane. Can I get an "AMEN" if you're ready for October to come? AMEN! Bring. It. On. Looking back, September wasn't a total  Read more...

Bayou Bend Gardens

by Rachel Mosteller

September 29, 2008

One of the things that surprise me most about what outsiders think of Houston is how they imagine it as a dusty cowboy haven. Nothing chaps my hide more than seeing a television program showing Texas as a desert. When people find Houston is heavily wooded in areas, they are quite surprised. But, if you live here, you know its true. There are trees. Sure, there's also a lot of cement, traffic  Read more...

Snow in September

by Rachel Mosteller

September 08, 2008

My children have lived in Houston all their lives and, sadly, have never seen snow. (Try explaining to my daughter, who read one too many "winter equals snow" books last year that we don't have the white stuff.) But now, there's an awesome new event going on at the Museum of Contemporary Art involving snow. Check out Perspectives 162: Snow by Allie Bogel and Libbie Masterson. From what I  Read more...

The Budding Art Critic: Byzantine Frescos

by Rachel Mosteller

June 23, 2008

It is easy to go to a museum, see the pretty pictures and think nothing of their history. That isn't the case with the Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum in Houston. The history behind the Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum is as interesting as the paintings themselves. The paintings were stolen from a chapel in Cyprus in the 1980s, cut into pieces and smuggled out of the country with the intention of  Read more...

The Budding Art Critic: Cullen Sculpture Garden

by Rachel Mosteller

June 13, 2008

Just the other day, I had a child tell my daughter that she wasn't drawing a certain animal correctly. That got me to thinking how we really need to teach our kids about the fact that there's all different types of art out there and how it can all be right. Kids are used to seeing art in the form of paintings or pictures. Perhaps you should show them art in the form of sculpture?  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...