Hello, GISH PICKS reader!


I am Sarah Gish and I adore Houston, the most diverse city in the country. I have been writing this blog, subtitled CURATED CULTURE FOR KIDS & ADULTS, since 2004.


I focus on my passion to amplify unique Houston arts and culture events and organizations by PICK-ing their weekend happenings. I am an artist and writer and teacher and I am very involved with the art car community, having made 5 "daily driver" art cars including my current car, Iggy the Igniter. I also have an art project, Ignite Your Life!, which is at the center of all that I create and all that I do.


Every week my blog will be topped with a photo relating to Houston's arts and culture, or perhaps a good story! Click on it and enjoy the surprise of where it takes you.


I love to ignite lives and create connections and my words and my art are some of the ways I do that.



Thanks for joining me in my explorations

of creative Houston!


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Before you scroll through this week's PICKS:

please note that there are links connected to the boldfaced words in BLUE, and there are links

connected to all PICKS images.


And!

Scroll to the bottom for info on how to support this blog and to see a NEW FEATURE: a list of weekend events of one art form (theatre, dance, music, visual art, literary, film) that I publish weekly. Also down yonder, you can read my QUICK THOUGHTS and see this week's VIDEO PICK and click on links to my ROUND-UPS of Houston thangs such as

indie bookstores & my fave nature spots.


Also!

At the very bottom you'll find more about me and my offerings of ways I can help you increase your personal peace, including private consultations, labyrinth walks, and workshops.


One more thing...

If you click on a Facebook link -- and aren't on that platform -- the statement "Safari cannot open the page because the address is invalid" might pop up. Click "ok" then click on the "x" on the image of me where it says "See more from Sarah Gish"

and you'll get to the post.


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If you read this online, or it was forwarded to you --

SUBSCRIBE NOW and you'll never have to miss an edition!


And if you want me to promote your event...CONTACT ME!


WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 30, 2025

CRAFT COMMUNITY DAY

this Saturday, November 1, 11am-3pm

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

4848 Main Street

The annual Craft Community Day is back this Saturday, November 1 from 11am-3pm, and it's a great opportunity to learn and be inspired. Join Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) for this free festival highlighting nearly 20 local artist guilds and community groups!


Visitors of all ages are invited to learn about craft through artist demonstrations and activities, visiting HCCC’s resident artist studios, and viewing the current exhibitions, CraftTexas 2025 and In Residence: 18th Edition. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase from Moon Rooster food truck.


PARTICIPATING GROUPS are:



Please note: The HCCC parking lot will be blocked off for craft demonstrations, but street parking is available nearby.


Craft Community Day replaces Hands-on Houston in November. HOH will resume in December, on the first Saturday of the month as always -- Saturday, December 6 from 11am-3pm will be Hands-On Houston: Woven Stars.


CLICK ON IMAGES FOR MORE INFO.

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The Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival is at the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC starting this Sunday, November 2 through November 15. It's the largest festival of its kind and is an exciting opportunity to learn and experience Jewish literary, culture, and the arts. See the full program here -- highlights include the Oliver Lapin Family Day and the closing event with the book Lorne about Lorne Michaels of SNL. CLICK ON IMAGE FOR MORE INFO.

How fun is this?! People gather at a bar and hear smarty pants people talk on subjects they are passionate about (yours truly may be participating soon!). Nerd Night Houston is part of a national program -- Grand Prize Bar hosts on the first Saturday of the month at 7pm -- so it's this Saturday, November 1. CLICK ON IMAGE FOR MORE INFO.

Here's a great way to enjoy live music while also getting a 5 hour break from your kiddos: attend select ROCO concerts and sign the kids up for ROCOrooters. This year there are 3 concerts with that opportunity, with the first one being this Saturday, November 1. Parents will get to see the Fragrant Memories performance and kids will get to learn about music and play! CLICK ON IMAGE FOR MORE INFO.

If you've got a toddler, here is some fun for ya! Enjoy the Hermann Park ImagiNature Playground, the Discovery Green Mini Makers Workshop, this Saturday, November 1 from 10am-noon; Zumbini on Thursdays at the Children's Museum; and Storytime on the Terrace on Fridays at the Montrose Collective.

Danscape is an annual benefit performance produced by In-Step Dance Company / Arts In Motion, taking place this year this Saturday, November 1 at 7:30pm. It brings together top dancers and choreographers from around the state. The goal of the organization is to facilitate collaboration amongst dance companies and choreographers and to provide educational and performance opportunities so that all have access to the arts. CLICK ON IMAGE FOR MORE INFO.

If you're a board game or bingo fan, check out these events: Falling for Mahjong (10/30); Afrotech Game Night Kickback (10/31); Singo Music Bingo (Mondays); Blanket Bingo (10/30); Bingo in the Heights (Thursdays); and the Arab American Cultural and Community Center Game Night (November 7).

Head to Levy Park this Saturday, November 1 from noon-4pm for the iWRITE Book Signing & Literacy Festival, a family fun day celebrating young published authors and illustrators. The event is free and food is available for purchase. Kids can enjoy games such as scavenger hunts, a Texas history mini-museum, a creative writing station...and free children's books will be given away. Plus there will be superheroes and a costume contest. CLICK ON IMAGE FOR MORE INFO.

Young Audiences of Houston has an ongoing list of public programs on their website, which is a handy dandy list of things to do! Bookmark this page and check it often. Coming soon are Halloween and Dia de los Muertos events -- fun fun! CLICK ON IMAGE FOR MORE INFO.

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Click on image for my

THEATRE PERFORMANCES round-up!


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WANDERLIGHT Happy Hour:

Sacred Sips & Soulful Steps

FREE event

hosted by Sarah Gish

with

Compassionate Houston

Friday, November 14, 5-7pm

St. Paul's United Methodist Church

and

Monarch at Hotel ZaZa

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The heART of Sacred Self-Care

with Sarah Gish

Saturday, November 29, 2-4pm

Body Mind & Soul

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How about trying something different for your sober activity? The Houston Ballet offers a Yamuna Body Rolling class on most Fridays, which is a full body workout utilizing the powerful effect of a simple Yamuna Body Rolling (YBR) ball. The YBR ball challenges and unlocks the uneven surfaces of the musculoskeletal system. You will perform exercises using your body weight and small movements to release tension from the neck, back leg muscles, and more. Drop in classes are $20/each. Sign me up!


CLICK ON IMAGE FOR MORE INFO.

Why do I have a SOBER PICK? I am a sober person; click on the photo of 20-something me for more about my story. I love sobriety and all that it’s brought me, and I want to encourage anyone struggling with addiction to give it a try. Houston has so many resources (you can start with Alcoholics Anonymous) and there are a myriad of fun activities without booze created by the Party Sober Partnership, The Phoenix, Sober Girls Houston, and Sober Recreation Committee.


This week's VIDEO PICK features me! I have performed at The Moth Houston twice, and this talk I did was inspired by their theme of "Drive" -- I HAD TO do it because I have spent the last several years of my IGNITE YOUR LIFE! art project going on road trips and having adventures! It really was fun.


The Moth is a monthly StorySLAM competition hosted in various cities all with the same theme. The next one -- with the prompt "Cheat" -- will be next Tuesday, November 4 at 7pm at the River Oaks Theatre. Sounds like a perfect topic on Election Day! See all the info about that event here.

Happy Halloween! I hope you enjoy all the candy you can and that all the scares are good! Houston celebrates another death-centered holiday – Day of the Dead / Día de los Muertos – at many spots, including downtown Houston; MECA Houston; Discovery Green; Noche Azul; Casa Ramirez (celebrating their last one since the store will be closing next spring); and the National Museum of Funeral History. 

A general and special election is coming up in Harris County next Tuesday, November 4. The League of Women Voters of Houston have a great nonpartisan Houston Voters Guide here. Happy Using-Your-Voice Day!

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IN THESE TIMES: I made a decision about my writing of this blog during this time when there are so many negative things swirling around and lives (and now buildings) being upended because of our current presidential administration. I am keeping up with that and am speaking out in ways I think are most effective. I am doing what I can to make changes and to aid people whose lives are being affected. I have been tempted to address how that affects the arts each week but that feels too heavy.


Instead: I pray that GISH PICKS will serve as a beacon of hope and a continued amplifier of local arts and all that is good as we experience this unprecedented time together. For over 20 years I have presented Houston's diversity of art forms and communities and ideas -- and that will not stop. My heart is with you, and with all of us. Please join me in protecting our democracy! You can start here.

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Click on each image below for my ROUND-UPS!

...LEARN MORE ABOUT ME...

HIRE ME! If you want to learn ways of getting centered -- or igniting your life -- or getting your creative juices flowing...

click on the images below for more about my work and then please contact me if I can be of service at 713.492.1173.

If you'd like to support my passion to amplify our community of artists, nature spots, farmers markets, vegan eating, indie bookstores, and arts & culture organizations, click here to donate ANY amount of money to my company using your credit card or PayPal account. Please note that your donation is not tax deductible.


You can also pay me via Venmo (@Sarah-Gish) or Zelle (713 492 1173). Or, if you'd prefer to snail mail me a check, that's great! Please make the check payable to Gish Creative and mail it to: Gish Creative, 1940-A Fountainview Drive, PMB 116, Houston, Texas 77057.


You can also support my blog -and- promote your event or organization by purchasing ads. Please email me for my rate card, demographics, and more information. I'd love to help you reach my wildly loyal readers.


Thank you so much!

Alrighty -- time to log off and go enjoy Houston art & culture!

Sarah Gish

www.IgniteYourOwnLife.com

713.492.1173

P.S. I have 2 lists for GISH PICKS -- one for adults and one for families. Each list gets the same blog weekly -- both also get separate targeted emails. You can be on both lists or just one if you wish -- it's super easy! Just scroll down and click on "Update Profile" (see pic above).
 
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