The Woodlands Texas Wildflower Festival 2011

Development Company booth with butterfly nets

It is time to start planting wildflowers in Southeast Texas. Each year, we have the privilege to enjoy the Fall outdoors at this family event in The Woodlands, Texas. You never know who or what you will see here, but you do know that it will be enjoyable for all ages - the little tots to young teenagers and adults. It has three basic purposes - (1) an outdoor event for the Fall; (2) an opportunity for businesses and organizations to display their products and services; (3) encourage wildflowers in the community. Each year the Woodlands Development Company partners with other companies and residents to sponsor this and to plant wildflowers in The Woodlands.

I brought back about eight specifies of wildflowers to plant both in the garden and in a very sunny location in a nearby green area. Each package of seeds has the name of the company or organization who rented a tent booth and the name of the wildflower, with instructions for planting. One prominent booth was of the Township, to promote the new garbage pickup services which start February 1st, 2012. We will have a full sized garbage can for recyclables, like Austin Texas has, and we will no longer use plastic bags for plant refuse.  I am elated about these changes in garbage pickup. For plant material, we now will use either our own garbage cans or purchase recyclable bags made for leaves and twigs. Examples can be seen in the video. A complimentary bag was given to each household attending the festival.

Children walked away with butterfly nets and other little gadgets; adults walked away with a new garbage bag, brochures, business cards, and seeds among other items. Activities included face painting, with a long line of people waiting, juggling, various costumed characters, air machines,a petting zoo, horse rides, hula hoop contests, a wargame area, and a number of other activities for children. It was a great time for all, maybe a little warmer than we would have liked but not bad at all and certainly not what I would call HOT!

Oktoberfest 2010 in The Woodlands Texas

South Montgomery County has a new annual German festival starting this year at Town Green Park. It starts today, Friday September 24 from 5PM until 9PM. Saturday: 12:00-9PM, Sunday: 12:00 - 9PM. There will be plenty of beer, dancing, live music and other festivities. This is sponsored by the Woodlands Rotary Club for their local student scholarship grants.
Town Green Park

2010 Woodlands Idol Contest

Competition for The Woodlands Idol is underway. It is not officially an American Idol event, but it is a forerunner of the 2011 season and is solely a Woodlands contest. The first session of three has already been completed. There remains an opportunity to enter the contest! If you have some singing talent that you believe might have a chance to win, you should enter the contest. It is a fun event. Maybe you can be another Will Makar! The first 2009 session at Crescent Moon Wine Bar had rave reviews by those attending.

This is the 3rd Annual Woodlands Idol competition sponsored by Hodges Collision Center and Outback Western Wear in search of the area’s best singing talent! Show The Woodlands your singing talent and win cash prizes!

There are 3 preliminary competitions. The first one was held on Friday, November 6, 2009 at Crescent Moon Wine Bar. Nine winners and a People’s Choice from that night have secured their place in the semi-finals which will be held on Friday, January 22, 2010 at Papa’s Ice House.

There are still two more chances for contestants to compete at the following preliminary events: 

• Friday, December 4, 2009 at Papa’s Ice House 
• Friday, January 8, 2010 at Dosey Doe

The top 9 winners and a People’s Choice from the semi-finals will advance to the finals at Taste of the Town on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center.

Prizes for the top 3 winners from the finals are as follows:

• 1st Place - $1000 Cash
• 2nd Place - $500 Cash
• 3rd Place - $250 Cash

Contestants must be 18 years of age or older to participate. Registration to enter each preliminary event will begin at 6:30pm and the competition will begin at 7:00pm. Registration entry fee is $10. Competition is limited to the first 30 contestants to sign up at each preliminary event.

For more information, contact Teresa Starr at teresa.starr@woodlandschamber.org or 281-363-8110 or visit www.tasteofthetown.org.

Christmas Ice Skating opens in The Woodlands

2009 brings another holiday skating season for adults as well the youth in our area. A temporary rink is installed each year to facilitate a festive holiday season. With the traditional decorations of Christmas, the Town atmosphere has more entertainment and amenities at the end of the year for our residents as well as anyone who wants to come out to The Woodlands to enjoy Christmas. This year, a relatively new food store across the street form the rink is offering a free $2 admission coupon with any purchase to reduce the skating cost for those who patron their store. There are eleven other businesses also offering the coupon. Which Wich Sandwiches is directly across Lake Robins Drive from the skating rink. There just is no way to miss the rink when you enter Town Center heading north on Six Pines.   

The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center, presented by Jaguar Land Rover Houston North, is the largest seasonal outdoor ice rink in the southwest United States and will be open daily beginning Saturday, November 21, 2009 through Monday, January 18, 2010 at its new location—northeast corner of Lake Robbins and Six Pines Drive.

Be one of the first to skate at The Ice Rink this weekend—Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15—for a Preview Opening at the rink. There will be special celebrations for the opening.

www.TheWoodlandsIceRink.com

Merry Christmas, George Baily - a live play by professional artists

Are you aware of the performing arts offerings right here in The Woodlands? Town Center Theatre is a professional group again offering a unique program from December 17th through December 20th. Their play is designed to bring the audience in close to the actors, so that the real people doing the acting seem like real people! In the fine arts, there is always a passion to be shared. This one is shared by people whose life is and has been in the theater for quite some time.


Performances will take place in the Loblolly Pine Room at the Shenandoah Municipal Center on I-45.

This work should be very entertaining, reenacting radio broadcasts of the 1940's.

“Town Center Theatre, along with the City of Shenandoah, is pleased to be bringing this heartwarming holiday story to the South Montgomery County area,” said Town Center Theatre Artistic Director Chris Tennison.

Based on the holiday classic "It’s A Wonderful Life" starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, Merry Christmas, George Bailey tells the story of a man whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve gains the attention of his guardian angel, Clarence, who proceeds to show him what life would have been like if he had never been born. Adapted for the stage by TCT Artistic Directors Joseph Milillo and Chris Tennison, Merry Christmas, George Bailey will be presented as a 1940s-era radio program, with talented voice actors playing multiple roles and a foley artist providing sound effects live on stage. David Dow Bentley of The People’s Critic called last year’s show “a cheerful recreation…(that is) remarkably well cast,”  D.L. Groover of the Houston Press praised actor Santry Rush’s portrayal of George Bailey as “quite amazing.” Mr. Rush will be reprising his role as George Bailey in this year’s production.

“The play proved to be very popular with families and theatre patrons who were familiar with the story of It’s A Wonderful Life and enjoyed seeing it told from a unique, fresh theatrical perspective,” Tennison said. “Now that we’re performing the production in a more intimate setting, where the audience will be closer to the action than ever before, I’m positive that our patrons will get a theatre experience unlike anything they’ve seen before in the area!”

Merry Christmas, George Bailey runs Dec. 17-20, with performances Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m. and two performances each on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m and 7 p.m. Tickets are available at $18 for regular patrons, $12 for seniors age 55 and over; and $10 for students. For groups of 10 or more, all tickets are $10. Seating is limited. Make your reservation by calling (832) 592-9697, Ext. 2.

Merry Christmas George Bailey

December 17 – 20, Thursday- Friday 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $10 - $18

Location: Loblolly Pine Room at the Shenandoah Municipal Center, 29955 I-45, Shenandoah, TX, 77381

For Reservations: 832-592-9697
Recommended for all audiences

Town Center Theatre is a professional, non-profit performing arts organization dedicated to providing quality theatre.

Chococlate Passion Summer Entertainment

My Woodlands friends at Chocolate Passion in Conroe are having a summer entertainment festival. They have a wide variety of events on selected days and evenings. I find these interesting and enjoyable, Have a cappuccino, sandwich, cake, chocolate, or any of their drinks or foods while you enjoy the entertainment. You'll like the cozy atmosphere.

Saturday Night
August 8, 2009
Showtime 8:00 pm 'till....... featuring Teddy Gipson, Bobbie Jones and friends singing your old favorites, doo wop, jazz and R/B.
$7 Admission
Call for reservations: 936-539-6585

Also coming:

Kathleen Thomas - Prose & Story Telling & A Little Song (now on CD) - Aug. 12, 11:00 am

Gordon Smith - Meet the Artist (YTBD)

Florencia Rossini - Cooking Classes (YTBD)

Chocolate Passion Newsletter

Fourth of July Parade in The Woodlands Texas 2008

Happy birthday America! This year's parade was an excellent event. Put a reminder for next year on your calendar now. Many people watch the parade under the shade trees of Market Street. Others utilize the shade on Lake Woodlands. Some people choose to arrive two hours early to get the prime locations, but many others arrive 20 minutes before the parade and stake out good viewing spots as well. The difference? The sun! Shady spots are occupied first. Some folks bring umbrellas and blankets. Some come by automobile, others come by Bicycle. One family made it a bicycle day - they were going to attend all events and toted their chairs and materials on their bicycles. The day had just started for them. The Market Street businesses which serve breakfast and especially coffee were open to feed the early arrivals. Speaking to one resident very early, I learned that the family has a certain traditional spot they relish and stake out their place a couple of hours early. Yes, tradition has taken hold on the community.

This event had all the traditional home town parade constituents and more - dignitaries, antique cars, motorcycles, horses, firetrucks and emergency vehicles, school bands, clowns, vendors, churches, schools, scouts, radio stations, and parade floats. There were three high school bands and at least three fire fighting organizations represented.

Frank Robinson, outgoing business manager for the Township, was honored this year as the Grand Marshall.

Included was a flyover of an EC145 Life Flight helicopter, supporting the float entry by Hermann Memorial. Their website is Hermann Memorial LifeFlight.

Candy, beads, leaflets and trinkets including yo-yos and Frisbees were passed out by the parade constituents.

Sgt Brice Herring was in charge of safety. He led the parade on his motorcycle to set the tone. The crowd was generally orderly and safety conscious. The parade had the flavor of a small town.

Residents are appreciative of the organization and participation efforts by this year's committee and volunteers headed up by Karen Booren. The committee consisted of Joe Giovanello, Darla Bell, Kim Lewis, Anna Ankalan, Kelly Dietrich, Bill Polk and Karen. "We had 85 volunteers from the National Charity league and another 40 from the community" this year, said Karen. The committee meets all year long planning the event and the result of their labor is certainly worth attending.

Soon, this year's results of the float competition and photographs will be added to the event's website. Click here to view.

An Evening Out on The Woodlands Waterway, a Texas style attraction

The entire family can enjoy an evening out on The Waterway, so can a couple or friends or an individual. This particular evening, the waterway was lit by the lights of the waterway AND the full moon. Children were playing in the wading fountains with parents close by watching, couples were enjoying the romantic atmosphere of a moonstruck night, visitors and residents were taking a ride along the waterway in water taxis, a social event was going on outside in Goose's Acre, a mother duck was escorting her 14 little ducklings along the waterway, the light show at the square was attracting visitors, and families were just out to enjoy the ambiance of the people, attractions and nature surrounding them. This is a great place to be on a warm or cool evening here in The Woodlands.