New Sports Event may be coming to The Woodlands - Memorial Herman Ironman

Today, Nick Wolda of The Woodlands announced a proposed international Ironman competition event right here in The Woodlands to the Woodlands Board of Directors. Memorial Herman Ironman would, if approved next week, become a major international event with participants from all 50 states and 23 countries. $100,000 would be raised for local charities, mostly for those organizations that provide volunteers to help put on the event. The race would be televised and viewed by some 1.5 million persons over the world. The proposed competition would be held on the third Saturday in May. The run would be here; the swim on Lake Woodlands; and biking in Montgomery County. 

Its economic impact on the community will be $16 million at the event in hotel, services and sales. It will generate more money with the preparations, trials and visits by competitors and news media. This is a great opportunity for The Woodlands, and will give us considerable advertising all over the world.

It will cost us $30,000 per year for five years. Bret Strong (a triathlon competitor) and Nick Wolda (CVB) helped to negotiate the deal. Hotel room tax and local sales taxes would more than offset the cost.

Creekside Outdoor Adventure Park

This facility in The Woodlands, Texas, is quite a leap to something different than the other YMCA's. Today, the "Y" had its debut or grand opening of the new facility in the woods. Phase 1 of 2 has been completed and is available for camp adventures. The facility is designed for families, children and adults. Adults might want to schedule the main room for banquets, meetings and the like for business, community events or for various age group socials or meetings. Children will engage in day camp and special interpretive nature outings. Today's festivities are presented as a slide show. 

This climbing tower is really huge. Today, they were limiting it to three children at one time, heavily supervised.

The camp has several cabins elevated by a railed boardwalk high off the lowlands that are subject to flooding.

There are nine tepees, three separate camps slightly elevated off the ground.

An amphitheater is quite spacious for seating. Today, a young lady was singing for the visitors.

A mist was really cool (literally) on this hot day!

The main building is without sectioning, designed for meetings or banquets. Today, it was full of vendor booths and free food and drinks. It has a capacity to hold 250 adults or 500 children. It is available for day rental.

This facility fits into The Woodlands very well. It has been part of the vision, the master community plan, from the very beginning. Today's opening is however only phase 1. Next to this facility is room to build phase 2 - a complete gymnasium with two sports fields. Akk theyneed is the money to start phase 2. That will come in time. I'm sure residents in the Village of Creekside Park would love to have an exercise facility in their community. All of it is part of the South Montgomery YMCA, so there will be discounts on activities at the adventure park as well as the gym, when it is built. Membership will be shared and interchangeable among the three gymnasiums in The Woodlands.   

Christmas in the air of The Woodlands - Nov 21st Lighting of The Doves

27th Annual Lighting of the Doves, International Winter On The Waterway, The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center and Donoho’s Jewellers Winter Wonderland are all back!

The Woodlands once again has much to offer for the holidays as the 27th Annual Lighting of the Doves, International Winter On The Waterway (iWOW), The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center and Donoho’s Jewellers Winter Wonderland returns on Saturday, November 21.

27th Annual Lighting of the Doves

Saturday, November 21 officially kicks off the 2009 holiday season. This year’s festival will  feature  interactive booths and games, ice carving competition, snow play area, amazing fireworks, balloon artists, face painters, inflatables and so much more. Enjoy an evening filled with live music and entertainment for the entire family by Needfire, Houston Coral Showcase and other entertainers. Don’t forget to find Santa, as he makes his grand traditional entrance in a dazzling, decorated boat from along The Woodlands Waterway® at 6:30 pm.

Presented by the Community Associations of The Woodlands, the 27th Annual Lighting of the Doves will take place at Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Drive, from 2 pm – 7 pm.

Admission to the festivities is free.
www.LightingOfTheDoves.com

International Winter On The Waterway (iWOW)

In conjunction with the 27th Annual Lighting of the Doves, International Winter On The Waterway (iWOW) will also take place at Town Green Park on Saturday, November 21 from 2 pm – 7 pm.

With a “street fair” atmosphere, iWOW showcases the holiday traditions from Japan, Panama, the United States and a myriad of other countries at exhibits along the banks of The Woodlands Waterway.

From foods, arts & crafts, to music and entertainment, iWOW is certain to enhance The Woodlands holiday celebrations. Entertainment will include the Cass Irish Dancers, Yosakoi, La Tempestad, among others. Admission is free.

www.iWOWinTheWoodlands.com

Donoho’s Jewellers Winter Wonderland

Donoho’s Jewellers Winter Wonderland features illuminated holiday scenes and storybook displays surrounding The Ice Rink. Visitors can wander through the fantasyland of magical, lighted toy soldiers, elves, doves, musical angels and snowmen from dusk until 11 pm beginning November 21 through January 4, 2010.

www.TheWoodlandsWinterWonderland.com

Free parking is available at the Green, Yellow and Orange lots on Timberloch Place.

The holiday events in The Woodlands are made possible because of the following sponsors: Donoho’s Jewellers, Community Associations of The Woodlands, Jaguar Land Rover Houston North, Coca-Cola, Silver Eagle Distributors, Waste Management, Hubbell and Hudson Market & Bistro, Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, Fidelity Investments, The Strong Law Firm, Planet Ford, CenterPoint Energy, Collision Collections, Wright’s Printing, Spectrum Events, St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital, University of Phoenix, Hodges Collision Center, Woodforest National Bank, Mellisa Ray Insurance Agency, The Woodlands Young Learners Academy, CB&I, The Woodlands Development Company, Cinemark, Texas Home & Theaters, Ridgway Printing, Sunny 99.1, The Courier, The Villager, Houston Community Newspapers, reviewit Magazine, Woodlands Family Magazine, Woodlands Lifestyles & Homes, and The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center.

For complete information on all holiday events, please visit www.HolidayInTheWoodlands.com or call 281-363-2447.

Dosey Doe and Town Center Theatre - Sunday Evening

This coming Sunday, September 13th, there will be a local dinner performance here in The Woodlands at Dosey Doe Coffee House (Restaurant). They call their show simply the "Second Sunday Showcase" for apparent reasons. It occurs each second Sunday of the month. This dinner show in a venue started this year through a partnership of Dosey Doe and Town Center Theatre. Here is a chance to enjoy the local arts. These folks are professionals, and I understand they know how to put on a show. Cast is Travis Bryant, Kim Bryant, and Andrew Ruthven, among others. Pianist accompaniment is performed by David McKenery.

Dosey Doe Coffee House is at 25911 I-45 North (Southbound), The Woodlands, Texas, 77380. The doors will open at 4:30pm for dinner. Show starts at 6:00pm.

Tickets van be purchased by calling 281-367-3774. Floor seats include dinner and can be purchased for $40 each. Alternatively, balcony seats are available at $15 without dinner included. Children's tickets are $15 each, which includes dinner.

Town Center Theatre and the Dosey Doe together bring audiences some of the best in musical theatre entertainment every second Sunday evening of the month. Each show features a group of versatile, charming musical theatre artists performing favorite Broadway show tunes, ranging from classic standards to the latest hits. For more information, their website is www.towncentertheatre.com.