FYI

Men’s Club holds annual Battle of Bands

Members of the Bellaire Men’s Club (BMC) leadership team recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of Battle of the Bands, the group’s largest charity project. Presented by Tradition Bank, the event is the largest high school battle of the bands charity concert in the state and remains a place for youth in the greater Houston area to showcase talent.

“It is amazing to see what has become of the charity concert,” Steven Womack, a CPA with Ernst and Young and BMC board member, stated in a press release. “We’re still getting donations in for this year and since the beginning, we’ve raised nearly $20,000 for local charities.” 

All ticket sales went to the Wounded Warrior Project. Dawson High School students Austin Rominger, Geoff Llyod, Holden Rominger and Josh Gibbs made up the winning band, the Castaways. The group received studio time at SugarHill Recording Studios.

Other participants included Harris Thornton, Keeli Armitage, Brianna Raymond and Jack Thornton of Das Wompus; Marion Nelson, Micah Green and Dalton Cramer of Catharsis; Austin McGinnis, John Wall, Ryan Fulghumand Jake Irr of Triple5Seven; and Kyle Somers, Jack Riggs, Haley Abramson,

Brian Cotton and Cade Kennedy of There’s a Fighter in Me. Students spent more than four months preparing for the event.Applications for the 11th annual battle of the bands will be accepted in March 2013.

For more information, email bmcbands@gmail.com.

Horse show to benefit Children’s Hospital West

The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show will hold a holiday celebration from 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Valobra Jewelry and Antiques in Highland Village. The celebration will benefit Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. Champagne and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Owner and master jeweler Franco Valobra has created and donated a jewelry piece valued between $25,000 and $30,000 to raise funds for Child Life Services at Texas Children’s Hospital West. Highland Village is at 4078 Westheimer, Houston.

To register for the holiday party, send an email to office@pinoak.org by Friday, Nov. 30.

Houston Zoo introduces Zoo Lights tradition

The Houston Zoo will begin a new holiday tradition called Zoo Lights from Friday, Nov. 23 through Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013. According to a press release, the event, sponsored by TXU Energy, will transform the zoo into a winter wonderland with thousands of lights adorning live oak trees, colorful projections more than 15 feet tall and life-size animated animal sculptures. 

In addition to lights, the Wildlife Carousel will be open for riding; Holly Berry, a 1958 Cadillac with lights that dance in time to music, will also be on display; and “The Polar Express” 4-D Experience will also be shown. Guests will also be able to dine on funnel cakes, cinnamon rolls, pizza, sandwiches and hot chocolate, as well as gingerbread men to decorate. 

Christmas carolers will be also be present to sing holiday songs and local school and church choirs will give nightly performances. Tickets cost $8 for members and $10 for non-members. Children under age 2 will be admitted for free. Tickets purchased online will be sold at a $1 discount. Zoo Lights will be open from 6-10 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 9 p.m. The zoo is located at 6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston. 

For more information, visit www.houstonzoo.org/zoolights.

Met Opera singer auditions set for Dec. 8 at Rice

The Metropolitan Opera National Councils are holding opera singer auditions from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 at Alice Pratt Brown Hall at Rice University in Houston.

According to the organization, “Winners from the Houston auditions will proceed to the regional auditions competition in New Orleans on Sunday, Jan. 6. Winners from this regional audition move onto the semi-final auditions in New York City.  

Winners from the semi-final auditions at the Metropolitan Opera house qualify to appear at the Grand Finals Concert on Sunday, March 10 held onstage at Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.” Alice Pratt Brown Hall at Rice University is at 6100 S. Main St., Houston.

For more information, call 713-807-9342, visit www.metoperafamily.org.

 

Holiday Bazaar scheduled for Nov. 29   The Holiday Bazaar event, sponsored by University Place Retirement Community, will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29 in Houston. According to the organization, the event will feature hand-crafted Afghans, dolls, jewelry and many other items.   The event will be held at 7480 Beechnut. For more information, call 713-541-2900 or 713-456-6060.   OnStage to present ‘Winnie the Pooh’ Jan. 12-Feb. 16   The Company OnStage will perform “Winnie the Pooh” on Saturdays from Jan. 12 to Feb. 16, 2013. The show is part of the theater’s 36th season celebration with performances at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturdays.   According to the organization, “in this adventure, Pooh will be joined by his forest friends Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl and Christopher Robin.” Tickets are $10 for adults and children. The Company OnStage is at 536 Westbury Square, West U.   For more information, call 713-726-1219, visit companyonstage.org/season_children.html or email info@companyonstage.org.   Museum of Fine Arts to show ‘Moneyball’    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston will show “Moneyball” at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26 in Houston. The event is part of their Movies Houstonains Love series. This film is the favorite of Houston Astros owner Jim Crane and general manager Jeff Luhnow, according to the MFAH website. “Moneyball” is a 2011 biographical sports drama film directed by Bennett Miller starring Brad Pitt.   The event is open to the public. General admission is $7. MFAH members, senior adults and students with ID receive a $1 discount. Unless otherwise indicated, Film Buffs members are admitted free. Children 5 and under are admitted free.   Discount passes, good for 10 admissions each, are $60 for general admission and $55 for MFAH members, senior adults and students with ID. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is at 1001 Bissonnet.   For more information, call 713-639-7300 or check mfah.org/films/.