Cypress, TX – July 16, 2010)        Celebrating the achievements of the more than 1,000 participants in the second annual Memorial Hermann Bridgeland Triathlon, the community is planning a festive party after the race, scheduled for Aug. 8.

The Finish Line Celebration kicks off at 9 a.m. in Festival Park with concessions geared to replenish weary athletes, as well as the awards ceremony, entertainment and activities for kids. The triathlon, sanctioned by USA Triathlon, has been sold out for months, and is expected to bring plenty of well-wishers into the community, cheering on their favorite athletes. Everyone is invited to attend the Finish Line Celebration, whether racing or supporting an athlete or just looking for an eventful way to spend the morning. The party also celebrates the accomplishments of athletes participating in the Kiwanis Kids Triathlon, happening in Bridgeland Aug. 7.

The triathlon begins at 7 a.m. and includes a point-to-point swim, flat bike course and partial trail run with shade throughout the master-planned community and along the Cypress Creek Nature Trail. Breakfast concessions will be available in the park from 7 to 10 a.m.

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Langham Creek YMCA is putting a spin on reality TV with “The Show,” a series of camps for kids ages 12-14 that pays tribute to today’s real-life pop culture.

Upcoming sessions include:

• Myth Buster, July 5-9
• YMCA’s Got Talent, July 12-16
• TRL, July 19-23
• The Amazing Race, July 26-30
• Survivor, Langham Creek, Aug. 2-6
• Heroes, Aug. 9-13
• Made, Aug. 16-20

The Monday-through-Friday sessions are 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and cost $160 a week for facility members and $200 per week for program members. Activities include two weekly field trips/events, service projects, archery, swimming, skating, team challenges and more.

The YMCA also has summer camps for younger children.

Langham Creek YMCA, just 5.6 miles from Bridgeland, recently underwent an 11,000-square-foot expansion that included a group exercise studio, an expanded spinning studio, a 5,500-square-foot child watch area, lobby improvements and new cardiovascular equipment. For more information, visit www.ymcahouston.org/langham-creek. 

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Business owners can learn tips and tricks to grow their businesses at free seminars sponsored by the Small Business Development Center and the Lone Star College-Cy Fair branch library, 9191 Barker Cypress.

Slated for 7:45-8:45 p.m. June 22 is “Mine the Web for Demographics,” an introduction to finding usable demographic information such as the average income for your business area and local statistics on age, gender and ethnicities. The class will meet in Room 215 at the library.

Upcoming seminars include:

• June 29, Create Potential Client Lists, mastering the use of Reference USA, a large database of businesses and customers.
• July 13, Online Marketing Applications, promoting your business with e-newsletters and marketing campaigns using social media.
• July 20, Search Engine Optimization, learn best practices on how to be one of the top hits when your clients search for your product or service.

Each class is from 7:45-8:45 p.m. in Room 215. No registration is necessary and attendees have a chance to win a door prize at each session. For more information, visit http://www.lonestar.edu/library/business-seminars.

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Young local thespians will present "Abracadabra Aladdin!" June 23-26 at the Houston Family Arts Center, 10760 Grant Road.

This adaption of the popular fairy tale is full of adventurous fun and engaging music, three genies, the whimpering "Ali Bubba," the haughty sultan's wife, and — of course — Aladdin and Jasmine.

Performances are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online at www.houstonfac.com or by calling the box office at 281/685-6374.

"Abracadabra Aladdin!" is part of the arts center's summer performance camps for children, where campers learn to create their own sets, props and costumes, and rehearse and perform a show in front of a live audience. Upcoming performances include "Kung Fu Kitty," July 21-24, and "Hansel and Gretel," Aug. 11-14.

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Cirque du Soleil Alegria — a baroque ode to the energy, grace and power of youth — comes to Cypress in eight performances at the Berry Center June 16-20.

The themes of the show, whose name means "jubilation" in Spanish, are many. Power and the handing down of power over time, the evolution from ancient monarchies to modern democracies, old age, youth and more. Characters such as minstrels, court jesters, beggars, old aristocrats and children take the audience on a fanciful journey through time.

Performance dates are 7:30 p.m. June 16 and 17, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. June 18 and 19, and 1 and 5 p.m. June 20. Ticket prices range from $32 to $95.

The Berry Center is located at 8877 Barker-Cypress Road. For tickets to Cirque du Soleil or information on upcoming events, visit http://www.berrycenter.net/.

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(Cypress, TX – May 25, 2010) Baseball fans will be crying “Take me out to the Bridgeland community,” July 10 to see HomeAid Houston’s 2010 Project Playhouse, “The Vintage Astros Dugout” and enjoy a day of baseball-themed fun.

The event, set for 10 a.m. to noon, showcases the playhouse, built in honor of the Astros’ 45th year as a ball club. It is the perfect getaway for the young baseball fan, including bench seating from the Astros dugout in Minute Maid Park (complete with cleat marks), a wall-mounted 32-inch HDTV, a Nintendo Wii, a DVD player and an 8,000 BTU air conditioner with remote control.

Raffle tickets will be on sale for the playhouse for $5 each. Raffle ticket holders also will have a chance to win a ball or hat signed by Lance Berkman, Jeff Bagwell, Hunter Pence and Brad Mills, or four tickets to an upcoming game. Astros’ mascot Junction Jack will be in Bridgeland for the event, as will the Cy-Ranch High School baseball team. Visitors also can participate in a free batting clinic and enjoy complimentary hot dogs, refreshments and giveaways.

Project Playhouse is a major fund-raising event for HomeAid Houston, which works to provide shelter for the homeless in the greater Houston area and to build dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives. David Weekley built the 10-foot by 10-foot playhouse with donated materials, labor and services from members of the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA). The playhouse will debut at the GHBA New Home and Remodeling Show in Reliant Park June 12 and 13. In addition to being in Bridgeland, the playhouse will be on display at Minute Maid Park July 23 through Aug. 19. Bridgeland is a lead sponsor of this year’s project.

For more information on Project Playhouse, visit the HomeAid Houston website at http://www.homeaidhouston.org/index.html.

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Best Buy will be giving away free tickets to the Greater Houston Builders Association’s New Home & Remodeling Show, June 12-13 at Reliant Center.
The ticket giveaway begins Memorial Day weekend, May 29-31, and continues June 5-6 and 12-13. More than 150 vendors will be showcasing the latest products and services in home building and remodeling. A variety of seminars also are planned.

Special activities during the two-day event include free popcorn to the first 100 children ages 12 and under both days, a live Radio Disney show 1:30-3 p.m. on Sunday’s Family Fun Day and “Sippin’ Saturday” in Frontier Home’s Wine Grotto 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 12. Plus, a master artisan will carve woodwork pieces at the Wood Essence booth on both days and Astros’ mascot Junction Jack will be on hand each day.
GHBA and HomeAid Houston also will unveil the 2010 Project Playhouse, “The Vintage Astros Dugout,” during the show. The playhouse also will be at Bridgeland in a special baseball-themed event July 10. Those interested can buy raffle tickets for a chance to win the house, autographed balls and hats or tickets to an Astros game both at the home show and at Bridgeland.

For more information on the home show, visit GHBAShows.com.

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Attention drama queens: Drama is a reality in Bridgeland this year, with two theatrical events slated.

Auditions will be held for “Alice in Wonderland” 1-5 p.m. May 16 at the Lakeland Activity Center, 16902 Bridgeland Landing. Parts are available for adults, teens and children, and include both speaking and non-speaking roles. Those auditioning can prepare a 30-second monologue or do a cold reading from the script. Both residents and non-residents may audition.

The production fee is $124 for residents and $150 for non-residents. For more information, or to schedule an audition time, visit www.bridgelandlife.com.

The community’s debut production, “Alice in Wonderland,” will be staged Sept. 11 and 12 at the new Lakeland Heights pavilion.

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Bridgeland is once again inviting the public to join an introductory fly-fishing class in the community’s Oak Meadow Park, Sunday, April 11, 9-10:30 a.m.

The class will include hands-on casting instruction on both a group and individual basis; how to present an artificial fly to trout, bass and saltwater species, and how to hook and land a fish. Also on the agenda are how to make basic fishing knots and how to assemble a fly-fishing outfit.

Fly rod equipment will be provided and participants should dress comfortably and wear a cap and sunglasses. Plus, participants will have a choice of a free minnow or wooly worm fishing lure.

Cost for the class is $35 for residents and $40 for non-residents. The class is for individuals ages 10 and up, although children under age 16 must be accompanied by a parent at all times.

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Northwest Houston is rich with cultural offerings, a highlight of which is Cypress Creek FACE, the Foundation of the Arts and Community Enrichment. The non-profit foundation brings a range of cultural arts programming to The Centrum, an 885-seat performance hall that is part of the Cypress Creek Christian Community Center, 6823 Cypresswood Drive in Spring.

Some of the popular performers seen at The Centrum include Bill Cosby, Nancy Wilson, Bob Newhart, Tommy Tune, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and more. Plus, FACE features local and regional artists in its Promenade Series, which targets local retirement communities, nursing homes and seniors groups to bring entertaining and meaningful programming they will enjoy. Finally, the Free Children’s Series features local artists in performances geared toward elementary students.

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