Weekend in The Woods: April 23-25

So much time and so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it." Willy Wonka.
The theme for this edition of Weekend in The Woods is about fitting all the fun activities and outings going on in our community into three short days. From carnivals and card games to the arts, both visual and performing, whether indoors or out and about, Woodlanders will not be at a loss for something to do this weekend:
Friday, April 23:
Karate-kick off your weekend right with a visit to the ATA Martial Arts School, as they celebrate the grand opening of their new location at 27626 I-45 North in Wood Ridge Plaza, from 5 to 8 p.m. Free food, prizes, and kid's activities are all a part of the festivities. For more details, visit www.texasata.com.
Check out the latest in home design and construction at the Evenings in East Shore Open House, tonight through Sunday, from 3 to 7 p.m. each day, at the Oasis Pointe Townhomes and Condominiums in the enclave of Southern Coast, overlooking Lake Woodlands. Hosted by McVaugh Custom Homes and The Woodlands Development Company, the new home tours will kick off with a wine & cheese reception, along with a plethora of information on the development and neighborhood. For more information on McVaugh Custom Homes and East Shore, visit www.thewoodlands.com and click on the East Shore icon on the home page, call 281-719-6333, or log on to www.mcvaugh.com.
If you're in the mood for music, several area venues are here to serve you tonight. Start the evening off with the mellow jazz melodies of The Anthony Caceres Legacy Jazz Trio, appearing at the AVIA Hotel in Market Street, tonight at 6 p.m., on the outdoor patio or inside the 2nd floor lounge, weather dependent. A short distance away finds local favorite Vertigo, both tonight and Saturday, at Baker St. Pub & Grill on the Waterway. Or, hop in the car and venture on over to Dosey Doe Coffee House for the CD release party celebrating Mystiqueros new album, AGAVE", beginning at 8:30 p.m. Advance tickets, which can be purchased online at http://doseydoescoffeeshop.com, are $20 per person and include a copy of the CD. If you're looking for a more laid-back atmosphere, head to Crescent Moon Wine Bar, where the Commercial Art Band takes the stage from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. For more information, visit www.crescentmoonwinebar.com.
Enjoy a night at the theatre as Lone Star College-Montgomery presents their spring production of The Miss Firecracker Contest", tonight and tomorrow, at the Woodlands campus at 3200 College Park Drive. The two evening shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night, and a single matinee performance will run on Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $7 for senior citizens, or $5 for students, and can be reserved by visiting www.LoneStar.edu/theatre-Montgomery, or by contacting Denise Meyers at 936-273-7021.
Saturday, April 24:
The Woodlands High School Council for International Affairs and Interact Club present Laps for Lives", from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the school's Bus Circle. Walk laps and participate in other fun activities to help raise money to sponsor a mine-detection dog. Statistics show that just one mine-detection dog can save close to 10,000 lives by sniffing out deadly land mines in underdeveloped countries. Entry is $10 per person or $30 per family, and includes participation in the dog costume contest, dog trick contest, magicians, face painting, and more. For more information, visit www.thewoodlandscia.com.
Start making those summer plans now by visiting the Summer Family Fun Expo, at VillaSport Athletic Club & Spa, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The facility's first annual showcase of summer activities will feature exhibitors offering previews on everything from whitewater rafting, museums, and fishing and hunting, to scuba diving, summer camps, and more. For more information, call Laura Vander Voort at 832-585-0822, or visit www.villasport.com/tw.
Get your motor running and race on over to the Powell Elementary PTO annual school carnival, from 1 to 5 p.m., at the school located at 7332 Cochran's Crossing Drive. This year's theme, Powell Piston Cup", features a wide variety of carnival games and rides, as well as a silent auction with such items up for bid as a romantic local getaway to the AVIA Hotel, Jasper's, and Bella Rinova Spa; an RCA 40" LCD television with home theatre DVD player; and, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an exclusive afternoon tour of the private 300+ car museum of Tony Gullo, including use of his own private movie theatre and diner in the museum. Tickets for carnival activities can be purchased at the event, and more details are available by contacting Mitzi Leach at mleach2@comcast.net, or Patti Paradee at pparadee@comcast.net.
Central Park at Market Street will transform into an outdoor art gallery for the annual Spring Fine Arts Show, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The exhibition features displays of work by Woodlands artists in painting, woodwork, sculptures, glass, mixed media and more. In the case of inclement weather, a rain date is scheduled for May 1. For more information, visit www.marketstreet-thewoodlands.com.
Saturday night's alright for rocking out to some great tunes at local venues. First up is a string of bands performing for your listening pleasure at Shadowplay. To Stage A War, Thieves and Beggars, In Search of Mercy, Wake Up Fight Back, and more, take the stage beginning at 6:30 p.m., with a cover charge of $10 for the night. Click on http://shadowplaylounge.com for details. For some deep fried rock n roll", check out Bleu Edmonson, headlining at Dosey Doe Coffee House. The music starts at 8:30 p.m., with a charge of $18 at the door. Visit http://doseydoescoffeeshop.com for more information.
Sunday, April 11:
You gotta know when to hold em and put on your poker face for the 2010 Charity Texas Hold Em Poker Classic, at the AVIA Hotel in Market Street, beginning at 2 p.m., with cards dealt out at 3 p.m. sharp. Poker players of all skill levels will compete to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Life Beyond Cancer Foundation. The $100 entry fee is divided into $50 in advance to go toward charity and $50 cash the day of event for the prize pool. Table sponsorships are available for $250, with all donations 100 percent tax deductible. Seats are still open for the 80-player maximum tournament, which will award prizes to nine finalists, and includes a bonus raffle prize of a new Andrew Shirley & Company, Inc. poker table. Register for the event by calling Lynn Gonzales at 832-866-5790. For more information, visit www.lifebeyondcancer.org/events/2010-charity-poker-classic.
As always, Sunday night brings another edition of the weekly free Concert in the Park series, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Northshore Park. This weekend features the country stylings of the Nigel Edison Band. For more information on the Concert in the Park series, contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 281-210-3900.
Be a piece of the action at a special recording session of 15-year-old guitar prodigy Clay Melton and his band, at Live at Dosey Doe", Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. The cover fee of $20 includes listening in during the recording session and an autographed electronic press kit from the artist. Visit http://doseydoescoffeeshop.com for more details.
Got other ideas or know of interesting events for the coming weekend? Post your suggestions below to share a Weekend in the Woods" with fellow residents.