With effects-laden movies and lifelike video games, kids today have their "horror" all laid out. Kim McGraw hopes to bring back the oral tradition of scaring the snot out of children with the storytelling event "Bonechillers." Kids will freak out their friends using old-school methods, with stories about demonic dolls, hook-handed sailors and other campfire legends. "Movies and games leave little to the imagination," says McGraw. "Kids get a chance to be creative here, or they can just listen." In addition to the spooky tales, there will also be games like Murder in the Dark. McGraw still remembers her own favorite camp story, about a kid with fiery red eyes who drowned and supposedly was buried right under her cabin. "One night, the counselors put an armadillo in my trunk so it made this scratching noise," she recalls. "Then they held up two flashlights with red covers by my window. It scared the bejesus out of me!" 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, June 27, with additional events August 8 and 15. Lucia's Garden, 2216 Portsmouth. To register, call 713-376-2727. $20 price includes pizza. -- Bob Ruggiero
FRI 6/27
Free Round of Shots
With good reason, kids fear needles. They friggin' hurt. But in the
long run, shots stave off a lot more pain. If your little one is uninsured,
bring him to the Children's Museum of Houston for free vaccinations. 9 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Friday, June 27; Tuesday, July 1; and Wednesday, July 2. 1500 Binz.
For information, call 713-522-1138 or visit www.cmhouston.org.
-- Cathy Matusow
Sundance Jr.
If your kid prefers art-house
flicks to Finding Nemo, you may have a filmmaker on your hands. Enter
him in the Loud and Clear Youth Film Festival. Kids ages 11 to 18 may submit
short movies (60 minutes max) in any format. Download an entry form at www.cyc-austin.org
and include a $25 entry fee with your submission. The deadline is September
4. -- Troy Schulze