Esta They met as members of the Israeli army military band, and from there broke all the rules of traditional music. Indeed, the sound this group of young men arrived at comes from a happy panoply of instruments that includes bagpipes, a Thai mouth organ, a saxophone and pots and pans. Lately they've been playing in New York City to standing-room-only crowds. Now it's our turn to sample their world instrumental music, a combination of jazz, Sephardic/Arabic sounds, African rhythms and Celtic tones. 8:30 p.m. Jewish Community Center, 5601 South Braeswood, 729-3200. $12-$15.
Lions Club Garage/Rummage Sale There is something strangely unsavory about the whole idea of garage sales. The seller displays the detritus of his life, hoping to cash in on everything he no longer deems worth having. However, when the Lions Club, that good old group of altruistic do-gooders, holds a garage sale in an effort to raise charity money, that's an altogether different matter. Sample their wares and know that every pink elephant you purchase will help someone less fortunate than yourself. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Aldine Optimist Clubhouse, 1003 Aldine Bender, (281) 367-4339. Free.
Houston Symphony During his first season with the symphony in 1989, Christoph Eschenbach led the orchestra and chorus in a critically acclaimed performance of Gustav Mahler's Resurrection Symphony. One critic raved that "the intensity of sound and emotion simply overwhelmed the listener. And just when it seemed impossible for the orchestra to give out more, it did." It is thus fitting that the symphony open its tenth season with Eschenbach by repeating its earlier success. Soprano Ying Huang will debut with the symphony in this performance; Florence Quivar, a mezzo-soprano who will also sing tonight, is an established Houston singer. 8 p.m. Performances through Monday. (See Thrills, Music for other dates and times.) Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana, 227-ARTS. $13$59.
Cat Show There are tons of dog lovers out there who simply can't understand why anyone would choose a proud, clean, lap-loving feline over a face-licking, tail-thumping, night-yowling canine. Those folks will have to stay home. For up to 275 purebred cats and kittens representing as many as 35 different breeds will be present and accounted for at the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) Annual Pedigreed Cat Show. Abyssinians, Birmans and spotted Singapuras are just a few of the breeds that will show today. You can do more than look: Kittens will be sold, and tons of kitty paraphernalia will be hawked by vendors galore. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today and Sunday. Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble, (281) 332-4353. $5, adults; $3, seniors and children 13 and under.
sunday
September 14
Psychic Sundays Has your love life become nothing more than watching reruns of The Practice on Saturday nights? Is your work so tedious that your brain is turning to Silly Putty? Maybe what you need is a real-life fortuneteller, or in more '90s vernacular, a psychic, to help you get a grip. For your convenience, Body Mind & Soul offers a one-stop-shopping sort of experience today. Meet palmists, tarot card readers and astrologers, all ready and willing to tell you who you are and what you ought to be doing. 1-5 p.m. Body Mind & Soul, 4386 Westheimer (at Mid Lane), 993-0550. $15, 15 minutes; $30, 30 minutes.
George Jones George Jones is everything that is heartbreakingly exquisite about country music. A master of the honky-tonk sound created in large part by Hank Williams, Jones's songs of love -- be it love gone south, gone bad or gone mean -- represent the best of barroom eloquence. His real-life story of epic battles with the bottle and broken marriages echoes the songs; it's clear why his music feels so true and tender and honestly tearful. "She Thinks I Still Care," "A Girl I Used to Know" and "Tender Years" are only a handful of his classics. If you're lucky, he'll sing them and more this afternoon in an outdoor concert. Bring a lawn chair and some money for a few beers, and let this giant among country singers take you back to how it used to be. 5-7 p.m. Shenanigans, 820 34th Street North, Texas City, (409) 945-9611. $25.
