The Houston Vegan Meetup Dinner

The Houston Vegan Meetup group will be meeting for a social Dinner on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 5:30 PM.  Note: The location this month has been changed to Mango's Vegetarian Cafe in Houston. Mango's offers vegetarian and vegan cuisine. 

Visit HOUSTON VEGAN MEETUP for more info and to RSVP. Society of PEACE member Reese is the organizer of the Houston Vegan Meetup. This is a large meetup group, so RSVP early to reserve a spot!

Society of PEACE 2nd Annual "Celebrate Freedom -- Live Vegan" Hawaiian-style Potluck Picnic

Join Society of PEACE for our July event as we host the 2nd Annual "Celebrate Freedom -- Live Vegan" Potluck Picnic in the Park.  This year, we're going Hawaiian (vegan style, of course!) and we'll be celebrating in Houston the day after Independence Day. 

There will be outdoor activities & games for the kids, great vegan food, door prizes for the "coolest Hawaiian shirt" & limbo contest, and much more. All ages and families are welcome to attend!  Remember to bring a vegan entree, side dish or dessert to share!  *Vegan = free of animal derived ingredients (no flesh, dairy, eggs or honey). We also encourage you to bring a copy of your recipe for our recipe card exchange!

Please help us keep all of our picnics earth-friendly by bringing your own reusable dinnerware, utensils & cups. Water, tea & ice will be provided.  Dogs on leashes are welcome and remember to bring water for your dog.  Lawn chairs and/or picnic blankets are recommended, since tables are sometimes limited. 

Date: Sunday, July 5, 2009 
Time:  3:00 - 6:00 PM 
Location:  Memorial Park South Picnic Loop (look for our Big Blue Tent and the Society of PEACE logo banners!) 
Click here for a map .

CLICK ON THE EVENT FLYER TO VIEW AND PRINT

RSVP's are greatly appreciated!  Please RSVP to Mari Devlin via email , or you may call/text the Society of PEACE line at 832-722-1376. 

Author & speaker Matt Monarch will be in Houston, along with Angela Stokes, for a Raw Vegan Foods presenation on Wednesday, July 8, 2009.  At the event, you will hear these two experienced raw foodists speak aobut a healthy raw vegan lifestyle.  The event will be held from 7:00 - 10:00 PM at Ecclesia (next to Taft Street Coffee Houston) at 2115 Street. 

The event is open to the public and ticket prices are $15.  For more information, email Kat Jordan or call her directly at 713-382-3217.

Raw Vegan Class Series - "What a Sweet Time"

The "What a Sweet Time" Raw Vegan Class will be held in Houston on Saturday, July 11 from 1:00 - 4:00pm.    In this class you will learn to prepare raw vegan cakes, pies, pudding and other goodies that are yummy and nutritious.  Features; Chocolate Cake, Apple Pie, Snow Balls, Carrot Cake, Whipped cream and Fruit.

Classes will be held at 2115 Taft Street in Houston (in the building on the south side of the patio).  Please note that classes are subject to run longer than the scheduled time, so please make time to stay as needed. Each class is priced at $35.00 at the door.  Pre-registration is available at $30.00 if registered for class 2 weeks in advance.  To pre-register Call Tambra @ (281)530-6736 , or Nancy @ (713)478-2233,  or send an e-mail to PSAI2004@aol.com 

Join members of the Houston Health Association/Natural Hygiene Network for their monthly dinner meeting. Note: Due to the holiday this month, the group will be meeting on the 2nd Monday - July 13th.  The meeting begins at 6:30 PM at A Moveable Feast Cafe in Houston, where several vegetarian & vegan options are available. A short presentation follows the meal at 7:00 PM.

Society of PEACE member Dr. Mamiko Matsuda is the organizer of this group. Please visit Houston Health Association to learn more, or call Mamiko at 713-622-6051.

Society of PEACE member Pamela Kletke (MBA, U of St. Thomas), a.k.a. “The Food Fairy,” has been a personal chef since 2005. Pamela is an organic gardener and teaches business classes at Houston Community College. She will be offering her personal chef class on Saturday, July 18, 2009 in the Heights from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

Pamela will teach how to set up your business (DBA, food safety certification, website, etc.) and receive cooking tips that will translate into happy customers and a good return on your investment. These cooking tips will compliment a vegan meal that will be served throughout the class.

This class is being offered through Leisure Learning. The fee is $52 + $8 food/materials fee. Register for the class online here.

Acupuncture Lecture & Vegan Potluck

Vegetarian acupuncturist, Sat Kartar Khalsa will present on the benefits of acupuncture at the Kundalini Yoga Center on July 18th 6pm. Sat Kartar has been a yoga teacher and a vegetarian for 34 years. He has been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. The event will be held at the Kundalini Yoga Center in Montrose 1123 Jackson Blvd., Houston, Texas 77006. The Yoga Center has been in operation since 1969.

Schedule:
5:30pm: Gathering
6:00pm: Presentation + Q&A
7:00pm: Vegan potluck ~ please bring your own dinner wear (plates, cups and utensils)

RSVP's are appreciated.  Please note that no shoes can be worn in the building ~ sock or barefeet only please.  For questions or addition information, please email Society of PEACE Asst. VP Mari Devlin  or call her directly at 713-480-2012.  

Join fellow Raw Vegan enthusiasts at the twice monthly potluck, which is held around 6:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday & 4th Thursday of every month. The potluck dinner is held at Taft Street Coffee in Houston. Remember to bring a raw vegan dish to share with the group!

For more information, call the Taft Street Coffee House at 712-522-3533.

Leisure Learning Unlimited presents "Farm to Table: Making Vegan Food Delicious", featuring vegan personal chef and radio personality Staci Davis. The class is Sunday, July 26, 2009 from 3:00 - 7:00 PM in Sharpstown area (SW Frwy at Fondren) in Houston. Staci will teach you how to cook fresh, local cuisine grown in and around the Houston area. Discuss local farms, farmer's markets, and what grows well in Houston. Then make five meals from the harvest.

The cost of the class is $52 and includes the meal. For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.  Participants must register in advance through Leisure Learning, as class size is limited! 

The Meet & Greet takes place on the first Saturday of the month in the Heights from 3:00 - 8:00 PM (NEW SUMMER HOURS)! Meet homeless dogs and cats in need of loving families! All proceeds from the event will go to Friends of BARC, a non profit volunteer group, to purchase needed supplies for the city’s shelter animals.

You can also drop off donations for BARC anytime or at the Meet and Greet at Cooper Animal Clinic, 1136 Heights Blvd. This will be another great opportunity to help shelter animals in need of a second chance.

Call 713.861-1155 for more information or visit the FRIENDS OF BARC website to learn how you can help homeless animals in Houston through adoption or fostering. Be sure to also visit KPFT's "Adopt a Friend" page .

Society of PEACE "Volunteer Roundup" & Vegan Potluck

Join us for our "Volunteer Roundup" & Vegan Potluck as we prepare for our numerous annual campaigns coming up in the Fall.  The event will begin at 5:30 PM.  Please remember to bring a vegan dish to share!

More details and the event flyer coming soon! 

The Vegetarian Society of the Bay Area is meeting on Sunday, June 28. This month, in addition to the meeting & vegan potluck, they will be holding a Vegan Bake Sale for the 1st Annual "Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale Week". The Vegan Bake Sale will begin at 11:30 AM, followed by the regular meeting and vegan potluck at 12:30 PM.   Help support this event in the Texas Bay Area! 

This group meets once a month at the Unity Church of the Bay Area in League City and the public is welcome to attend.  Please remember to bring a vegan dish to share at the potluck!  For more information (and to donate vegan baked goods), contact Society of PEACE Tabling Coordinator Sandy McAvin via email, or call 281-332-8154.  You can also visit the Vegetarian Society of the Bay Area website for a map and directions to the location.

Join us as we partner with the Jain Community Center for our June Event!  This enlightenling event will feature a free Indian-style vegan meal, short presentations on the Jain tradition as it relates to Animal Rights, Veganism, Peace and Ahimsa, an introduction to meditation for compassion, the animals and the planet, and a slide show tour of the new Jain Community Center.  Society of PEACE speakers include: Dr. Sulekh Jain, Ivan Espinosa & Kristen Lee Ohanyan.  The Jain Center is also pleased to welcome Supreme Master Television to this event!  There is no charge for the event & vegan meal, but guests are welcome to contribute "love offering" donations to the Jain Meditation Center.

Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009
Time: 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Location: Jain Meditation Center, 1712 Highway 6 South (near Westheimer) in Houston (Click here to view map)

CLICK ON THE FLYER ABOVE TO VIEW & PRINT

RSVP's are requested as space is limited to 50 Society of PEACE attendees & guests!  There are only a few seats left and all RSVP's must be received by noon on Friday, June 26!  You can RSVP to Mari Devlin via email , or phone/text the Society of PEACE line at 832-722-1376. 
*Note: The Jain Meditation Center is considered sacred and founded on the principles of ahimsa (non-violence). Guests are encouraged to dress modestly (no shorts, skirts or tank tops) and to refrain from wearing animal-derived clothing, shoes or accessories.  Visitors will be asked to remove shoes upon entering, so plan accordingly -- socks and bare feet are fine.  Plan for traditional floor seating with only a limited amount of chairs available for those with special needs. Arrangements can be made for any guests with special needs -- please contact us to request assistance. The facility is also requesting that only adults attend this event (until the new, larger facility opens and can accommodate space needed for children). 

The Whole Foods Market on Wilcrest in Houston is holding a series of Raw Vegan classes in June. The next class, "Advanced Raw Vegan", will be held on Saturday, June 27 at 3:00 PM.  Discover healthy, fun, easy, informative recipes sure to please your appetite! 

The fee for the class is $10.  For more information, visit the Whole Foods Market website for the Wilcrest location in Houston, or call 713-784-7776.

The Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) will be holding a Houston Chapter meeting on Saturday, June 27 at Pagoda Vietnamese Bistro & Bar  (Note: there are a few vegetarian options available on the menu.)  The meeting will be held from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. The public is welcome to attend.

Come learn about THLN's plans for the rest of 2009 and how you can get involved in changing the laws to help animals in Texas. For more information, visit THLN or contact THLN's Southeast Chapter President and Society of PEACE member Brian Craft via email.

Sedition Books is holding a vegan bake sale on Saturday, June 27th during "Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale Week".  Visit the store and enjoy some tasty vegan treats!  Vegan baked goods donations are welcome!

The event takes place from 1:00 - 5:00 PM at Sedition Books in Houston.  For more information, visit Sedition Books online.

Join fellow Raw Vegan enthusiasts at the twice monthly potluck, which is held around 6:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday & 4th Thursday of every month. The potluck dinner is held at Taft Street Coffee in Houston. Remember to bring a raw vegan dish to share with the group!

For more information, call the Taft Street Coffee House at 712-522-3533.

Fundraiser for "The Canvas" Community Venue

Society of PEACE member Ivan Espinosa is opening a creative space in the North Houston area near Livingston, TX. This space will encompass all forms of creative media including music, spoken word and visual art. This will be a space where people can escape the stress and constraints of the city and express their personal artistic vision with inspiration from nature. Ivan has offered to make this venue available for Society of PEACE events as well!  

The first fundraiser for this new art space on Thursday, June 25^th from 7 pm until 10 pm at Jenni's Party Rental and Banquet Hall. Admission is $10 per person and will go towards purchasing this community venue.
DATE:   Thursday, June 25th
TIME:   7:00 PM -10:00 PM
LOCATION:   Jenni's Party Rental and Banquet Hall, 16618 Clay Rd (near Hwy. 6), Houston , TX 77084

There will be: LIVE MUSIC, DANCE, KARAOKE, AND FUN! Come out and support a good cause and dance to some lively tunes!
For only $10, you can enjoy the energetic performances of two great bands:
~ Scuba Steve and the Marine Biologists (folk rock, psychedelic, art rock)
~ Oncoming Traffic (funk rock, blues rock)

For more information, please contact Ivan Espinosa via email or phone at 713-732-1947.  Ivan is also one of our Society of PEACE outreach coordinators, so please support his efforts in opening this community venue!

PETA to hold Houston Demonstration in opposition of Canadian Seal Slaughter

PETA will be in Houston on Wednesday, June 24 for a demonstration urging consumers to "Boycott Canadian Maple Syrup in Hopes of Stopping Annual Seal Slaughter".  PETA wants Houston volunteers to hold signs and pass out leaflets to inform everyone of the cruelty behind the bloody, barbaric annual slaughter. 

Date: Wednesday, June 24 from 12:00 noon - 1:00 PM
Where: Canadian Consulate, 5847 San Felipe St., Houston

Posters and leaflets will be provided. Please contact PETA's Sarah Gawricki at SarahG@peta.org or call 757-962-8397 to RSVP or for more information. (When replying to PETA, please mention which demonstration you plan to attend.)

On Wednesday, June 24, 2009 Whole Foods Market will be donating five percent of the sales from the entire day to the Houston Humane Society from four Houston area locations. Participating Whole Foods Markets: •2955 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX 77098 •4004 Bellaire, Houston, TX 77025 •6401 Woodway, Houston, TX 77057 •11145 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77042

For more information call 713-341-3311 or contact Lisa Pogue via email.  You can also visit the Houston Humane Society website.

Raw Vegan author PAUL NISON to speak at Taft Street Coffee House

There will be a Raw Food Pot Luck and Lecture by Paul and his new book The DayLight Diet.  The event will be at Taft Street Coffee House at 7:00 PM.  The fee is $10.00.  For More Information and R.S.V.P. Contact:Tambra 281-530-6736, PSAI2004@aol.com.  

Join members of The Spring, Woodlands & Magnolia Raw Vegan Meetup as they welcome raw vegan author and chef PAUL NISON.  Paul will be discussing his new book Eating According to the Scriptures and his up and coming book The Daylight Diet.  The event begins at 7:00 PM and there is a $10 admission fee.  The location for the event is at a private residence and RSVP's are requested. 

Please remember to bring a raw vegan dish to share at the potluck. For more information and to RSVP, visit The Spring, Woodlands & Magnolia Raw Vegan Meetup online . Seating is limited to 45 attendees, so RSVP early to reserve your spot! Society of PEACE members Michelle & Alicia are the organizers of this group and can be contacted through the website.

Society of PEACE will be holding a Vegan Bake Sale as part of the "Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale Week"!  The event will be held on Saturday, June 20 at the newly opened Mango's Vegetarian Cafe & Coffee Shop in Houston!  The bake sale will run from 2:00 - 6:00 PM and we'll have tons of great vegan sweets. 

Part of the bake sale proceeds will benefit our friends at Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary, whose mission is to provide a safe, loving and permanent home for rescued farmed animals. In addition to providing life-long care for the animals, Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary is dedicated to promoting vegan living as the most effective way to reduce the suffering and exploitation of animals. Support us at the bake sale and you'll be supporting a great sanctuary for farm animals, too!

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009 
Time: 2:00 - 6:00 PM  
Location: Mango's Vegetarian Cafe, 403 Westheimer at Taft Street in Houston  

CLICK ON THE FLYER TO VIEW & PRINT!  Help spread the word!

For more information and to donate vegan baked goods, please contact Society of PEACE Treasurer Amanda Mariano via email.  You can also call the Society of PEACE line at 832-722-1376 to request additional information. 

Leisure Learning Unlimited presents "Versatile Tofu: The Meat & Dairy Alternative", featuring vegan personal chef and radio personality Staci Davis. The class is Sunday, June 14, 2009 from 3:00 - 6:00 PM in Sharpstown area (SW Frwy at Fondren) in Houston. Staci will teach you how to make chipotle chili, vegetable lasagna, silk pies, bread pudding and much more.

The cost of the class is $52 and includes the meal. For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.  Participants must register in advance through Leisure Learning, as class size is limited! 

The Whole Foods Market on Wilcrest in Houston is holding a series of Raw Vegan classes in June. The next class, "Intermediate Raw Vegan", will be held on Saturday, June 13 at 3:00 PM.  Discover healthy, fun, easy, informative recipes sure to please your appetite! 

The fee for the class is $10.  For more information, visit the Whole Foods Market website for the Wilcrest location in Houston, or call 713-784-7776.

Raw Vegan Class Series - "It's Time to Grow and Be Alive"

The "It's Time to Grow and Be Alive" Raw Vegan Class will be held in Houston on Saturday, June 13 from 1:30 - 3:30 pm.   Nancy Sorenson will be teaching the simplicity of sprouting and their nutritious uses.  This class features ;Cilantro Pumpkin Seed Pate; Sunny Pate; Crackers; Sprout Salad and Wraps and The Jewel of Sprouts, Wheatgrass. This class shows the amazing simplicity and possibilities of Live food.

Classes will be held at 2115 Taft Street in Houston (in the building on the south side of the patio).  Please note that classes are subject to run longer than the scheduled time, so please make time to stay as needed. Each class is priced at $35.00 at the door.  Pre-registration is available at $30.00 if registered for class 2 weeks in advance.  To pre-register Call Tambra @ (281)530-6736 , or Nancy @ (713)478-2233,  or send an e-mail to PSAI2004@aol.com 

Join members of The Spring, Woodlands & Magnolia Raw Vegan Meetup for their monthly Social Lunch.  This month, they will be meeting at Sandy's Market in Houston, where a variety of raw vegan options are available on the buffet/salad bar.  The lunch begins at 1:00 PM.

For more information and to RSVP, visit The Spring, Woodlands & Magnolia Raw Vegan Meetup online. Society of PEACE members Michelle & Alicia are the organizers of this meetup group and can be contacted through the website.

Join fellow Raw Vegan enthusiasts at the twice monthly potluck, which is held around 6:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday & 4th Thursday of every month. The potluck dinner is held at Taft Street Coffee in Houston. Remember to bring a raw vegan dish to share with the group!

For more information, call the Taft Street Coffee House at 712-522-3533.

ISKCON Houston Kirtan Event featuring speaker Lokanath Swami and a free Vegetarian Dinner
(*ISKCON Houston will also be honoring the work of our Society of PEACE)

On Tuesday, June 9th, ISKCON Houston will present a Kirtan (musical event) and guest speaker Lokanath Swami at 7:00 PM.  There will be a free Vegetarian & Vegan Meal ("love offerings" are graciously accepted) and live music and singing.  IKSCON Houston will also be honoring our Society of PEACE that night in recognition of our efforts to promote compassionate living. 

This free event will be held at the Hare Krishna Dham Houston, 1320 W. 34th Street, Houston, TX 77018 and is open to the general public.  ISKCON Houston extends a special welcome to all Society of PEACE members!  For more information on the Kirtan, click here.  You may also contact Dr. Hansa Medley via email or call Sarva Bauma Das at 713-683-0216 EXT. 2 with any questions. 

The Houston Vegan Knitters Group will be meeting on the first Sunday of each month from 3:00-5:00 PM. The group will be meeting at Te' House of Tea in Houston. All levels of knitting skills and other craft enthusiasts are welcome to attend this social event. Feel free to bring vegan snacks to share! *Vegan knitting enthusiasts do not use yarn made from any animal products, therefore making the craft projects vegan.

For more information on this group, visit The Houston Vegan Knitters or contact Society of PEACE Secretary Stacey Halsch, or Society of PEACE Treasurer Amanda Mariano.

The Houston Vegan Meetup Dinner

The Houston Vegan Meetup group will be meeting for a social Dinner on Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 5:30 PM.  The location this month is Field of Greens Restaurant in Houston.  Field of Greens has a variety of vegan options available. 

Visit HOUSTON VEGAN MEETUP for more info and to RSVP. Society of PEACE member Reese is the organizer of the Houston Vegan Meetup. This is a large meetup group, so RSVP early to reserve a spot!

The Meet & Greet takes place on the first Saturday of the month in the Heights from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM (NEW HOURS)! Meet homeless dogs and cats in need of loving families! All proceeds from the event will go to Friends of BARC, a non profit volunteer group, to purchase needed supplies for the city’s shelter animals.

You can also drop off donations for BARC anytime or at the Meet and Greet at Cooper Animal Clinic, 1136 Heights Blvd. This will be another great opportunity to meet shelter animals in need of a second chance.

Call 713.861-1155 for more information or visit FRIENDS OF BARC  to learn how you can help homeless animals in Houston through adoption or fostering. Be sure to also visit KPFT's "Adopt a Friend" page .

The Vegetarian Society of the Bay Area is meeting on Sunday, May 31 at 12:30 PM.  This month, in addition to the meeting & vegan potluck, there will be a free film screening of "The Emotional World of Farm Animals".  This is a documentary for viewers of all ages about the thinking and feeling side of animals that are all too often just viewed as food.  Sandy McAvin will also present a book review of The Inner World of Farm Animals.  You won't want to miss this educational and fun community event!

This group meets once a month at the Unity Church of the Bay Area in League City and the public is welcome to attend.  Please remember to bring a vegan dish to share at the potluck!  For more information, contact Society of PEACE Tabling Coordinator Sandy McAvin via email, or call 281-332-8154.  You can also visit the Vegetarian Society of the Bay Area website for a map and directions to the location.

"Joy, Dance, and Giving Animals a Chance" Fundraising Event in Houston

Joy Yoga Center, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater and SNAP (Spay-Neuter Assistance Program) are joining forces to benefit the arts and animals by hosting "Joy, Dance and Giving Animals a Chance" on May 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Joy Yoga Center in Houston. The event marks the first time the three organizations have partnered to bring awareness and funds for both performance art and Houston’s needy animals.

The event will feature exclusive performances from Dominic Walsh dancers as well as one-of-a-kind yoga demonstrations from Joy Yoga Center. For a $15 suggested donation, guests will enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a silent auction. All proceeds will benefit SNAP and Dominic Walsh Dance Theater. 

Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Joy Yoga Center, 4500 Washington Avenue, Houston, TX
For more information, call 713-862-3863 or email phidalgo@snapus.org.  Please also visit SNAP's website  for additional details.

Houston Food Coop/Rebel Roots presents a Vegan/Vegetarian Urban Farm Party

On Saturday May 30, Rebel Roots, Houston’s very own worker owned and operated food co-op will be holding their first Spring Urban Farm Party at the Last Organic Outpost’s Emile St. Farm. The main vegan/vegetarian dishes will consist of Enchiladas, Ceviche, and Curry with Pasta Salad, Coleslaw, Spring Rolls, and Humus as sides.  Choice of Melon Juice, Strawberry Lemonade, and Mint Water will be served.  Dessert choices include: sweet, tangy Lemon Bars and smooth, cool (vegetarian) Jell-O.

The "2009 ANIMAL LAW INSTITUTE" in Dallas, Texas 

The State Bar of Texas Animal Law Section presents the "2009 Animal Law Institute" Conference on Friday, May 29 in Dallas, Texas.  The conference is open to attorneys, non-attorneys, students, and anyone concerned with animal welfare and the laws, regulations and legal issues that affect animals. 

The conference will feature several prominent speakers, including:  
- Farm Sanctuary President & Co-founder GENE BAUR
- The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's (PCRM) John Pippin, MD
- Texas Humane Legislation Network's (THLN) Robert "Skip" Trimble
- Harris County DA Chief Prosecutor for the Animal Cruelty Division, Belinda Smith and more!

The following topics will be presented at the conference: 
-  Animal Law Basics for Attorneys, Advocates, and Animal Welfare Organizations. 
-  The News on Animal-Related Legislation at the End of the 2009 Texas Legislative Session. 
-  Bush, Obama, and Federal Animal Law: Hope and Change for Animals? 
-  Animal Experimentation: The Current State of Affairs 
-  The Global View – Animal Law on the Planetary Scale.
-  Factory Farming: Raising Awareness of the Consequences of Industrialization 
-  The Houston Initiative to combat Dog Fighting and Animal Cruelty.
-  Ethics and Animals: Pitfalls of the Passionate

Date: Friday, May 29, 2009
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location:  The Belo Mansion, 2101 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas
Price: Judges and Animal Law Section Members: $125.00, Non-Member Attorneys: $195.00, Law Students: $50.00, Non-Attorneys: $125.00

For more information, visit the State Bar of Texas Animal Law Section website .  You can also click here to register online.  For questions regarding the conference, contact YEisenstein@animallawoffice.com.
*Conference Fee includes a light breakfast, lunch, and conference notebook.  Be sure to specify *vegan* for your meals on the registration form!

Sedition Books is holding a vegan potluck on Thursday, May 28.  This month the theme is Pan-Asian cuisine, so bring your best vegan stir fry, sushi, bibimbop, curry or whatever else you can come up with.  Meet members of the Sedition collective, eat some great Vegan food and find out more info about volunteering at the bookstore.  Remember to bring a vegan dish to share with others at this community event!

The event takes place at 7:00 PM at Sedition Books in Houston. For more information, visit Sedition Books online.

Join fellow Raw Vegan enthusiasts at the twice monthly potluck, which is held around 6:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday & 4th Thursday of every month. The potluck dinner is held at Taft Street Coffee in Houston. Remember to bring a raw vegan dish to share with the group!

For more information, call the Taft Street Coffee House at 712-522-3533.

Book Signing Event with Farm Sanctuary's Gene Baur in Houston

Brazos Bookstore (and the HBA Animal Law Section) in Houston is hosting an inspiring and educational evening with Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder Gene Baur, as he discusses his work and national best-selling book, Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food .  This landmark book has received rave reviews and praise from notables such as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Dr. Jane Goodall, actress Alicia Silverstone and musical artist Moby among many others. Gene has more than 20 years of experience in challenging factory farming and working to change how our society views and treats farm animals.

At the book signing, Gene will provide first hand accounts of conditions on today’s farms, outlining efforts to combat the current inhumane system, and put forward a vision for a healthier and more sustainable food system. He will address how each of us has an opportunity and a responsibility to consume a kinder plate, making a better life for ourselves, animals and all life on the planet.  This free event is open to the public.

Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM 
Location: Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005

Click HERE to view and print the Farm Sanctuary Event Flyer

For more information, visit Brazos Bookstore online.  The book will be available for purchase at the event.  Additional U.S. tour dates are posted on Gene Baur's website. *Also tune in to Vegan World Radio on KPFT Houston, for a pre-appearance interview with Gene Baur on May 25 (Memorial Day).

Join members of the Houston Vegetarian Meetup group for a social lunch at Super Pita Bakery & Deli. The event will take place at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, May 27th.  This Israeli deli offers vegetarian options!  Seating is limited for this luncheon, so please RSVP early!

Visit HOUSTON VEGETARIAN MEETUP to RSVP. Society of PEACE members Michelle and Mari are the organizers and you can contact them through the website.

Houston Humane Society's "Shampooch" Event at Whole Foods Locations

The Houston Humane Society is hosting a benefit "dog wash" at area Whole Foods locations on Saturday, May 23rd from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.  All proceeds will benefit the Houston Humane Society. 

Participating Whole Foods Markets include:

      •2955 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX 77098

       •4004 Bellaire, Houston, TX 77025

       •15900 Southwest Fwy, Sugar Land,  77479

       •6401 Woodway, Houston, TX 77057   

       •11145 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77042

Please visit the Houston Humane Society website  to view event details. For more information, call 713-341-3311 or email Houston Humane Society's PR Director Lisa Pogue .  Lisa is also a member of Society of PEACE!

Leisure Learning Unlimited presents "Farm to Table: Making Vegan Food Delicious", featuring vegan personal chef and radio personality Staci Davis. The class is Sunday, May 17, 2009 from 3:00 - 7:00 PM in Sharpstown area (SW Frwy at Fondren) in Houston. Staci will teach you how to cook fresh, local cuisine grown in and around the Houston area. Discuss local farms, farmer's markets, and what grows well in Houston. Then make five meals from the harvest.

The cost of the class is $52 and includes the meal. For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.  Participants must register in advance through Leisure Learning, as class size is limited! 

Ayurvedic specialist & chef Karuna Mayi will teach a two hour cooking demo on how to prepare a delicious, healthy vegetarians meals based on the ancient holistic healing system of Ayurveda. Only fresh, organic ingredient are used in this vegan-friendly class. The class will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009 from 10:00am - 12:00 noon at Gauranga Hall in Houston.

Society of PEACE member Karuna Mayi has been practicing and teaching vegetarian/vegan cooking for the past twelve years. CLICK HERE for the event flyer and additional information on the class.   The address is 1320 West 34th St, Houston, TX 77018.  For directions and a map to Gauranga Hall, click here .

Seating is limited, so RSVP soon! The price is just $36 per person, and includes the full meal. RSVP to Karuna to make your reservation, or call 281-546-9698.

Join fellow Raw Vegan enthusiasts at the twice monthly potluck, which is held around 6:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday & 4th Thursday of every month. The potluck dinner is held at Taft Street Coffee in Houston. Remember to bring a raw vegan dish to share with the group!

For more information, call the Taft Street Coffee House at 712-522-3533.

The Houston Vegan Meetup Dinner

The Houston Vegan Meetup group will be meeting for a social Dinner on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 5:30 PM.  The location this month is Azteca's Bar & Grill in Houston. ***NOTE: The location has been moved to Field of Greens today!

Visit HOUSTON VEGAN MEETUP for more info and to RSVP. Society of PEACE member Reese is the organizer of the Houston Vegan Meetup. This is a large meetup group, so RSVP early to reserve a spot!

Raw Vegan Class Series - "Smooth Creations"

The "Smooth Creations" Raw Vegan Class will be held in Houston on Saturday, May 9th from 1:00 - 3:00 pm.   Joe Fougere will be teaching the simplicity of nutrition by preparing Smoothies and Soups.  Breakfast Smoothies; V8 Smoothie; Green Smoothies; Vegan Seafood Chowder and more.  This class will also show how you can take smoothie basics to create soups, pates and sauces.  This class shows how quick and easy, delicious and ultra nutritious it is to be Raw.

Classes will be held at 2115 Taft Street in Houston (in the building on the south side of the patio).  Please note that classes are subject to run longer than the scheduled time, so please make time to stay as needed. Each class is priced at $35.00 at the door.  Pre-registration is available at $30.00 if registered for class 2 weeks in advance.  To pre-register Call Tambra @ (281)530-6736 , or Nancy @ (713)478-2233,  or send an e-mail to PSAI2004@aol.com 

Join members of the Houston Health Association/Natural Hygiene Network for their monthly dinner meeting. The group meets on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 PM at A Moveable Feast Cafe in Houston, where several vegetarian & vegan options are available. A short presentation follows the meal at 7:00 PM.

The Houston Vegan Knitters Group will be meeting on the first Sunday of each month from 3:00-5:00 PM. The group will be meeting at Te' House of Tea in Houston. All levels of knitting skills and other craft enthusiasts are welcome to attend this social event. Feel free to bring vegan snacks to share!

For more information on this group, visit The Houston Vegan Knitters or contact Society of PEACE Secretary Stacey Halsch, or Society of PEACE Treasurer Amanda Mariano.

The Meet & Greet takes place on the first Saturday of the month in the Heights from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM (NEW HOURS)! Meet homeless dogs and cats in need of loving families! All proceeds from the event will go to Friends of BARC, a non profit volunteer group, to purchase needed supplies for the city’s shelter animals.

You can also drop off donations for BARC anytime or at the Meet and Greet at Cooper Animal Clinic, 1136 Heights Blvd. This will be another great opportunity to meet shelter animals in need of a second chance.

Call 713.861-1155 for more information or visit FRIENDS OF BARC  to learn how you can help homeless animals in Houston through adoption or fostering. Be sure to also visit KPFT's "Adopt a Friend" page .

The Vegetarian Society of the Bay Area is meeting on Sunday, April 26 at 12:30 PM. This group meets once a month at the Unity Church of the Bay Area in League City and the public is welcome to attend. Please remember to bring a vegan dish to share at the potluck!

Join us for our 2nd Annual Vegan Earth Day Potluck Picnic!  We'll be gathering at Memorial Park in Houston on Saturday, April 25 for an afternoon of great vegan food, family fun & mingling!  Our family-friendly picnic will begin at 1:00 PM.  We'll have outdoor activities for all ages, as well as door prizes and free Veg Starter Guides. 

Please remember to bring a vegan dish to share with the group!  We'll provide the cold refreshments and ice.  Some picnic tables will be available for seating, but we encourage you to bring a blanket or chair if you like.  *Help us also keep our vegan picnics earth-friendly by bringing your own dinnerware, utensils and cups! 

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM 
Location: Memorial Park Picnic Area -- look for our big blue tent & Society of PEACE banner (Click here for map & directions ) 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW & PRINT THE EVENT FLYER!  

RSVP's are greatly appreciated!  You can RSVP online here or via email to Mari Devlin .  You may also call/text the Society of PEACE line at 832-722-1376.  All ages are welcome!  Dogs are also welcome (on leashes) and please bring a water dish for your canine companion! 
***Houston weather can be  unpredictable.  Cloudy skies won't stop us from having a great picnic, but heavy rains & muddy conditions would.  If in doubt about weather conditions, please check the Society of PEACE line for picnic status announcements at 832-722-1376.***

Join fellow Raw Vegan enthusiasts at the twice monthly potluck, which is held around 6:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday & 4th Thursday of every month. The potluck dinner is held at Taft Street Coffee in Houston. Remember to bring a raw vegan dish to share with the group!

For more information, call the Taft Street Coffee House at 712-522-3533.

The Concerned Citizens of South Montgomery County are hosting a public screening of "Food Matters: Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine" on Tuesday, April 21.  This new documentary film by Producer/Directors James Colquhoun and Laurentine Bosch, is a hard hitting, fast paced look at our current state of health.  In a personal quest of discovery James and Laurentine together with a film crew and the editorial and production expertise of Enzo Tedeschi have set out on an independent mission to uncover the wholesome truth.

The filmmakers have interviewed several world leaders in nutrition and natural healing who claim that not only are we harming our bodies with improper nutrition, but that the right kind of foods, supplements and detoxification can be used to treat chronic illnesses as fatal as terminally diagnosed cancer. ‘Food Matters' seeks to uncover the business of disease and at the same time explore the safe, cheap and effective use of nutrition and supplementation for preventing and often reversing the underlying causative aspects of the illness. With the premise of the film being: access to solid information helps people invariably make better choices for their health.

The public is welcome to socialize at 6:30pm on Tuesday, April 21st in the Meeting Room of the Montgomery County South Regional Library (next door to Woodlands Pavilion) at 2101 Lake Robbins Drive in the Woodlands. The film begins promptly at 7pm so that a discussion can follow. For more information, visit the Concerned Citizens of South Montgomery County website .

Join members of the Houston Vegetarian Meetup group for a social lunch at Shiv Sagar Restaurant. The event will take place at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, April 21. The restaurant offers a variety of vegetarian & vegan Indian-style cuisine!

Join members of the Whole Foods Nutrition Meetup and the Houston Organic Meetup for lunch at Pizza Fusion on Saturday, April 18 at 1:00 PM. Several vegan pizza options are available. The groups will talk about eating healthy foods and living an organic lifestyle.

Please RSVP to either Meetup group. The Whole Foods Nutrition Meetup  and the Houston Organic Meetup  are organized by Lydia Joy. She can be contacted through either website.

On Saturday, April 18th, the Nature Discovery Center is hosting a their "Spring Fling Earth Day" celebration. Come enjoy a day of crafts, kids activities, music, environmental information, nature and fun. Different activities are planned for adults and children alike. There will be a Book Fair, guided nature walks, and more!

The free event runs from 10:00am - 3pm in Bellaire (Houston). For more information, visit the Nature Discovery Center of Bellaire website

The Houston Arboretum will offer a free, family Earth Day event on Saturday, April 18th.  There will be opportunities to learn about earth-friendly products from local companies and organizations, find out about recycling opportunities in Houston and have fun with activities such as face-painting and making crafts from recycled materials. Some of the day's activities will include: Native Plant Sale, Composting Demonstration, Scavenger Hunt, Race to Recycle activity, Calculate your Carbon Footprint, Face painting, Crafts from recycled materials, Live Bluegrass Music, Organic Food samples and more.

The free event runs from 10am - 4pm and is open to all ages.  For more information, visit the Houston Arboretum website .

The Annual Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. (Grassroots Environmental Education Network) Earth Day Festival  is Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the Woodlands High School campus.  The event takes place from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm and will feature over 50 non-profit organizations, schools, agencies and businesses who will share their environmental message. Hands-on activities and booths feature energy-saving technology, healthy solutions, earth-friendly products, conservation tips and the diversity of nature.  There will also be an Ecology Carnival with free activities for kids.

Society of PEACE is honored to have an outreach table at the Earth Day Festival for the fourth year in a row! Our volunteers will be handling out plenty of free vegan literature, Vegetarian Starter Guides, pens and information on the connection between global warming and diet. 

The free festival is a great event for the whole family!  Please be sure to visit our Society of P.E.A.C.E. table at the festival!!! For more information and directions to the event, visit The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. online.

The Houston Vegan Meetup Dinner

The Houston Vegan Meetup group will be meeting for their social Dinner on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 5:30 PM.  The location this month is Field of Greens Restaurant in Houston.

Visit HOUSTON VEGAN MEETUP for more info and to RSVP. Society of PEACE member Reese is the organizer of the Houston Vegan Meetup. This is a large meetup group, so RSVP early to reserve a spot!

The 1st Annual Earth Day Houston Festival  is Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Discovery Green Park in Downtown Houston.  The event takes place from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm and will feature over 30 non-profit organizations, agencies and businesses who will share their "green" message. An "Earth Zone" will feature information about land, air, water and renewable resources.  There will also be an environmental education area and a Kids Energy area with activities & entertainment for children, as well as a local farmer's market section.  The festivities kick of with an Earth Day 5k run at 8:00 am, followed by the day-long festival for all ages.

Society of PEACE is honored to have an outreach table at the 1st Annual Earth Day Houston Festival at Discovery Green! Our volunteers will be handling out plenty of free vegan literature, Vegetarian Starter Guides, and information on the connection between global warming and diet.  We'll also have some interactive activities for kids.

The free festival is a great event for the whole family!  Please be sure to visit our Society of P.E.A.C.E. table at the festival!!! For more information and directions to the event, visit Earth Day Houston online .

Join Free Press Houston on Saturday April 10th to celebrate the Grand Opening of Mango's Vegetarian Cafe. The newly re-organized Mango's will feature vegetarian cuisine, live music, full bar, and coffee. The festivities kick off at 7PM with live music from local bands. Admission is just $8 per person.

For more information, visit Mango's Cafe Houston online.  

Join fellow Raw Vegan enthusiasts at the twice monthly potluck, which is held around 6:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday & 4th Thursday of every month. The potluck dinner is held at Taft Street Coffee in Houston. Remember to bring a raw vegan dish to share with the group!

For more information, call the Taft Street Coffee House at 712-522-3533.

Join members of the Houston Health Association/Natural Hygiene Network for their monthly dinner meeting. The group meets on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 PM at A Moveable Feast Cafe in Houston, where several vegetarian & vegan options are available.

The Houston Vegan Knitters Group will be meeting on the first Sunday of each month from 3:00-5:00 PM. The group will be meeting at Te' House of Tea in Houston. All levels of knitting skills and other craft enthusiasts are welcome to attend this social event. Feel free to bring vegan snacks to share!

For more information on this group, visit The Houston Vegan Knitters or contact Society of PEACE Secretary Stacey Halsch, or Society of PEACE Treasurer Amanda Mariano.

The Unity Church of Christianity in Houston will be holding their annual Wholistic Health & Wellness Expo in Houston on Sunday, April 5, 2009.  The Festival is from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm at the Houston campus, and will feature a variety of health & wellness practioners, businesses and more.  For more information, including directions to the Expo, visit the Unity Church of Christianity Houston website .

Society of PEACE will have an educational outreach table at the Expo on Sunday, April 5th. We'll be distributing free information on vegan health & nutrition and will have vegan recipe booklets to distribute to the public. 

The Meet & Greet takes place on the first Saturday of the month in the Heights from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM (NEW HOURS)! Meet homeless dogs and cats in need of loving families! All proceeds from the event will go to Friends of BARC, a non profit volunteer group, to purchase needed supplies for the city’s shelter animals.

You can also drop off donations for BARC anytime or at the Meet and Greet at Cooper Animal Clinic, 1136 Heights Blvd. This will be another great opportunity to meet shelter animals in need of a second chance.

Call 713.861-1155 for more information or visit FRIENDS OF BARC  to learn how you can help homeless animals in Houston through adoption or fostering. Be sure to also visit KPFT's "Adopt a Friend" page .

HOPE, Homeless & Orphaned Pets Endeavor , is an all-foster, no-kill animal rescue group here in Houston. They are having an anniversary party on April 3 from 6:30-9pm at the Courtyard on St James Place in Houston. There will be live music, vegetarian & vegan food, an art contest, and a silent auction with a wide range of items such as hotel packages, cat & dog baskets, wine baskets, gift certificates for spa/restaurant/ etc, and many other goodies.

Prior registration is preferred, but you can also purchase tickets at the door.  Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased on the HOPE website , or through the mail.  For more information, please contact Society of PEACE member Holly Eaton.  This event will benefit HOPE's no-kill animal rescue and fostering programs!

The Humane Society of the United States is hosting a "Texas Lobby Day" at the state capital in Austin. This is an exciting opportunity to meet directly with your elected officials or their staff about legislation that will significantly impact animals. There will be a briefing on tips for lobbying and an overview of pending animal legislation which will prepare you to meet your elected officials and advocate for animals.  This is an all day event in Austin!

Please RSVP directly with HSUS State Director Jay Sabatucci via phone at (817) 915-5442 or email.  Click here for more information and to RSVP online .

Join members of The Spring, Woodlands & Magnolia Raw Vegan Meetup for their monthly potluck and a special presentation by holistic health practitioner and Great NEWS Coach Michael Morningstar. Michael is an International Author, Consultant, Speaker and Trainer sharing Great NEWS (Nutrition-Emotions-Wellness-Success). He will give a presetation on Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) at the event. 

The event will take place at Hubble & Hudson in the Woodlands at 7:00 PM.  Please remember to bring a raw vegan dish to share at the potluck. For more information and to RSVP, visit The Spring, Woodlands & Magnolia Raw Vegan Meetup online . The organizers of this group are Michelle & Alicia, and can be contacted through the website.

The Vegetarian Society of the Bay Area is meeting on Sunday, March 29 at 12:30 PM. This group meets once a month at the Unity Church of the Bay Area in League City and the public is welcome to attend. Please remember to bring a vegan dish to share at the potluck!

In collaboration with Talento Bilingüe de Houston , Sandra Organ Dance Company will present a full-length contemporary dance inspired by the legacy of Cesar Chavez and the history of the migrant farm worker movement.  Cesar Chavez was an advocate of human rights, animal rights and veganism. 

Society of PEACE will have an outreach table at the performances honoring Cesar Chavez on Saturday, March 28th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the Talento Bilingue de Houston Center in Houston . We'll be distributing free literature in both Spanish & English, which will include Vegetarian Starter Guides, vegan nutritional & health infomation and animal rights literature in honor of the Cesar Chavez legacy.

The Whole Foods Market on Wilcrest in Houston is holding a series of Raw Vegan classes. Join them for a class on Saturday, March 28 at 5:00 PM for the Advanced Raw Vegan Class. Discover healthy, fun, easy, informative recipes sure to please your appetite! 

For more information, visit the Whole Foods Market website  for the Wilcrest location in Houston.

No Kill Houston presents Animal shelter expert, Nathan Winograd for a “Building a No Kill Community” seminar on Saturday, March 28, 2009.  This seminar has been known to successfully reduce the kill rate at some shelters down to zero.  This seminar is open to citizens and animal shelter personnel.  Nathan Winograd, who is the director of the No Kill Advocacy Center (www.nokilladvocacycenter.org) and author of Redemption-The Myth of Pet Overpopulation, nationally trains pioneering shelters committed to adopting best practices to save pets’ lives.  

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2009
Time: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: South Texas College of Law, Joe Green Auditorium

Tickets may be pre-purchased at www.NoKillHouston.org for $14.99 if purchased before March 27, 2009.  Tickets are also available for $20.00 at the door of the Joe Green Auditorium located at 1303 San Jacinto Street, Houston, TX 77002. 

For more information, contact Bett via email or call 713/291-1710.  Society of PEACE member Bett Sundermeyer is the President & founder of No Kill Houston.

Sedition Books is holding a vegan potluck on Thursday, March 26. Bring a vegan dish to share with others at this community event!

Join members of the Houston Vegetarian Meetup group for a social lunch at Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant. The event will take place at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, March 25. Many vegetarian and vegan options are available!

Society of PEACE Community Service Night with Houston's Food Not Bombs
*MEATOUT WEEK EVENT* 

Please join us as we help feed vegan meals to Houston's hungry during Meatout Week 2009! We'll be teaming up with volunteers from Houston's Food Not Bombs to feed vegan meals to Houston's hungry on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 7:00 PM. Volunteers can bring vegan food to share and we will all enjoy a community meal together.

If you can volunteer a few hours of your time, or wish to donate vegan food, please CONTACT US. Volunteers should meet at 7:00 PM near the Library at Smith & McKinney. Arrangements for group carpooling can also be made. 
**Houston Food Not Bombs is always in need of food donations and volunteers.  For more information, visit FNB Houston .

The Houston Humane Society is holding their annual K9 Fun Run & Walk fundraiser at Sam Houston Park in Downtown Houston. The event is held to raise funds to help homeless and abused animals. Come enjoy the day with your four legged friend. There will be a 1 mile run & jog/walk, as well as a doggy costume contest.

The event begins at 12:00 noon on Sunday, March 22. For more information and to register, visit the Houston Humane Society .

The Whole Foods Market on Wilcrest in Houston is holding a series of Raw Vegan classes. Join them for a class on Saturday, March 21 at 5:00 PM. Discover healthy, fun, easy, informative recipes sure to please your appetite! 

For more information, visit the Whole Foods Market website  for the Wilcrest location in Houston.

Join members of The Spring, Woodlands & Magnolia Raw Vegan Meetup for a "Juice-luck" juice feast and special presentation by popular wellness expert John Rose. The event will take place at the Abbey of Lake Wyndmere Apartment Clubhouse at 1:00 PM.

For more information and to RSVP, visit The Spring, Woodlands & Magnolia Raw Vegan Meetup online . The organizers of this group are Michelle & Alicia, and can be contacted through that website.

Houston Food Coop Vegan BBQ Lunch

The Houston Food Coop is selling vegan BBQ plates for $7 each and all the proceeds go to the creation of a new food co-op here in Houston. The main dishes will consist of Mushroom Fajitas, Veggie Kabobs, Vegan Burgers and Seitan Ribs. Our side dishes are Potato Salad, Rice, Beans, Plantains and Banana Bread.

This event takes place on Saturday, March 21 from 12:00 noon till the food runs out!  Location: Menil Park, next to the Menil Museum at Sul Ross and Mulberry Street.  The goal of the Houston Food Coop is to have a worker owned and operated Co-op that will provide a community meeting space and serve delicious vegan food. This is their first fund raiser. Bring your friends and family for a fun day at the park with great vegan food.

If you have any questions please contact the Houston Food Coop via email .  

Join members of the Houston Organic Meetup for a social lunch and meet & greet at the Leawood Civic Center on Saturday, March 21. The group will be meeting at 11:00 AM and the topic will be "Organic Community Gardens".

The Houston Peace & Justice Center presents "Environmental Injustice in Texas" on Saturday, March 21, 2009. This conference will bring together some of the most knowledgeable people in the state to address very important issues on the environment. FEATURED SPEAKERS: “Defining the Issues” - Evelyn Merz, Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter & Houston Group, Conservation Committee Chair; “Responsibility of People of Faith” - Sr. Ann Braudis, Maryknoll Sister (Catholic) works at the UN with the commission on Sustainable Development to bring about effective policy for marginalized and excluded people and on the Ecumenical Working Group for climate change and Religions for Peace. She has a MA in Creation Spirituality and PhD in Applied Cosmic Anthropology; “Role of the State” - Cyrus Reed, PhD, Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter, Conservation Director.

Fee (includes registration, lunch, and snacks) $25, $5 for students. Register online at www.hpjc.org. Conference runs from 8:45 a.m. – 5 p.m at the University of Houston Honors College, 212 M.D. Anderson Library. For more information, call: Awanda Whitworth 713/688-1060 or visit the Houston Peace & Justice Center website.

SOCIETY OF PEACE MARCH MOVIE NIGHT & VEGAN BAKE SALE (and "Volunteer Roundup")
*MEATOUT WEEK EVENT*

The Society of PEACE is hosting its annual MEATOUT event on Friday, March 20, 2009.  Join us on the first day of Spring for a free public screening of the award-winning Tribe of Heart film "Peaceable Kingdom" and vegan bake sale.  We'll also be serving up Lightlife vegan "veggie dogs" & refreshments.  There will be door prizes and plenty of Vegan Starter Kits.  We'll also have "Volunteer Signup Forms" for those who may be interested. 

The event is free and open to the general public.  Attendees are encouraged to bring guests!  Proceeds from the Vegan baked goods and veggie dogs will support Society of PEACE's ongoing outreach efforts.  Join us on the first day of Spring as we host our MEATOUT WEEK 2009 Event!  **Supreme Master Television will also be on location at our event, filming a report for their 2009 worldwide Meatout event coverage!**  Mayor Bill White has also signed the 2009 Meatout Proclamation for Houston!

Date: Friday, March 20, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: St. Stephens Pecore Hall (near the Havens Center), 1805 W. Alabama, Houston, TX 77098  Click HERE for Map .  *Parking is on Sul Ross Road & Woodhead.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW, PRINT & SHARE THE EVENT FLYER!

RSVP's are requested for seating and greatly appreciated!  RSVP online here or via email to Society of PEACE .  You can also call/text the Society of PEACE line at 832-722-1376.  Remember to bring your friends!!!

Society of PEACE will be tabling at the Houston Hare Krishna Cultural Center Festival on Sunday, March 15 from 5:30 - 8:00 PM. The festival is open to the public and will include live music (kirtan), presentations and a free vegetarian feast.

For more information, visit ISKCON Houston . Be sure to visit our table in the Community Vendor section and pick up free literature and Vegetarian Starter Guides!

Leisure Learning Unlimited presents a "Vegan Irish Feast" cooking class, featuring vegan personal chef and radio personality Staci Davis. The class is Sunday, March 15, 2009 from 3:00 - 7:00 PM in Sharpstown area (SW Frwy at Fondren) in Houston. Staci will teach you how to prepare Irish Stout Stew, colcannon, burnt oranges, soda bread and more.

The cost of the class is $52 and includes the meal. For more information and to register, CLICK HERE . Participants must register in advance through Leisure Learning, as class size is limited! 

The Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) will be holding a Houston Chapter meeting on Saturday, March 14 at the Houston Humane Society. The meeting will be held from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. The public is welcome to attend.

Come learn about THLN's mission and how you can get involved in changing the laws to help animals in Texas. For more information, visit THLN or contact THLN's Southeast Chapter President and Society of PEACE member Brian Craft via email.

The Houston Vegan Meetup Dinner

The Houston Vegan Meetup group will be meeting for their social Dinner on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 5:30 PM.  The location this month is Field of Greens Restaurant in Houston.

Visit HOUSTON VEGAN MEETUP for more info and to RSVP. Society of PEACE member Reese is the organizer of the Houston Vegan Meetup. This is a large meetup group, so RSVP early to reserve a spot!

Houston's own Banyan Foods Tofu Company  will be serving up a vegan dinner at Avant Garden (near Westheimer & Taft) on Monday, March 9, 2009. The vegan meal is just $7 and includes tofu fried rice, spicy tofu stew, and sweet and sour fried tofu. Dinner begins at 8:00 PM, with live Jazz music by The Trade at 9:00 PM.

Support a family-owned & operated vegan business and enjoy a great meal & live music!  For a map to Avant Garden, click here .

Join local animal advocates and concerned citizens for a day of protests and leafleting outside the Houston Livestock & Rodeo Show. Activists will hold signs & distribute leaflets to educate the public about rodeo & livestock animal abuse on the day of the Jonas Brothers concert.

Leafleting will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 PM near Kirby & Westridge at Reliant Stadium in Houston. For more information, contact Alma Williams at 713-734-0820 or via email . This is being organized by Alma Williams, Director of HART . All area activists are encouraged to attend.

The Meet & Greet takes place on Saturday, March 7, 2009 in the Heights from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM (NEW HOURS)! Meet homeless dogs and cats in need of loving families! All proceeds from the event will go to Friends of BARC, a non profit volunteer group, to purchase needed supplies for the city’s shelter animals.

You can also drop off donations for BARC anytime or at the Meet and Greet at Cooper Animal Clinic, 1136 Heights Blvd. This will be another great opportunity to meet shelter animals in need of a second chance.

Call 713.861-1155 for more information or visit FRIENDS OF BARC  to learn how you can help homeless animals in Houston through adoption or fostering. Be sure to also visit KPFT's "Adopt a Friend" page .

Society of PEACE member Pamela Kletke (MBA, U of St. Thomas), a.k.a. “The Food Fairy,” has been a personal chef since 2005. Pamela is an organic gardener and teaches business classes at Houston Community College. She will be offering her personal chef class on Saturday, March 7, 2009 in the Heights from 9:15AM - 12:15PM.

Pamela will teach how to set up your business (DBA, food safety certification, website, etc.) and receive cooking tips that will translate into happy customers and a good return on your investment. These cooking tips will compliment a meal that will be served throughout the class.

This class is being offered through Leisure Learning. The fee is $52 + $8 food/materials fee. Register for the class online here .

The Houston SPCA is holding a "Mutt Strut" Runway Race at the Houston Intercontinental Airport on Saturday March 7. This is a fundraiser for the Houston SPCA.

The event begins at 8:00 AM. For more information or to register online, visit the Houston SPCA .

Join local animal advocates and concerned citizens for protests and leafleting outside the Houston Livestock & Rodeo Show. Activists will hold signs & distribute leaflets to educate the public about rodeo & livestock animal abuse.

Leafleting will be held from 5:30 - 7:30 PM near Kirby & Westridge at Reliant Stadium in Houston. For more information, contact Alma Williams at 713-734-0820 or via email . This is being organized by Alma Williams, Director of HART.  All area activists are encouraged to attend.

Professional athlete-turned-firefighter Rip Esselstyn is the author of the book, Engine 2 Diet .  The books shows how to lose weight, lower cholesterol, significantly reduce the risk of disease, and become physically fit—in just 4 weeks on a plant-based diet.

Rip will be in Houston this week at several locations for his book signing tour.  This is a great opportunity to pick up a copy of his book!

March 5, 2009: KROGER, 6 PM CST, 11003 Shadow Creek Parkway Pearland, TX 77584
March 6, 2009: Barnes & Noble, 7 PM CST, 12850 Memorial Drive 
March 7, 2009: H-E-B, KROGER, 1 PM CST, HEB 6711 South Fry Road @ Grand Parkway AND 4 PM CST, KROGER 5150 Buffalo Speedway
March 8, 2009: KROGER , 1 PM CST, 4825 Sweetwater Blvd.

For more information, visit the Engine 2 Diet website.

Join members of the Houston Health Association/Natural Hygiene Network for their monthly dinner meeting. The group meets on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 PM at A Moveable Feast Cafe in Houston, where several vegetarian & vegan options are available.

The Houston Vegan Knitters Group will be meeting on Sunday, March 1, 2009 from 3:00-5:00 PM. The group will be meeting at The House of Tea in Houston. All levels of knitting skills and other craft enthusiasts are welcome to attend this social event. Feel free to bring vegan snacks to share!

For more information on this group, visit The Houston Vegan Knitters or contact Society of PEACE Secretary Stacey Halsch, or Society of PEACE Treasurer Amanda Mariano.

Sedition Books is holding a vegan bake sale to help raise funds for the store. Vegan baked goods donations are also welcome!

Sedition Books is holding a vegan potluck on Thursday, February 26. Bring a vegan dish to share with others at this community event!

Join fellow Raw Vegan enthusiasts at the twice monthly potluck, which is held around 6:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday & 4th Thursday of every month. The potluck dinner is held at Taft Street Coffee in Houston. Remember to bring a raw vegan dish to share with the group!

For more information, call the Taft Street Coffee House at 712-522-3533.

Ayurvedic specialist & chef Karuna Mayi will teach a hands-on vegetarian cooking workshop (most recipes are vegan!) that demonstrates how to prepare a delicious, healthy vegetarians meals based on the ancient holistic healing system of Ayurveda. Only fresh, organic ingredient are used in this vegan-friendly class. The "Conscious Eating" class will be held on Sunday, February 22 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at The Heights School of Yoga in Houston.

Society of PEACE member Karuna Mayi has been practicing and teaching vegetarian/vegan cooking for the past twelve years. CLICK HERE for the event flyer and additional information on the class.  For directions and a map to The Heights School of Yoga, click here .

Seating is limited, so RSVP soon! The price is $65 per person, and includes the full course meal. RSVP to Karuna to make your reservation, or call 281-546-9698.

The Vegetarian Society of the Bay Area is hosting a Vegan Bake Sale and Potluck Luncheon on Sunday, February 22. The vegan bake sale will begin at 11:30 AM, with a vegan potluck to follow at 12:30 PM. This group meets once a month at the Unity Church of the Bay Area in League City and the public is welcome to attend. Vegan baked goods donations are welcome! Please remember to bring a vegan dish to share at the potluck!

Society of PEACE will be holding a vegan potluck party in conjuction with a volunteer "roundup" on Saturday, February 21, 2009! This is a great opportunity to learn how you can be part of our volunteer team and help with our events, annual outreach campaigns, letter writing & tabling and the new project committees within our growing organization. 

Attendees will enjoy a delicious vegan potluck and can enter to win door prizes.  Learn about our volunteer opportunities and meet & mingle with members of our organization!  Please bring a vegan dish to share at this fun, social event!  This event is hosted by Society of PEACE Treasurer Amanda Mariano and the Society of PEACE leadership team.

Date: Saturday, February 21, 2009  EVENT POSTPONED DUE TO EMERGENCY  - Will be rescheduled for March 2009
Time: 5:00 PM 
Location: 208-B Hawthorne, Houston, TX 77006 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW & PRINT THE EVENT FLYER!

RSVP's are requested as seating is limited!  Attendees will also need a gate entry code.  Please RSVP via email to Society of PEACE Asst. VP Mari Devlin before Feb. 19th, or call/text Society of PEACE at 832-722-1376. 

Join members of The Woodlands Vegan Meetup & the Houston Vegetarian Meetup on Saturday, February 21. They will be meeting at Pizza Fusion in North Houston for a vegan lunch at 3:30 PM.

For more information and to RSVP, visit The Woodlands Vegan Meetup or the Houston Vegetarian Meetup . Society of PEACE member Michelle is the organizer of The Woodlands group, and Michelle & Mari organize the Houston meetup group.

On February 17, 2009, the State Bar of Texas Animal Law Section will host Michael J. Blackwell, DVM, MPH, Assistant Surgeon General USPHS (ret.) to present the Report of the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production in America. Dr. Blackwell, a key commission member, will address the dramatic transition in animal agriculture in America -- from farm animal production on small and medium-sized family farms to systems of large intensive operations, known as confined animal feeding operations or "CAFOs," and the resulting negative impacts on the environment, public health, rural communities and the health and well-being of the animals themselves. Dr. Blackwell will also address the state of federal regulation and recommended legislation.

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Time: 12:00 noon - 1:00 PM
Location: (NOTE: new location is as listed) South Texas College of Law, Room 314, 1303 San Jacinto Street, Houston, TX 77002

There is no charge to attend, but please bring your own vegetarian/vegan lunch.  This educational event is open to the public, but RSVP's are requested.  Please RSVP via email to Alison Smith.

The Houston Vegan Knitters Group will be meeting on Sunday, February 15, 2009 from 3:00-5:00 PM. The group will be meeting at The House of Tea in Houston. All levels of knitting skills and other craft enthusiasts are welcome to attend this social event. Feel free to bring vegan snacks to share!

For more information on this group, visit The Houston Vegan Knitters or contact Society of PEACE Secretary Stacey Halsch, or Society of PEACE Treasurer Amanda Mariano.

The Houston Vegan Meetup Dinner
(Previously scheduled for February 7, but moved to February 14th! )

The Houston Vegan Meetup group will be meeting at Pepper Tree Veggie Cuisine this month for their social Dinner on Saturday, February 14 (Valentine's Day) at 5:30 PM.

Visit HOUSTON VEGAN MEETUP for more info and to RSVP. Society of PEACE member Reese is the organizer of the Houston Vegan Meetup. This is a large meetup group, so RSVP early to reserve a spot!

SNAP celebrates Valentine's Day 2009 with a special cat day event for female cats only! Have your female cat spayed for FREE day on Friday, February 13, 2009 at the SNAP Houston Spay-Neuter Clinic at 1603 Shepherd Drive in Houston.  This event is limited to the first 50 female cats, so register early!

This event is open to the public. No qualification is required. For more information and to register, visit SNAPUSA  or call 713-863-0010.

Join members of the Houston Vegetarian Meetup group for a farewell dinner at Hometown Vegetarian Cafe. (Note: Hometown Vegetarian Cafe will be closing it's doors soon and relocating to a another location as a take-out only restaurant) The event will be held on Thursday, February 12 at 7:30 PM.

For more information and to RSVP, visit the Houston Vegetarian Meetup group . Society of PEACE members Michelle & Mari are the organizers of this group.

Join fellow Raw Vegan enthusiasts at the twice monthly potluck, which is held around 6:30 PM on the 2nd Wednesday & 4th Thursday of every month. The potluck dinner is held at Taft Street Coffee Houston in Houston. Remember to bring a raw vegan dish to share with the group!

For more information, call the Taft Street Coffee House at 712-522-3533.

The Houston Humane Society will be holding a "Fix Felix for Free" Day in an effort to reduce pet overpopulation in Houston. They are offering 500 free male cat neuters on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at the HHS Wellness Center.

The free fix day is offered by appointment only. Please visit the Houston Humane Society  or call  713-433-6453 .  You can also register online here .

Join members of the Houston Organic Meetup & the Houston Whole Foods Nutrition Meetup on February 10th for a social gathering & organic tea. The event begins at 7:00 PM at The Path of Tea on West Alabama.

For more information and to RSVP, visit the Houston Organic Meetup  or the Houston Whole Foods Nutrition Meetup . Lydia is the organizer of both groups.

The Meet & Greet takes place on Saturday, February 7, 2009 in the Heights from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM (NEW HOURS)! Meet homeless dogs and cats in need of loving families! All proceeds from the event will go to Friends of BARC, a non profit volunteer group, to purchase needed supplies for the city’s shelter animals.

You can also drop off donations for BARC anytime or at the Meet and Greet at Cooper Animal Clinic, 1136 Heights Blvd. This will be another great opportunity to meet shelter animals in need of a second chance.

Call 713.861-1155 for more information or visit FRIENDS OF BARC to learn how you can help homeless animals in Houston through adoption or fostering. Be sure to also visit KPFT's "Adopt a Friend" page .

Join members of the Houston Vegetarian Meetup group for a social lunch at Pepper Tree Veggie Cuisine. The event will take place at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, February 4. The lunch buffet at Pepper Tree is 100% Vegetarian with numerous vegan options!

Join members of the Houston Health Association/Natural Hygiene Network for their monthly dinner meeting. The topic of discussion will be "The Ideal Diet for Health & Disease Prevention". The group meets on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 PM at A Moveable Feast Cafe in Houston, where several vegetarian & vegan options are available.

Sedition Books is holding a vegan bake sale to help raise funds for the store. Vegan baked goods donations are also welcome!

The Texas Dog (and Cat) Law Seminar will be held in Dallas on Saturday, January 31st. The event begins runs from 8:30 AM - 5:15 PM at the Sterling Hotel Dallas. The seminar will feature Houston animal lawyer Zandra Anderson and other guest speakers. 

Topics and presentations include:
-Texas Legislative Update: The Truth about Dogs & Cats and the New Texas Laws that Affect Them
-Dog Fighting & the Implication of the Michael Vick Case
-Ownership Issues: Ethical Considerations, Custody, Rescue, & Feral Cats
-Legal and Ethical Issues of Serving on a Board of a Humane or Rescue Organization
-Local Laws Concerning Pet Ownership
-Liability Issues: Rescue Organizations, Kennel Operators, Pet Sitters, Dog Trainers & Individual Dog Owners Cruelty Laws: The New Laws & How They Change Things
-Psychology of Hoarding & Cruelty and more!

This is an event for animal rescuers, animal lawyers and others with similar interests. Seminar includes the Texas Dog Law Manual, door prizes and more! Visit the Texas Dog Law Seminar website  for registration and seminar pricing. 

Animal advocates from No Kill Houston, Help BARC and other concerned citizens in favor of making Houston a No-Kill city will be meeting for a peaceful demonstration and a city council appearance on Tuesday, January 27. Animal advocates are hoping to bring about change at the city pound (BARC). Advocates are asked to attend the peaceful protest in front of city hall at 12:00 noon. The appearance in the Houston City Council meeting will then begin at 1:30 PM. Attendance is needed to show Houston's elected officials and the media that voters are not willing to accept the suffering and killing of Houston's dogs and cats.

This advocacy event is organized by No Kill Houston & Help BARC.  The public is encouraged to attend and support the efforts to improve conditions at the city's pound.  For more information, please contact Bett Sundermeyer  or Kelly Cripe via email.

To contact Houston's elected officials via email or fax, please visit No Kill Houston for a list of resources.

In celebration on Chinese New Year, KPFT's Vegan World Radio will be holding a fundraising event at Ten Thousand Villages  on Monday, January 26. A percentage of the sales from ths community shopping night will go to support the Vegan World Radio Program on KPFT. Vegan refreshments from Houston's Banyan Foods will be served.

Date: Monday, January 26, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Ten Thousand Villages at 2424 Rice Blvd in Houston (click here for map )

Meet the hosts & co-founders of Vegan World Radio at the event, including Society of PEACE members Shirley Wilkes-Johnson, Anuj A. Shah, Ph.D., Jerrilyn and others!  For more information, visit Vegan World Radio. 

Crime Stoppers Houston is pleased to debut the Anti Dog Fighting/Animal Cruelty Billboard at the "Corridor of Cruelty" in Houston.  There will be a press conference for local media and Harris County D.A. Patricia Lykos will be a featured speaker.  The event takes place on Monday, January 26, 2009 at a location known as the Corridor of Cruelty, where several animals have been dumped and left to die. 

Animal advocates and concerned citizens are encouraged to attend!  The event will begin at 9:30 AM in the 10600 Block of the Eastex Freeway (59 North).  For more information, contact Amy Smith, Public Relations Director, Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-521-4600.

This screening is part of a bi-weekly film/educational event series focused on various ecological crises from a radical perspective. The film features professor & author Joel Kovel, who in 2000 sought the presidential nomination of the US Green Party. The event will be held at Sedition Books in Houston on Sunday, January 25 at 8:00 PM. 

Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.  For more information, visit Sedition Books online .

The Vegetarian Society of the Bay Area will be meeting on Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 12:30 PM. This group will be meeting once a month at the Unity Church of the Bay Area in League City and the public is welcome to attend. Please bring a vegan dish to share at the potluck!

The State Bar of Texas Animal Law Section will host Rick Bousquet and Dena Fisher of the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN's) on Friday, January 23, 2009, who will speak on animal law legislation in Texas and THLN's legislative slate for 2009.

Date: Friday, January 23, 2009
Time:  12:00 noon to 1:00 PM
Location:  the offices of Haynes and Boone, LLP, One Houston Center, Suite 2100, 1221 McKinney Street, Houston, TX 77010.
There is no charge to attend, but please bring your own vegetarian/vegan lunch.

This educational event is free and open to the public, but RSVP's are requested. Please RSVP via email to Alison Smith.

Sedition Books is holding a vegan potluck on Thursday, January 22. Bring a vegan dish to share with others at this community event!

Join members of the Houston Organic Meetup for a social lunch and meet & greet at the Leawood Civic Center on Saturday, January 17. The group will be meeting at 11:00 AM.

Urban Harvest presents their 9th Annual Fruit Tree Sale on January 17th! Shop Houston’s best selections of savory fruit trees suited to your garden and learn from local environmentalists. The event will be held at Rice University Football Stadium in Houston from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

Funds raised by this sale go directly to the many vital Urban Harvest programs, including outdoor classrooms at schools, donation gardens supplying fresh food to soup kitchens and food pantries, and the many organic gardening classes offered by Urban Harvest.  It also helps fund the Bayou City Farmers’ Market, where local growers bring their produce to sell. The sale itself helps to make Houston a greener place to live!

For more information, visit Urban Harvest online .

Animal advocates and concerned citizens in favor of making Houston a No-Kill city and for bringing about change at the city pound (BARC) are asked to attend the Houston City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 14 at 9:00 AM. Attendance is needed to show Houston's elected officials and the media that voters are not willing to accept the suffering and killing of Houston's dogs and cats.

This advocacy event is organized by Help BARC.  The public is encouraged to attend and support the efforts to improve conditions at the city's pound.  For more information, please contact Kelly Cripe via email.

To contact Houston's elected officials via email or fax, please visit No Kill Houston for a list of resources.

Join Society of PEACE for a special screening of The RAVE Diet: "Eating" (Third Edition - the newest!).  This very powerful film will be screened at a private theater in Katy, Texas.  The award-winning Eating DVD- 3rd Edition covers a lot of ground very comprehensively - and all within 88 short minutes.

Among the many highlights are interviews with Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr. Neil Pinckney, Dr. Ruth Heidrich and Dr. Joseph Crowe. The RAVE Diet "Eating" DVD is used in wellness clinics throughout the world to motivate people to change their diets and restore their health.  The film covers the health, environmental and ethical reasons for choosing a plant-based diet.  This is a film that will change your life and the way you eat!

Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009

Location:  Seven Meadows Community Association, Central Park Resident's Club, 23610 Seven Meadows Parkway, Katy, TX 77494 (Click here for Map)

Time: 4:00 PM - 6: 00 PM

CLICK HERE TO VIEW & PRINT THE EVENT FLYER 

This event is open to the public but reservations are needed, as seating space is limited to 50 attendees.  Vegan refreshments will be served and plenty of vegetarian literature will be available.

 RSVP via email to Society of PEACE Asst VP Mari Devlin before January 7th, or call/text the Society of PEACE line at 832-722-1376.  Proudly sponsored and hosted by Society of PEACE members Brian & Misty Craft. 

Society of PEACE member Pamela Kletke (MBA, U of St. Thomas), a.k.a. “The Food Fairy,” has been a personal chef since 2005. Pamela is an organic gardener and teaches business classes at Houston Community College. She will be offering her personal chef class on Saturday, January 10, 2009 in the Heights from 9:15AM - 12:15PM.

Pamela will teach how to set up your business (DBA, food safety certification, website, etc.) and receive cooking tips that will translate into happy customers and a good return on your investment. These cooking tips will compliment a meal that will be served throughout the class.

Join members of the Houston Health Association/Natural Hygiene Network for their monthly meeting on Monday, January 5. The group meets on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 PM at A Moveable Feast Cafe in Houston, where several vegetarian & vegan options are available.

The Meet & Greet takes place on Saturday, January 3, 2009 in the Heights from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM (NEW HOURS)! Meet homeless dogs and cats in need of loving families! All proceeds from the event will go to Friends of BARC, a non profit volunteer group, to purchase needed supplies for the city’s shelter animals.

You can also drop off donations for BARC anytime or at the Meet and Greet at Cooper Animal Clinic, 1136 Heights Blvd. This will be another great opportunity to meet shelter animals in need of a second chance.

Call 713.861-1155 for more information or visit FRIENDS OF BARC to learn how you can help homeless animals in Houston through adoption or fostering. Be sure to also visit KPFT's "Adopt a Friend" page .