Polka News: Best of German Fest, CZ Sub, Have a Blue (Room) Christmas, Mollie B in Texas

Best of German Fest: The Tomball German Christmas Market is this weekend Friday-Sunday. Great place to do some unique Christmas shopping, have some German food and beer and of course POLKA! Three stages will feature all kinds of music genres: German and Czech, Cajun, Bluegrass, Country, Christmas just to name a few. Check out the performance schedule. Three contests this year: Best Dressed Christmas Character at 8:30 PM Friday, Chicken Dance Contest at 3:45 PM Saturday and Best Dressed German at 8:15 PM Sunday. CZ Sub: Garrett Neubauer will join the Czechaholics on accordion this Saturday at Lodge 88 subbing for Mark Hermes, who will be performing his other job as manager of the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center. The Center is having its Christmas Open House during the day and its annual fundraising gala that night honoring the Rudy Kurtz, Frank Kubin and John Rejcek Orchestras. Music by David Slovak, Andy Mikula and Mike Marek.

Have a Blue (Room) Christmas: Have you bought your tickets yet to the Blue Room Party at SPJST Lodge 88 in Houston? It's quite possibly the best deal in town for a holiday celebration. For $25, you get a steak dinner, dance with music by the Ennis Czech Boys AND open bar. Don't let the name fool you. No sadness here! The name comes from when members and their guests could be served liquor in the Blue Room "lounge." And of course the Blue Room is next to the Red Room, which is the dining room. Give the lodge a call at 713-869-5767 to reserve your tickets. Deadline is December 10.

Mollie B in Texas: Yay! The Squeezebox Band will be in Texas in January, which is National Polka Month. Schedule so far is Thursday, January 17 at Riverside Club in Mission and Sunday, January 20 at the SPJST Lodge 88 in Houston. Still working on bookings for Friday and Saturday.

Polka News: CZs Are 10, GutenTights Gig, Fun at the Opry

Czechaholics Are 10: Congrats to the CZs on their 10th anniversary. They'll be celebrating Saturday, November 24, at Moravia Store where it all started. Welcome to new member Mayo Walker, who also plays with Southern Express. Mayo took Randy Majek's place. Hated to hear that Randy retired from the band, but hope to see him join a jam from time to time. Thanks to Brian Klekar for sharing these great photos of the group.

GutenTights Gig: You'll want to check out this group on Sunday, November 25 at Shooter's Saloon in Brenham, from 3-6 PM. The GutenTights is composed of Allison Crowson, Gene Hackemack, Ricky Weiss, Daniel Cendalski - a complete mix of German, Czech, Polish plus Allison's famous American Classics. Gene "Doc Hack" says it should be a riot! "The big draw will be Daniel. He is one fantastic lead guitar player and fiddle playing Polak from Chappell Hill – and a real nut and well liked," Gene reports.

Fun at the Opry: Polkabeat reporter Julie Matus enjoyed a night at the Fayette County Opry held November 19 at the La Grange KC Hall. "What a great evening!!! Chris Rybak and Santiago Jimenez, Jr. put on a fabulous show, as always! The House Band, including John Dujka, is really a great group. There was quite a crowd there too! And the hamburgers prepared by the KC Members were good as always," Julie says. The opry is held the third Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call (979) 968-5117.