• November, 2011
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On the Scene: 5 Things You Must Do This Month

1) The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas’ ninth annual Big Reds & Bubbles Festival Nov. 17, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Driskill Hotel A world-class assortment of champagnes, sparkling wines and big reds paired with creations from Austin’s top chefs make the perfect affair to start the holiday season off right. more than a dozen of the city’s hottest restaurants (barley Swine, Kenichi and Austin Cake ball) will be serving up a host of appetizers, desserts and samplers. With live music, a silent auction and the prestigious Driskill as a backdrop, this holiday staple event is sure to sell out fast. To register, visit winefoodfoundation.org. 2) My Daughter, Myself adult workshop with Barb Steinberg Nov. 17 from 7 to 9 p.m. at 2208 Forest Bend Dr. Maintaining a strong relationship with your daughter as she enters adolescence will help her find balance, strength and happiness throughout her life. Join Barb Steinberg, L.M.S.W., for a workshop that focuses on improving communication with preteens and teens. The workshop will cover the biological changes that occur in puberty, distance management in your relationship and new communication techniques that assuage friction. Austin-based Steinberg, a teen life coach and a speaker for Genaustin’s 2011 We Are Girls conference, has been featured on KVUE-TV, KUT news and Fox 7 news as an expert on teen girl issues. To register, visit the Workshops for Adults page at barbsteinberg.com. 3) Austin Lyric Opera presents The Magic Flute Nov. 5, 11 and 19 at The Long Center for the Performing Arts Austin Lyric Opera will open its 25th anniversary season with the return of the first production the Lyric opera staged during its inaugural season, mozart’s The Magic Flute. original cast members Sally Wolf as the First Lady and Kevin Langan as the Speaker of the Temple return to the stage to give performances as astounding as their debut. This beloved fairy tale features a cast of fantastical creatures, including the Queen of the Night, who delivers what is considered to be the most popular aria in opera history. For tickets, visit thelongcenter.org. 4) Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day, starting at 8:45 a.m. Work up your turkey day appetite with the largest five-mile run in Texas. This year’s 21st Annual ThunderCloud Turkey Trot begins at the South First Street bridge and traverses along a path near The Long Center and Lady Bird Lake. People of all ages and activity levels are encouraged to participate in this year’s event. Organizers offer a timed and untimed five-mile run, a one-mile walk and a kid’s 1K. Awards categories include top finishers, maternity, baby joggers, wheelchair, Longhorn and Aggie. The Stepping Stone School will provide plenty of activities for children. The event benefits Caritas Austin. early registration is encouraged at thundercloud.com. 5) The Caswell House Various dates through November The superbly preserved turn-of-the-century mansion hosts a number of family-oriented holiday events through November. All of the proceeds are distributed to organizations that assist women, children and the elderly through the Austin Junior Forum.

• Christmas at The Caswell House: Nov. 3 - 12 It’s Caswell’s most popular event. Enjoy light Christmas shopping and sample sweets in an elegant setting of holiday décor.
• Gospel Brunch: Nov. 12, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Austin’s Pink Avocado serves up a Southwestern-style brunch that includes Hatch chile cheese grits, sourdough waffles and more. Live music provided by the St. James Baptist Church choir.
• Mother Daughter Brunch: Nov. 6 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Girls age 13 and older can enjoy this alternative to the sure-to-be-sold-out Mother Daughter Tea. It’s Caswell’s newest tradition, catered by Austin Catering.  Visit austinjuniorforum.org for other event listings or to make reservations, or call 512.472.0779.

 

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