William Chris Vineyards uses sustainable practices to grow their Texas grapes. | Photo by ATXtoday
Did you know the Texas Hill Country is one of the fastest-growing wine regions in the country? In fact, some of the best wineries in the country are just outside of Austin.
You don’t have to go in blind — Wine4.Me recently debuted an online tool to help folks find Texas-grown wine to suit their taste. The Texas Hill Country Wineries Style Selector has 26 varieties and 180+ wines logged in its database, allowing you to adjust factors like sweetness, intensity, oak, minerality, fruitiness, acidity, florals, and spice.
We did some poking around to find local bottles that pair well with your group’s flavor preferences and potential pairings.
Our top tip for staying up-to-date? Downtown Austin Alliance’s holiday hub: your free resource for very merry pop-ups, seasonal shows, 80+ deals from local bizzes for holiday shopping, and all things festive fun.
Just message “ATX HOLIDAYS” to (512) 890-3099 and elves will start sending you updates + happenings directly to your phone.
Bonus: You can even get 50% off Uber rides going to or from downtown all through December in the app.
📅 Add to Cal: Holiday Sing-Along & Stroll
Speaking of joyous occasions, help ring in the most magical time of year at next week’s Holiday Sing-Along & Stroll, taking over Congress Ave on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 5-8 p.m.
An extra special espresso machine, a smokeless outdoor fire pit, and a Nintendo Switch 2. Those are all gifts featured in Forbes’ vetted list of 100 excellent presents for this holiday season. We think they’d be even better under a tree at this recently listed Pemberton Heights home.
Eat
Would you sit right next to a stranger at a restaurant?90% of Gen Z diners would. According to a new Resy study, communal dining is in. Consider this your cue to meet a new friend at one of Austin’s buzzy new restaurants. Psst — we tried it for ourselves. (Business Insider)
Trending
The 2026 Met Gala theme has been revealed: “Costume Art” draws connections between garments and historic art in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While we wait to see what the stars wear on the first Monday in May, try sourcing art-inspired pieces of your own at Austin’s secondhand shops. (Associated Press)
Tech
Throwback alert. Nine years after going dark, Vine has made a comeback. The short-form video platform just relaunched as diVine, bringing 100,000 archived videos from before the app’s shutdown with it. Prefer punchlines in person? Check out these upcoming comedy shows in Austin. (TechCrunch)
Pets
Why are there so many dog breeds? New research suggests the phenomena did not begin as recently as generally believed, and in fact, started 11,000 years ago. Whether you’re rocking a miniature poodle in a handbag, or you’re eye-level with your Irish wolfhound, all shapes and sizes are welcome at the Capital City’s dog-friendly spots. (Reuters)
Travel
Did you get a glimpse of the aurora borealis earlier this month? The stunning display lit up cities across the US due to an increase in solar activity. If you can’t wait for your next chance in North Texas, you can start your northbound adventure to see the phenomena at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. (Reuters)
Jobs
Whether you’re a small business looking to grow your team or a large company filling a key role, our Job Board can connect you with engaged, qualified locals who are ready to work. Post your open roles for free + watch the applications roll in.
Read
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Category
Food
🍗 Set the table
Your table could look like this in 2025. | Photo courtesy Fresa’s
This year, our team is thankful for ATXtoday readers and the recipes they like to cook when the big Thanksgiving dinner comes around.
Figi here. It may say my name in the byline, but these three folks are the real writers of this cookbook. I’m here to share three recipes submitted by our at-home chefs to bring some new dishes to your table.
Editor’s note: These recipes have been edited for clarity.
Cranberry Orange Relish | Submitted by Vicki F.
12 oz bag fresh or frozen cranberries
3/4 (cup of) sugar
1 orange and the zest
“Place in food processor and blend (until) almost smooth or smooth. Can be frozen. I am (the) third generation making (this) recipe.”
PSA: Amazon’s Black Friday Week sale is here. With temperatures continuing to drop, we’re stocking up on a few cold weather wardrobe essentials while they’re on sale. These are our top three:
🍂 This pair of ultra-soft wide leg pants are on sale for under $35. We can’t wait to wear them while running errands, lounging, and everything in between.
🍂 Score 30% off this ribbed long sleeve basic tee — perfect for layering under your favorite sweater, vest, or jacket.
🍂 Embrace cozy sophistication with this oversized cable knit sweater that’s marked down to under $28.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
The Wrap
The Wrap
I’m not much of a cook, but every year I ask my mom to make cream cheese-stuffed rolls, which she says she learned to make while living in El Paso. All you do is stuff a pat of cream cheese into bread dough — simple but delicious.
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