Happy start of December!

I hope everyone had a nice, long, relaxing holiday weekend. Mine consisted of Dutch Bros coffee runs, making eggs Benedict from scratch for the first time, decorating for Christmas, reading on my Kindle, working on some needlepoint Christmas gifts, and watching season five of “Stranger Things” with my family.

I’m excited to debut my new Monday newsletter section, which you can find down below. (Hint: it requires some audience participation!)

Speaking of audience participation, I would love it if you could sign up for one of our newsletter feedback interviews! I want to know everything: the good, the bad, and the ugly. You can sign up here.

In honor of our first annual inaugural giving guide going out this Saturday, I want to know your favorite ways to spread the love during the holidays.

Do you volunteer at the same soup kitchen every year? Adopt a few Angel Tree children? Do you sign up to ring a bell for the Salvation Army? Let me know!

Here’s one answer that I loved:

“Making Christmas hats/scarves/ear warmers using yarn. I’ve been donating Christmas hats to The Ronald McDonald House Charities & Texas Children’s Hospital for over 20 years. And have added MDA and Children’s Memorial Hospital in the last few years. This brings such joy and warmth to my soul.”

— SueZahn L.

💌 Send me your giving story!

👮 The Houston Police Department has rejected overtime funds from Councilmember Edward Pollard, ending the District J Patrol program.

🍪 Nearby manufacturer Blue Bell has already dropped its newest holiday flavor: Christmas Cookies Ice Cream. Even though it’s cold and rainy, I need to try this ASAP. (Chron)

💰 Curious about the biggest Republican and Democratic donors in Houston? Check out the top five for each one. (Houston Chronicle)

🦃 If you’ve ever wanted to see a giant inflatable turkey, click through photos from this year’s Houston Thanksgiving Day parade. (Houston Public Media)

By Rebecca Deurlein

When it comes to Christmas, Grapevine, Texas, is the little city that could. With a population of just 51,000 and an area of about 35 square miles, Grapevine hovers in Dallas’ shadow—or it would, if it weren’t so dang cute.

Dubbed the Christmas Capital of Texas by the Texas State Senate in 2009, Grapevine has only become more popular since. Its population explodes during the holidays, when more than two million visitors attend the 1,400+ events that span 40 days between November and December.

It may be the Hallmark Christmas feeling the town evokes, or it may be the fact that wine flows freely in a town that is aptly named and sits squarely on the Urban Wine Trail. Whatever it is, Texans don’t just talk about it—they buy up train tickets and book hotel rooms months in advance, they carve out a weekend in their already busy calendars for Grapevine Time, and they pack for a road trip that will bring home fantastic holiday memories.

So what does this iconic Christmas town have to offer? Well, plenty, and all of it is appropriate for kids, adults, grandparents, friend groups, and even couples looking for a little holiday romance. Here’s everything you should do in the Christmas Capital of Texas.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Sierra Rozen with stories from Rebecca Deurlein. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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