I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday weekend filled with friends, family and, of course, good food! And, I hope you made some time to explore and enjoy the beautiful arts community we have in our area. We joined a group of "orphans;" an eclectic group of folks without family in the region who got together for a potluck (and delicious) meal. The hostess is quite the visual artist with paintings and sculpture displayed throughout. Rumor has it that the host plays a mean sax. Their home was filled with lovely pieces that reflected their diverse tastes and the music on the stereo set the stage with sounds from around the world.

It was a joyful evening catching up with old friends while getting to know some new ones. Many give back to the community through a variety of ways; volunteers and professionals working for the Lupus Foundation, The Fulton Mansion, and the Rialto Theater; active in historical renovations for needy houses; and, of course, through their patronage of places like The Rockport Art Center.

As I've gotten older, I've grown more and more disgusted with the commercialization of Christmas and the holidays. So, I'm going to encourage you (the economy aside) to please think about the true meaning of the season and rededicate yourself to give more of your time and money to deserving non-profit organizations in our region. There's such a need across the board that everyone can find a cause that touches their heart. Whether it's art-related or not, please think about giving more than money this year. Volunteers always seem to be in short supply - organizations need your presence. Think about that instead of vying for a parking place at the mall to spend money on more stuff nobody really needs.

Upcoming Artisan Events:

• Friday-Saturday, December 4-5, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, December 6, 2:00 p.m. - "Misery" by Simon Moore, Adapted from Stephen King's novel. Live Stage Production. Rialto Theater. Admission: $12.
• Saturday, December 5, 5:30 p.m. - Opening Reception for "Currents" Member Show. On exhibit through January 23. Rockport Center for the Arts. Admission: Free.
• Sunday, December 6, 2:00 p.m. - "Student Art Show" Opening Reception. Art Center for the Islands. Admission: Free.
• Tuesday, December 8, 7:00 p.m. - "Rialto Rhythms" Weekly Open Acoustic Jam. Rialto Theater. Admission: Free ($5 contribution suggested).
• Friday & Saturdays through December 11, - Opening night for "Christmas Carol." Live Theater. Fridays & Saturdays through December 11. Harbor Playhouse. Admission: $16.
• Saturday, December 12, 2:00 p.m. - "Acoustic Country Blues Guitar Workshop" by Steve James. Intermediate to advanced guitar players. Advance registration required: Minimum six, maximum twelve participation. Rialto Theater. Admission: $30.
• Saturday, December 12, 7:30 p.m. - "Steve James in Concert." Rialto Theater. Admission: $12.
• Sunday, December 13, 2:00 p.m. - "My Life As a Dog." Cinema Flashbacks Club, Rialto Theater. Admission: Free to Members, $5 to join.
• Friday & Saturday, December 18-19, 7:30 p.m. - "The Jolly Holly Follies" Revue. Rialto Theater. Admission: $12. Daily through January 6 -
• Daily through Jan 6 - "Bright Energy," The works of Narice Hopp. Rialto Theater Main Gallery. "Meet the Artist" Reception, November 7, 6:30 p.m. Admission: Free.

Jen Jones is a member of the Board of Directors of the Rialto Theater, an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization fostering art and education through visual art, music and live stage productions in the historic movie theater in downtown Aransas Pass. Her day job is in real estate at Coldwell Banker Myers-Gallagher. If you have someone you'd like to spotlight in this column, drop her a line at jen@jenscoastalbend.com.