Dallas

'Tis the season to give, not only to your loved ones but also your great community. Looking to be seasonably charitable this year? Here's a few top organizations who do their best to end hunger, support art and culture, create incredible interior designs for lower income housing and more.

It started as a favorite dish when you were a kid, accompanied by chocolate milk and ketchup packets. Now, some great restaurants are promoting a gourmet version to the famed mac and cheese from days of yore. Here's where to get your creamy and oh-so-guilty pleasure in the Big D.

Like Christmas and Thanksgiving, the Margarita Ball comes once a year. Saturday's turnout was the largest ever, garnering over 10,000 attendees in the name of Dallas Children's Charities. Since everything is bigger in Texas, it's no wonder this event represents the world's largest black tie gala, growing in number every year.

Shopping in Dallas just keeps getting better, and just in time for holiday gift shopping. Not only is the new Express store at Northpark Center finally open, as well as the new Nest location on Mckinney Ave, but NYC's Decades Denim has decided to launch their line of gorgeous jeans here in the Big D.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and craft|Dallas wants us to know there are options beyond ham and turkey. On November 17th, the upscale eatery inside the W Hotel in Victory Park hosted a Vegetarian Harvest Dinner for gastro buffs looking for a different kind of dining experience, and we got what we asked for.

The "Farm to Fork" movement has been catching on around the Big D, making our beloved nights dining out that much more fresh, organic and locally grown. Monday night, the fine folks at the illustrious Ranch at Las Colinas showed their gratitude to these local growers, farmers and bakers by inviting them along with some media guests to partake in The Ranch's incredible cuisine, and show them where all the hard work is really paying off.

Ah, fall. It's that special time of year: Black Friday, mall parking, defective Christmas lights, in-laws, fried turkey incidents-- it's no wonder you don't get that special holiday cheer come November. Not to worry, you can always ease that seasonal tension by treating yourself to a spa day at one of Dallas's relaxation havens. Winterize your senses with these holiday packages.

There's not really any kind of gastronomical glory that compares to Chinese Dim Sum. Perfect for any kind of friendly gathering, everything from the carts to the spinning table centerpiece showcasing a myriad of small plates, both traditional and experimental, make the whole meal a memorable family-style event. Lucky for us culturally diverse Dallasites, there's a slew of Chinese restaurants serving up some delicious Dim Sum. Here's a few highlights.

Health and fitness guru Stephanie Oakes may be a Dallasite, but she frequently visits her other home in New York City to appear on such programs as The Today Show to update the nation on the latest in health trends. As for her forecast for 2011, Oakes has a few must-haves on her list. Here's a sneak peek at what she'll reveal on Today after the holidays.

Red, red wine was the star at the Joule hotel's Big Red Weekend, a premier epicurean event that showcased some of the best chefs and restaurants Dallas has to offer. The Joule, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is a downtown hot-spot that houses Charlie Palmer's upscale Southern eatery and the basement nightclub PM Lounge, but on November 5th through the 7th guests gathered upstairs in the ballroom to sample some Texan wines, devour some decadent bites and listen to great live bands, all for the North Texas Food Bank.

Ah, Dragon Street. The strong arm of the Design District, Dragon Street plays host to an art fair every first Thursday of the month, and, rain or shine, folks come out to take a gander at the various shops carrying vintage fashions and furniture as well as the luxurious design houses and art galleries. They all keep their doors open late and their complimentary cocktails at the ready to entice buyers with their elaborate wares, and this was especially true this Thursday when "Amorous Adventuress" showcased their fabulous coats and jewelry for the first time here in Dallas.

If there’s anyone you should take health and fitness advice from, it’s Stephanie Oakes. I mean, just look at her. And it’s not difficult to come by—you can see Stephanie’s informative segments on The Today Show and Good Morning America and read her input in Self, Shape and USA Today Magazine, just to name a few.