The Sanchez family has decided to make February a benevolent month. Today through Feb. 29, a portion of the proceeds from specific dishes at La Calle Doce and El Ranchito will be donated to Promise House and Genesis Women’s Shelter. At La Calle Doce, the dish is pescado a la parrilla (grilled whole catfish marinated in a blend of herbs and spices, served with grilled vegetables and rice). At El Ranchito, it’s guiso norteño (beef tenderloin or chicken stew in roasted tomato salsa, topped with cheese and served with refried beans).

Hello, lovely people south of the Trinity! It’s just a few moments until happy hour, so allow me to plan your weekend festivities:

Hampton Hills residents, your party has arrived! Tonight’s neighborhood association monthly mixer at 1510 S. Montreal Ave. The fun starts at 6:30. Enjoy!

If that’s not your flavor of fun, perhaps you should give award-winning singer/songwriter Shelby Lynne a listen. The Kessler Theater opens tonight at 6 p.m.

Also tonight, the Texas Theatre will cap off its “Revenge is a Woman” series with The Bride Wore Black. The flick starts at 9:15, but be sure to hang out for the “Behind the Black Veil” dance party. Don’t forget to dress the part!

Tomorrow, Oil and Cotton Creative Exchange is hosting an “Intro to Encaustics.” Yes, I had to look up “encaustics,” too. Head over to the studio at Tyler and Seventh streets at 10 a.m.

Tomorrow afternoon, Preservation Dallas Young Professionals will be helping Calvary Baptist Church clean up the sanctuary’s interior as preparation for the church’s upcoming facelift. Volunteers can head over to the church starting at 1 p.m.

For Sunday Funday, get all sorts of charitable at a the “Wheels That Heal” benefit for Liberty Kat, a cyclist who was injured during a recent group ride. There will be tons of cool auction items, so don’t miss out! The fun starts at 1 p.m., and here’s the Facebook page for more information.

Did we miss your event? Comments are open!

Need a sentimental tear to close out your day? Read Michael Amonett’s last letter as president of the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League.

If you don’t have time, here’s the closing call to arms:

I want to ask each of you to get more involved in the preservation of Oak Cliff, our culture and our way of life. The League is a worthy outlet for your time and energy. I know of no greater altruistic organization that does so much good for the Oak Cliff community. No one benefits monetarily from the League. No one is paid. We do not advocate positions that benefit only a select few because we try to advocate positions that benefit us all. Each person in the League does what they do simply because they care and how many local groups can boast that?

Indeed.

Are you an OOCCL member? Elections are Jan. 9 at La Calle Doce.

Lauren Griffin, left, and Sydney Jordaan hand out beads during last year's Dash For The Beads 5K. Photo: Marco Antonio Medina

Want to run a 5K and help Oak Cliff build its first dog park? Then run on over and register for the third annual Dash for the Beads 5K on Feb. 18. Do it quick, too, because early bird registration ends on Friday.

Runners can enter for just $20, and if you want to bring your pup, tack on an extra $5.

The race, costume contest, and festival starts at 8 a.m. and will feature heated beer gardens for post-jog refreshment. Sounds perfect!

This weekend you are faced with an immense conundrum. With so many great events that deserve your patronage, which will you choose? Quite a problem to have, isn’t it?

First, catch a performance of a few of DISD’s talented percussionists at 6 p.m. tonight inside Molina High School for the “Banding Against Bullying Drum Festival.” Tickets are $10, but you can get a $1 discount if you bring two canned goods for donation to North Texas Food Bank.

After that, you can stop in at A Community Affair’s holiday artisan extravaganza tonight at the Ice House Banquet Hall 1011 W. Brooklyn Ave. The event starts at 7 p.m., but get there a little early for a performance from Beat Breakerz.

Tomorrow morning, get your Christmas spirit going at Cliff Temple Baptist Church for their annual “Christ in Christmas” event. There’s still time to donate a new, unwrapped toys for needy kids in Oak Cliff. It starts at 9 a.m. and runs until noon.

And as Alana mentioned, Jonathan Braddick will lead a ride from Bishop and Seventh at 1 p.m. Saturday to Deep Ellum Brewing Company to celebrate the craft beer brewery’s opening.

At 5 p.m. tomorrow, head over to the Kessler Theater to hear Bruce Robinson and Kelly Willis perform Christmas tunes in their trademark Texas Country style. If you can’t catch the first show, worry not, they hit the stage a second time at 8 p.m.

And on Sunday, Elmwood United Methodist Church will host a Christmas in the Neighborhood celebration starting at 8 p.m.

This is a perfect example of giving someone a hand up, not a handout.

Many of the self-taught artists who have made their way through the doors of Dallas’ downtown homeless shelter, The Bridge, will have their works on the walls of Davis Foundry. The group, which first started as a drawing class at the shelter, has turned into a full-fledged artist cooperative.

And under the wings of professional artists Denny Doran, Iris Rossow, and Judy Culberson the class has thrived, and will debut their works for sale this evening. While the proceeds of individual art sales will go to the artists, any commission Davis Foundry makes will go to The Bridge.

The gallery inside suite 100 at 509 W. Davis St. will host an opening reception tonight at 6 p.m.

Gustavo Tolosa of Musical Angels helps a 4-year-old patient learn to play piano.

Art Conspiracy co-founder Sarah Jane Semrad dubbed their method of giving as “street-level philanthropy.” Perhaps its accessibility and laid-back, what-you-see-is-what-you-get vibe is what makes the perennial charity powerhouse a favorite among the Gen Y set.

The popular event drew more than 1,600 people who donated money, time, and talent for Art Conspiracy 7, which culminated in the groups Nov. 12 fast-paced auction event at 511 W. Commerce St.

This year, Art Conspiracy will give $30,000 to its 2011 beneficiary, Musical Angels, a charity that provides piano lessons to children in Dallas-area hospitals.

“Receiving such a generous donation from Art Conspiracy is not only one of the highest points in Musical Angels’ history but it is also and honor that will allow us to bring the healing power of music to more children in the Metroplex area and across Texas,” said Gustavo A. Tolosa, founder and president of Musical Angels.

State Representative Rafael Anchia, Dallas Methodist Medical Center, and the Kessler Theater are teaming up to host a free children’s holiday concert on Dec. 11 at the Kessler.

The concert will feature Laura Freeman and The Hey Lollies. Tickets are free, but you must RSVP via email or cal 214-943-6081.

More than 50 volunteers help serve free Thanksgiving dinners at Norma's.

In its 55 years, Norma’s Café is well known for its benevolence. On Veteran’s Day, the restaurant offers free breakfast to vets and active military personnel; they host a postcard campaign for soldiers away from their families over the holidays; they raise money for breast cancer research; they sponsor an annual toy drive; they donate proceeds to the families of fallen police and firefighters.

I’m certainly not aware of another restaurant in Dallas that spreads love like Norma’s. Thanksgiving, perhaps, may be their most generous of offerings. For a 23^rd year, Norma’s is giving free Thanksgiving dinners from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to anyone who needs or wants a home-cooked meal on America’s day of thanks.

In the past, volunteers — some of whom have been serving Thanksgiving meals at Norma’s for more than 20 years — will dish out more than 4,000 turkey dinners with all the fixings.

Guests can expect an all-out, bar-none Thanksgiving chow-down, including turkey and dressing with cranberry sauce; mashed potatoes with creamy butter; fresh peas; salad with Ranch dressing; Norma’s homemade rolls and cornbread. For desert, relish fresh fruit or — you guessed it — a fat slice of Norma’s famous mile-high cream pie. (Personally, I’d go with the pie. It is Thanksgiving after all…that free day to pig out.)

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