Austin’s 2nd Street District Makes Holiday Fun a Fashionable Affair

Deck the District
Austin’s Second Street District in Downtown Austin is getting into the spirit of the season. Visit the stores on Second every Tuesday and Wednesday through December 21^st for family fun, food, and entertainment. There will be caroling by festive choirs, dancing and prancing, and some nights may even have an Elvis sighting!

The businesses of Second Street will be hosting in-store soirees, elves will be passing free bites and beverages, all while music drifts through the District. Live performances will occur every week. Shopping will also go beyond the joy of gift giving to friends, with an automatic donation of 10% of all sales from 6 to 9 PM in Second Street stores going to chosen charities:

III Forks – Helping Hands Homes
DuO – Capital Area Food Bank
Gallery D – The Girl Effect
milk + honey spa – Project Transitions
1020 Glass Art – Project Transitions
Plain Ivey Jane –  Austin Pets Alive
Langford Market – Capital Area Food Bank
Prize – JDRF
Girl Next Door – Shoes for Austin
Lofty Dog – Animal Lovers of Austin
Austin Java – Worker’s Defense Project
How Do You Roll? – Bikes for Kids
Cantina Laredo – Bikes for Kids
Teddies for Bettys – Dress for Success
Etcetera, etc. – Comfort The Children International

Beauty Meets Philanthropy
On December 15, 2011, select boutiques and salons across the city will compete to see who can raise the most money in an effort to exceed last year’s donations to the Capital Area Food Bank, which helps feed hungry citizens of Austin every day. For $10, ($7 with a donation of two or more canned food items) guests will gain admission to one event for a fun evening of shopping, mingling, and conscientious indulgence, including mini-makeovers, facials, massages, manicures, music, and more.

Discounts and deals will be made available at the boutiques Plain Ivey Jane and Coco Coquette, and a silent auction will take place that will include fabulous products and services from local boutiques, businesses, and specialty retailers. All salon services, drinks, and food are included in the entry fee.

Traditionally a one-night event, Beauty Meets Philanthropy will be expanded this year into a three-day event that will be held at three different locations. Fashion-savvy consumers can have some retail therapy and give back to the community at the same time at this fashion and art showcase and makeover event where stylists from salons across the city of Austin will join forces with Second Street boutique Plain Ivey Jane, artists, and fashion and jewelry designers to raise awareness of the plight of hunger throughout Central Texas.

Holiday Window Walk
The Holiday Window Walk is a competition between St. Edward’s University students to see who can create the most beautiful, festive window display in the Second Street shopping district. Presented by Where Texas Warmth Meets Austin Cool, students of the St. Edward’s University Theatrical Design Department have managed every aspect of the holiday window design from conceptualization to installation of windows showcasing iconic musicians, celebrating the 20^th anniversary of being deemed “The Live Music Capital of the World.” The displays will run through Monday, January 2nd. 

Second Street District visitors may vote on their favorite display, and the finalists will be judged to win one of 3 scholarships provided by Silicon Laboratories. Thirteen windows are available for view, and can be taken in during any night of the week, including the special Beauty Meets Philanthropy and Deck the District evenings.

Austin retailers and communities rarely miss a chance to come together for fun and celebration, and the events at the Second Street District during the month of December are no exception. If you’re looking for a locale to deck with your own festive décor, whether it be bright lights on the porch railing of a Sendera home, or boughs of holly across the mantle in Avery Ranch, an Austin realtor can help you find the perfect Austin home for sale.