Saturday, December 14: Get your hands dirty with some masa this weekend as the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center hosts its annual tamal-making community party. Tamaleras and historians Carmen Tafolla, Olga Kaufman and Ellen Riojas-Clark will be joined by chef Cariño Cortez for this tamal-making workshop. Free, 11am-2pm, 1300 Guadalupe, (210) 271-3151, guadalupeculturalarts.org.
Saturday, December 14: There will be plenty of java flowing during the second Coffee Festival at La Villita. Artfully brewed coffee flights start at $5, and a after-hours event from 4-7 will combine coffee and with booze for a $12 spiked flight. Free admission, 10 am-5pm, 418 Villita, sacoffeefest.com.
Saturday, December 14: Get your shopping done while artisans from 14 countries showcase their work. The Artisan Fair at Pearl. Ninety percent of the proceeds will go back to the artisans. $5 for adults, free for children under 16 on Saturday; $3 for adults, free for children under 16 on Sunday, 9:30am, 306 Pearl Pkwy, Ste 110, atpearl.com.
Saturday, December 14: GauchoGourmet is opening up its warehouse for a wild game tasting with featured goodies from chef Jeff White (Boiler House), chef Tyler Horstmann (Tejas Steakhouse) and chef Isaac Cantu (Cordillera Ranch). The lineup includes lamb and venison prosciutto by Salumeria Biellese, wild boar and venison sausages, loin chop T-bones and two varieties of truffles. Free admission, 10:30am-2pm, 935 Isom, (210) 277-7930, gauchogourmet.com.
Sunday, December 15: Homemade gifts can be some of the best, so why not wow your friends and family with festive French macarons. The staff at Sur La Table will show you how to perfect the art of the mac. $69, 11am-2pm, 15900 La Cantera Pkwy, Ste 19120, (210) 978-5586, surlatable.com.
Monday, December 16: Wow your guests this holiday season with premium wines. Central Market beer and wine manager Heidi Holcomb will discuss what to look for when tasting said wines while giving a brief history on grape varieties and techniques utilized. $25, 6:30-7:30pm, 4821 Broadway, (210) 368-8617, centralmarket.com.
