The National Center for Public Analysis will be hosting a luncheon and lecture featuring the former US Comptroller, David M. Walker. The lecture is part of the Hatton W. Sumner Distinguished Lecture Series – a popular series dedicated to providing “nationally and internationally renowned speakers and free-market economists a forum to present important issues to business leaders, college students and the general public.”

Dallas natives The Old 97’s will be playing a 4-night show at the historic Sons of Hermann Hall at the end of this month. “An Evening with The Old 97’s” will feature solo sets from Murray Hammond and Rhett Miller before the entire band takes the stage. Tickets are $26 and are on sale through Front Gate Tickets.

Be a part of Christmas on Greenville Avenue and give a gift to a child in need.

The Restaurant Association’s goal is to have 100 restaurants and retailers collect 10,000 toys in 20 days. From now until December 17th, 2009, bring a new and unwrapped toy to one of the participating locations. Toys will be collected on December 17th and delivered to the WFAA studio in Victory Park for a live event from 5-10pm.

Tonight is the Art Conspiracy’s 5th annual fundraiser, this year benefiting Resolana.

The auction benefit will feature 150 Dallas area artists in an empty warehouse, and live music from Telegraph Canyon, The Crash That Took Me, The Boom Boom Box and RTB2. Paul Slavens, KXT Disc Jockey, will host tonight’s fundraiser.

Going to Mom’s house for Thanksgiving? Give thanks by donating the cost of your meal to those less fortunate.

Here a just a few to consider:

Soup Mobile is a non-profit mobile soup kitchen feeding, clothing, and caring for the needy and homeless in the Dallas area.

North Texas Food Bank is a non-profit hunger relief organization that distributes donated, purchased and prepared foods through a network of feeding programs in 13 North Texas counties.

Jonathan’s Place is a “home-style” emergency shelter for abused, abandoned and neglected children and a Foster & Adoptive Family Program located in Dallas.

The Etsy Dallas Bash is this Saturday. Drop in between 1 and 7pm and shop from over 50 local artists and designers who make and market all their handmade goods on Etsy.com. The first 50 people in the door get a free gift bag! It’s free to attend and you’re sure to cross few people off of your holiday gift list. Lucky them.

The Monuments Men is art history but with a John Wayne twist. It’s the greatest adventure story you have probably never heard about.

Wikipedia “Robert Edsel” and see two words that will make anyone’s left eyebrow perk up: Art Detective.

ILiveinDallas had the opportunity to interview Mr. Edsel on his work exploring these heroic figures and discusses his upcoming lecture at the DMA.

The Dallas Wind Symphony and the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra presents “The Organ Symphony.”

This unique side-by-side performance features the combined forces of the DWS and the Wind Symphony of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, which is comprised of 61 musicians from 31 DFW-area high school bands.

This weekend take a tour of 6 unique homes in the historic Lakewood neighborhood.

The Festival started way back in 1976 by the Lakewood Early Childhood PTA. What started as a fundraiser to purchase playground equipment for kindergarten children, became a community-wide event benefiting Lakewood’s Elementary, Middle and High School. The PTA group has raised more than $750,000 within the last 5 years.

The YnC Concerts @ series have been a huge success – featuring local musicians Summer Ames, Kurk Thurmond, The Boss Level, and Traveler and supporting local charities Unearned and Stop Child Trafficking Now.

They close out the 2009 series this Friday, November 13th and they welcome back singer-songwriter Becky Middleton. The concert is still free and you and your friends are invited.