Most people know a fair bit about Blue Santa — that it’s the non-profit supported by the Austin Police Department that helps provide a great Christmas for families in need.

Each family that Blue Santa assists receives a full holiday meal (turkey and all the trimmings) along with wrapped presents for each child under the age of 14.

However, did you know that Blue Santa in 2009 is experiencing the worst year in toy donations since the year the APD started collecting toys in 1972? As of today, Blue Santa has spent $34,000 of its own money — $20,000 more than they spent last year — to ensure almost 3500 families in Austin get the Christmas they deserve.

You can make a toy donation at any of the sites listed on their website THROUGH DECEMBER 19 or, to make it easier, you can make a cash donation (credit cards accepted) through the “Donate” button below. Launch787 will collect the donations, go buy a bunch of toys and haul them over to one of the drop sites on Friday afternoon. Please give generously.

Our good friends over at Mix 94.7, JB & Sandy, are in the midst of hosting the 13th annual Bikes for Kids. Each year, they raise money to buy hundreds of bikes for local Austin kids that couldn’t afford to otherwise. Over 800 bikes, helmets and locks will be purchased this year through Austinites generous donations.

Just $130 buys a brand new Trek bike, helmet and lock. Please consider making a donation of any amount to support this wonderful cause by using the Donate link below. Launch787 will gladly get the money to the correct people in your name.

Children’s Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas serves as the fundraising arm for Seton Family of Hospital’s Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. Through philanthropy, the Central Texas community helped build this outstanding regional facility. Our goal is to help make it one of the top children’s hospitals in the country.

Dell Children’s is a tremendous asset to our community. The state-of-the-art facility provides exceptional care, close to home, to thousands of children and their families. It continues the legacy of outstanding service of Children’s Hospital of Austin (closed on July 1, 2007) with new space, new technology, new programs – and more hearts and hands to make it all happen.

Together, we are creating a new standard in pediatric care. We are growing a world-class medical center dedicated to the care of children and adolescents, regardless of their families’ ability to pay. We offer help, hope, and healing to our children for generations to come.

Your donation will help support the programs and services provided at Dell Children’s by enhancing an existing program or to help purchase medical equipment to meet the needs of our young patients. By clicking on the Donate button below, Launch787 will make your donation directly to the Foundation in your name. Thank you for giving generously.

From seed to table, the Sustainable Food Center of Austin creates opportunities for individuals to make healthy food choices and to participate in a vibrant local food system.  Through organic food gardening, relationships with area farmers, interactive cooking classes and nutrition education, children and adults have increased access to locally grown food and are empowered to improve the long-term health of Central Texans and our environment.

You know the SFC mostly from the downtown and Triangle Farmers’ Markets, but just last night, they rolled out their Sustainable Foodies group! This group will become the ambassadors and stewards for all things the Sustainable Food Center does. We highly encourage you to consider joining the Sustainable Foodies.

If you’re not quite ready to commit to the Sustainable Foodies, please consider making a financial donation via Launch787 by using the Donate button below. We will present any donations to the SFC on your behalf.

Launch787 Exclusive Weekly Deal! Check out Dress Shop.

Spend $100 at Dress Shop and get one free Hanky Panky! Keep it for yourself or use it as a great stocking stuffer! Monday through Friday only. Expires 12/11/09.

Dress Shop

315 Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78701

512-527-3018

We’ve held off on the details for this to make sure that it’s just right – and we’re finally ready to raise the curtain on our 2009 Holiday Party. On Friday, December 11, come hang out with us at The Phoenix and take in the sights & sounds of VJ Mike Relm from San Francisco (you may have seen him with us at the Austin Fashion Awards & After Party…if not check out Mike Relm at Coachella)! Gaze as we transform The Phoenix into a Winter Wonderland bathed in snowflakes, and watch out for the snow flurries on the street!

Folks are encouraged to wear white in order to take in the festive goodness and of course there will be amazing holiday themed drink specials provided by Glazer’s.

Tickets for this not-to-miss holiday event are available right now for only $10.00! Be sure to show up early so that you don’t miss this virtuoso multimedialist. And, of course, all of the amazing parts of the The Phoenix will be available to you, including bottle service if you so choose! Buy tickets now using the “Buy Now” button below (any major credit card is accepted).

Just Added: Buy advance tickets for Winter Wonderland and get free tickets to the Modern Home Tour in January!

Friday, December 11. Doors at 10:00 pm.

Please note that paper tickets will not be issued. Once you’ve purchased your tickets, you will be on the will call list at the door the day of the event.

Join Launch787 as we essentially take residence at The Phoenix over the next couple of weeks. If you haven’t been to this swanky joint, we have 3 opportunities for you to check it out coming up!

Check out this post to see the invitation to the official Launch787 Holiday Party featuring Mike Relm!

Or, knock out the rest of your holiday shopping and keep it local by sipping and splurging at Shop787 at The Phoenix presented by Gables Park Plaza. We’ve got 2 happy hour dates for you: December 10 and December 17. Each Thursday night, you can sip on happy-hour priced cocktails from 5:00 – 9:00 provided by Glazer’s while you peruse the unique gift options available to you from 20 vendors at each event (they’re different each night, so come to both!). Please note: there is NO COVER for this event — it’s completely free and if you’re one of the first 300 through the door, you’ll get an uber-cool eco-friendly reusable shopping bag from Gables Park Plaza with discounts at many of the vendors’ booths!

Make sure to RSVP for the events by going here so we know how many cocktails to start making!

The December 10 lineup includes: 302 Designs, Aldea, *annemarie*, Annie Bradley Art, Cornucopia, Couture Cottons, Deborah Main Designs, Garbo. a Salon, GvE Designs in Metal, Jenny N. Design, Jeremiah the Innocent, Modo Designs, Queen of Sheba Fashion, ShopItUpChic.com, Sikara, Skye Salon, Spectacle Sunglasses, and Stella & Dot.

The December 17 lineup includes: Ax + Apple, Beyond Tradition, Bloomingnails, Cory Ryan Photography, Davie Clothing, Diamonds & Guns by Action Jackson, Dress Shop, FOXY Fusions, Happy Max Designs, Marnie Bugs, Meline Collection, Micah Yancey Jewelry, Monsterami by Raquel, Paige King Jewelry, Rene Geneva Design, Soigne Boutique, Taylor Moseley Jewelry, Teddies for Bettys, Two Winey Women, and Wings of Addiction.

Launch787 and The Good Life Team are so proud to announce a partnership to create the 3rd Annual Austin Modern Home Tour! Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 30.

Why are we telling you this so early?

First, so you don’t book that date for anything else. Second, because by being a Launch787 subscriber, we’re giving you some cool offers if you buy your tickets early. Keep reading…

The Modern Home Tour will feature 15 of Austin’s most amazing modern residential structures. Each home is vetted to ensure its accuracy within the category, so you know you’re getting the best of the best. If you love this kind of architecture and checking out properties like this, the tour is for you!

Here’s the deal: You can buy advance tickets right now for one week only for just $5 by using this button (they’ll be at least $10 later).

OR, even better, if you buy advance tickets for the Winter Wonderland Mike Relm show at the Phoenix this Friday, we’ll give you free Modern Home Tour tickets (same number as you buy of the Mike Relm tickets). 2, 2, 2 parties for 1! Use this button for those tickets:

If you’re a business interested in being part of the Modern Home Tour, please email us here for more information.

Support your local artisans this holiday season with the 9th annual Blue Genie Art Bazaar. Over 100 of your favorite local artisans will be showing their wares at the Monarch Events Center (not to be confused with the Monarch luxury high-rise downtown) through December 24.

It’s open at 10:00 am every day until at least 10:00 pm every night (except Christmas Eve). Free to get in and peruse.

The participating artists list is impressive and too long to list here. Check out the official site for more details.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and the annual Downtown  Holiday Stroll is the perfect way to celebrate!  Following the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 5, Austinites from all over this great city are invited to stroll up and down Congress for tons of free, family-friendly activities.  This is the perfect chance to kick off the holiday season with your family!

Congress Avenue will be filled with holiday cheer including local pop-up shops, arts and crafts, and live performances.  Shops, restaurants, galleries and museums will be open late to offer an array of exciting activities sure to please children of all ages.

The fun begins at 6 pm with the Holiday Sing-Along on the south steps of the Capitol, followed by the Tree Lighting at 7 and the Downtown Holiday Stroll from 7 to 9.  You can also help out the less fortunate members of the community by bringing a sealed jar of peanut butter and dropping it off at the base of the Capitol Christmas Tree.  Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to celebrate the holidays, Austin style!

Don’t miss 912 Congress (next to Authenticity Gallery who will also have tons of fun going on inside!) and join Launch787 as we host a local pop up shop during the Stroll! Starting at 5:00 pm we’ll be open for business in this uber-historic building. You can get some of your holiday shopping done with the likes of: Aldea, Meline Collection, Micah Yancey Jewelry, Jenny N. Design, Esther Design, Gypsies Antiques, Ana Brasil, Ax + Apple, Lovely Austin Boutique and Storyville!