November Events: Lebo Light Night, Ballots and Bake Sales, Israel at the Crossroads, Editor’s Pick: CMOA on Ice, Seasonal Science Sleepover, Poinsettias and Pointe Shoes, Family Volunteer Day, Junior Mendelssohn Concert, National Espresso Day, Hoodies for the Holidays, Dance for a Cure, Green Light Gala, Pre-order for Percussion, Women Helping Women Craft Show, South Hills Lights, Holiday Shopping and 7th Night.

Lebo Lights
Thursday, November 15 (Uptown),
Thursday, December 6, (Beverly Road)
‘Tis the season! Uptown Lebo Light Night, beginning at 6 p.m., will feature horse-drawn carriages, a tree lighting ceremony, festive music, a visit from Santa and more. Beverly Brite Nite, beginning at 7, also will have similar activities, but the biggest attraction for kids is the chance to play on Beverly Road, which will be shut down for the occasion.

Ballots and Bake Sales
Tuesday, November 6
Relieve some of that Election Day stress with a homemade cookie at your polling place! Foster, Hoover, Markham and Washington schools will each have bake sales, organized by the PTA, at their polls.

Israel at the Crossroads
Thursday, November 15
Gill Hoffman, chief political correspondent and analyst for the Jerusalem Post, will give an insider’s look at the quest for security, democracy and peace in the Middle East at 7 p.m., at Chabad of the South Hills. Register ahead here.

Editors’ Pick: CMOA on Ice
Friday, November 30
The stunning Gilded Age music hall foyer at the Carnegie Museum of Art gets a magical winter makeover (and an indoor ice rink) for its 21+ holiday party. Guests can enjoy a free skate rental, a holiday photo booth, dancing, sweet treats from Pittsburgh’s largest cookie table and the chance to tour the museum’s Carnegie Trees, Neapolitan presepio Nativity scene displays and the 57th Carnegie International on special expert-led exhibition tours. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $35. Register here.

Seasonal Science Sleepover
Friday, November 16
During Downtown Pittsburgh’s Light Up Night, the Carnegie Science Center is hosting a Science Sleepover at 6 p.m. for groups and families. Festive activities abound, including a film in The Rangos Giant Cinema, planetarium or laser show, late night snacks, a continental breakfast and free admission the next day. Groups and families must provide one adult chaperone for every eight children. Registration required: 412-237-3400.

Poinsettias and Pointe Shoes
Friday, November 16
Dancers at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will present vignettes from The Nutcracker in Phipps Conservatory’s spectacular Winter Flower Show and Light Garden. A meet-and-greet and photo session with the dancers will follow each performance. Performances are at 4:30, 6 and 7 p.m. RSVPs required.

Giving Back
Saturday, November 17
Join the families of St. Bernard School for Family Volunteer Day, 9 to 11 a.m. Parents and children work together in various activities supporting local charities—past activities have included writing letters for the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program and packing backpacks for the Foster Love Project. Read about St. Bernard’s first Family Volunteer Day here. More info on this year’s event here.

Junior Mendelssohn Concert
Sunday, November 18
Mt. Lebanon High School students Maggie Brown and Melanie Rayl are in the Junior Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh this season, and they will be performing in the Dreams and Dances concert at 4 p.m., Third Presbyterian Church in Shadyside. The choir, consisting of 50 young singers, will be joining the Kassia Ensemble to present a program of dreamlike choral music including Antonio Vivaldi’s Beatus Vir RV 598 and Gwyneth Walker’s Dreams and Dances.

National Espresso Day
Friday, November 23
In Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent ranking of Pittsburgh suburbs, Mt. Lebanon came out as the Best Neighborhood. We excelled in all measures, especially one—the number of coffee shops. We have six locations where you can celebrate National Espresso Day: Orbis Caffe and Uptown Coffee (Uptown), The Coffee Tree Roasters (Beverly Road), Artsmiths (McFarland Road), Dunkin’ (Washington Road) and Starbucks (in the Galleria). So raise your lattes and join us in saying “cheers” to Lebo!

Hoodies for the Holidays
Wednesday, November 28
Join United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Heinz Field for a hoodie wrap party! Young professionals in the Be a Middle School Mentor program will be wrapping college hoodies for their mentees to help inspire them and show them that they can continue their education after high school. The cost is $30 or a new college hoodie with tags. Register here.

Dance for a Cure
Friday, November 30
Nandini Mandal, a Mt. Lebanon leukemia survivor, will Dance for a Cure with the Nandanik Indian Dance Troupe and other fellow cancer survivors at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, beginning at 7 p.m. Seventy-five percent of proceeds from the event will be donated to the Relay for Life Pittsburgh Chapter.

Green Light Gala
December 6
Support mental health awareness, treatment and resources at NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania’s Green Light Gala, 6 p.m., at Nova Place on the North Side. NAMI champions Libby Mascaro and her brother Sam Kane, are chairing their second gala in memory of their mother, Mary Lou. RSVP while tickets last.

Preorder for Percussion
December 14 & 15
Tickets for Mt. Lebanon Percussion’s Holiday Bells, Mallets and Drums concert series go on sale on Thursday, November 1. In addition to fantastic holiday music from Mt. Lebanon’s coolest percussion ensemble, each concert features a fun add-on—dessert silent auction, cookie reception or a visit from Santa. Concerts are Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1 and 7:30 p.m. Preorder your tickets here.