Holiday Potluck/White Elephant Exchange, Northeast Austin

Well, time for our holiday potlucks... wait is that plural? Yes, this year we're having TWO potlucks for the holidays! Ann is hosting one first, on the 16th, at the Tiny House Farmhouse, and Bill is hosting another potluck in south Austin for Christmas day! (Click here: meetup.com/vegaustinpotlucks/events/297808007)

Ann's is the one where we'll be doing our White Elephant gift exchange; Bill's will be a regular potluck. (See below for details on the White Elephant rules.)

All ages are welcome. We are setting the attendance at 40 attendees (plus Ann and Jimmy Joe). This is a "regular" vegan potluck, no requirements for the dishes other than being vegan. The potluck will be in a renovated farmhouse at Village Farm Tiny Home Community. It's the white farmhouse in front of the red barn, which is just past the office for the community.

All attendees must bring a VEGAN dish that can serve 8. Couples can choose to bring two dishes or an extra-large dish. Please try not to bring just a snack like chips or nuts. Couples can choose to bring two dishes or an extra-large dish. You also should bring a serving utensil, as well as your own plate, utensils, and beverage.

WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT EXCHANGE:

Here's how it works: Each guest contributes one (or two) gifts to the game, and ultimately each guest walks away with a different gift from the game. The theme for the gifts is recycling, so we seriously encourage you to bring something you were given before and can now "regift", or something you used to use but someone else could use more, etc. You shouldn't have to spend money on a gift, but if you do, it'd be $10 max.

All gifts should be wrapped, but not labeled to reflect the sender or a recipient. Everyone will draw a number to determine the order of gift choosing. The person who drew #1 chooses a gift from the pile, and then shows it to everyone. Then it's the next person's turn. They can either steal an item previously unwrapped or open a new gift from the pile. If a person's gift is stolen, that person can immediately unwrap a new gift or steal a different person's gift (no stealing a gift back). The process works its way around the room until the last person has gone, at which point the very first person to pick out a gift gets one last chance to steal.

Stealing is limited to TWICE, not three times like most White Elephants, so that the event won't take too long. Also, you can't steal back a gift on behalf of someone else, like if you're in a couple or came as a friend. Owners of opened gifts must keep them visible for all to see and hold them up when requested. No hiding gifts under your chair!

We are a warm and welcoming group, open to all, especially first time attendees, new vegetarians and vegans, the "veg-curious"... You don't have to be vegetarian at all, we welcome omnivores. Our potlucks are free for anyone to attend, you don't have to be an AVVA member.