Happy Tuesday, Amarillo. In today’s edition: Falling gas prices, a candlelight Nutcracker concert, a parents’ night out for kid-free shopping, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Pump prices keep sliding: Amarillo gas prices fell 8 cents last week to an average $2.22 per gallon on Monday, with stations ranging from $2.02 to $2.80 as the national average also declined — see local and national prices.

Community support fuels memorial: Amarillo philanthropist Margaret Hodge and the Downtown Athletic Club gave $100,000 to the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial, honoring Jerry Hodge and allowing planners to proceed toward a January groundbreaking — read the full story.

Amarillo nonprofit spreads cheer: Saint Francis Ministries is providing Christmas gifts for children in kinship care, collaborating on wish lists and funding purchases with community donations to brighten the holidays for many families — see how to donate.

Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since January. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week

• Kids explore exhibits during Parents’ Night Out
• Experience The Nutcracker by candlelight
• Sing along at Happy Holiday Pops
• Celebrate student art with holiday music
• Kids write letters and meet Santa
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A home warranty that actually pays is 30% off

🫶 We got your back

Beloved Amarillo eatery bows out: Amarillo’s House Divided (7609 Hillside Rd.) will close before Christmas, with its final day set for Sunday, Dec. 21. The team is thanking loyal customers and inviting folks in for one last week of favorites. A new concept is planned for the space soon. Read the full story.

Symphonic cheer starts here: Get your holiday fix with the Amarillo Symphony’s Holiday Pops, coming up Friday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm at the Globe-News Center. Warm up on Classical Music Amarillo this week with past Pops performances, then snag your tickets. Get concert times and details.

Big screen under stars: Bundle up, cue the snacks, and catch a car-side double feature at Tascosa Drive-In. Tune to 103.5 FM for sound, then let the nostalgia roll. An easy weeknight escape when you want out-of-the-house vibes without leaving your bubble.

Hear me out: My mom’s been asking people to repeat themselves 5,281 times too many for years. She always avoided hearing aids like the plague — they’re clunky, obvious, expensive, not really worth it. I always thought “she’s not wrong” until I saw these new invisible hearing aids going viral. In the same boat? Now’s a great time to check them out before unused health benefits expire on the 31st.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now + you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.

📆 Around town this week

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

This week

🚭 Freedom From Tobacco – Free December Class @ Amarillo College First Responders Academy | Tuesday (12/16) at 6 pm – Ready to ditch the habit before the new year hits? This free two-day class gives you tools, support, and a solid game plan to finally break up with tobacco. Show up, breathe easier, and start 2026 with lungs—and confidence—on your side.

🎸 Nest @ Rockwell Event Center Canyon | Tuesday (12/16) at 7 pm – Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist John Jarvis unleashes Nest, his raw, genre-bending outlet for the most extreme edges of sound and emotion. Expect a set that’s intense, chaotic, and cathartic in all the best ways—perfect for anyone craving something louder than their thoughts.

🍽️ Lunch & Learn Events for Former and Current Pantex Plant Workers @ Route 66 Family Buffet | Thursday (12/18) at 11:30 am – Catch up with fellow Pantex workers over a laid-back lunch filled with good food, good company, and helpful info. These monthly meetups are all about staying connected, swapping stories, and enjoying a warm midday break together. RSVP to save your seat and bring a guest along for the ride.

❄️ Parents’ Night Out – Arctic Explorers @ Don Harrington Discovery Center | Friday (12/19) at 5:30pm – If you need a window for holiday shopping, drop the kids at DHDC for Parents’ Night Out: Arctic Explorers. Ages 4 to 11 explore exhibits, watch Let it Snow, and crush Chick-fil-A dinner, while you check off your list in peace; space is limited.

🩰 Candlelight: Christmas Special Featuring “The Nutcracker” & More @ Amarillo Little Theatre | Friday (12/19) at 6:30pm – Amarillo Little Theatre goes full glow by candlelight, as a string quartet weaves The Nutcracker, Vivaldi’s Winter, O Holy Night, and a little Ma’oz Tzur into one cozy hour. Expect romance, nostalgia, and a classy break from blinking yard inflatables, so bring your favorite person.

This weekend

🎹 Dueling Pianos @ Blind Pig Of Amarillo | Saturday (12/20) at 9:00am – If you’ve been craving live music you can actually sing to, this dueling pianos throwdown delivers. Two sharp players trade riffs and roast requests, you scribble your favorites on napkins, and the whole room belts Billy Joel, Queen, and guilty pleasures without judgment.

🎅 Letters To Santa @ Herbalife: Polk St. Nutrition | Saturday (12/20) at 5:30pm – Downtown turns full-on festive with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and free photos, plus a letter-writing station that keeps the kids busy while you shop local and graze. Bring the crew, snag a small gift from the big guy, and conquer your last-minute list like a pro.

🧓 Geezers Gone Wild @ The Drunken Oyster | Saturday (12/20) at 7:00pm – Geezers Gone Wild brings Texas-born Jackson Haney, steeped in Bob Wills DNA and living-room jam chops, for genuine twang and Western swing. Think tight picking, real-deal honky-tonk, and a dance floor where your knees keep time, your heart remembers, and bedtime gets negotiated.

🎸 Sam Riggs @ The Western Horseman Club | Saturday (12/20) at 10:00pm – Take a break from home projects and catch Sam Riggs throwing down Texas country with big hooks, grit, and a few slow-burners. Expect stomping singalongs, cold drinks, and that satisfying moment you remember you still know every chorus better than your kids.

🎭 Free Pop Culture Art & Cosplay Expo @ Amarillo Civic Center | Sunday (12/21) at 6:00pm – Bring your inner nerd to the Civic Center’s Regency Room B for a three-day pop-culture art and cosplay spree with free admission and parking. Meet Trina Nishimura, snag free prints with a share, and enjoy a low-pressure cosplay contest, kids welcome.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/16 Nest and more @ Rockwell Event Center – 7 pm
• 12/19 Happy Holiday Pops @ Globe-News Center – 7:30 pm
• 12/20 Illusions After Dark @ Amarillo Magic – 7 pm
• 12/20 Sam Riggs @ 2501 East Interstate 40 – 10 pm
• 12/21 Free Pop Culture Art & Cosplay Expo @ Amarillo Civic Center – 12 pm
• 12/26 Rī Wolf @ The Barfield – 7 pm

🏠️ This house is wild

Listed by: Bonifield Team (Coldwell Banker First Equity)

On a tree lined street in Versailles by Anthony Saikowski, this garden home opens with a 25 foot foyer. A sunlit living room with fireplace and custom built-ins, formal dining with wet bar, and a kitchen with large island, Corian, brick alcove gas cooktop. The den opens to the patio.

Downstairs, the primary suite adds a Japanese soaking tub, double vanities, an oversized shower, and two walk-in closets. Office, utility room with sink, upstairs two ensuite bedrooms, plus a walk-in cedar closet and easy attic access. Concrete ceiling basement for storms. Two car garage with powered workroom for tinkering.

Take a peek inside →