It’s my second day on the job.

Although it feels like I have been a part of the CultureMap team for a while producing pieces on anything from the best cinnamon roll in the city to insane realtor stories to videos on how baroque violins are made, Monday, I begin a new journey as the Listings Editor. I know. Fancy.

I am intoxicated with excitement.

My new business cards granting me my new credentials have not arrived yet, but rest assured that I am on the job, on the scene and ready to overwork myself to bring you the best that Houston has to offer.

How will I be doing that?

Check out our events calendar. It is a curated list of cool lifestyle happenings. Maybe you are in the mood for a dramatic tear-jerking opera, a brainy lecture, an exciting canoe and kayak race, the next must-be-seen social event or a wine tasting featuring rare libations to tease your palate. Our illustrious team will carefully scan Houston’s offerings and suggest where to go, what to see and where to eat.

If you love an event we featured, tell us and share your comments. If you think it could use a little improvement, constructive criticism is always well-received.

And now, here is a list of my top picks for this week — the first of what will be a regular feature. You will see me. Say hello.

River Oaks Chamber Orchestra’s Amahl and the Night Visitors
The first opera ever to be composed for television, Amahl and the Night Visitors, is Gian Carlo Menotti’s telling of a tender tale of a miracle during the Magi's journey to bring gifts to the baby Jesus. Anything ROCO does is worth attending.

With the addition of a beautiful storyline and a staged performance, put this on your schedule for this Thursday, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. with a reception at 7 p.m.

Alley Theatre’s God of Carnage
Anything with the word carnage in it demands attention. The first show of 2011 on the Hubbard Stage, the story is about adults behaving badly on behalf of their children, liquor included. If the New York Post describes it as “gleefully nasty fun,” on the list it goes. Opens Friday at 8 p.m.

Musiqa’s Real and Imagined
In collaboration with Aurora Picture Show, Real and Imagined explores the fine line between reality and fantasy. What I enjoy most about Musiqa’s format is the interactive segments, allowing the audience to ask questions of the composers. Two curated films by Aurora Picture Show will be shown: Takashi Ishida's Film of the Sea and Diego Maclean's The Art of Drowning based on a poem by Billy Collins. Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The Nach Project Launch Party
Because there is nothing more fun than being a part of the creative process, Suchu Dance’s own Jennifer Wood provides a way for anyone to experience putting together original choreography, light refreshments and plenty of dancing included. Saturday at 8 p.m.

Video Salon with Indie Filmmaker Greg Carter
If you are curious about what it takes to be an independent filmmaker, Greg Carter brings the issues to the table including strategies in fundraising, distribution, marketing and publicity. Having received many awards, listening to Carter is a unique opportunity to get the inside track on the business of this art form. Sunday at 1 p.m.