This contribution reports on the first in situ investigation of a surface during the transition from the liquid to the glass state using X-ray scattering. X-ray reflectivity experiments were carried out to determine the surface roughness caused by capillary waves, and X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) was employed to observe the lateral dynamics of these capillary waves. A dedicated sample cell was developed to homogeneously cool a circular trough with 140 mm diameter and 4.5 mm depth filled with the model glass former glycerol, reaching temperatures well below 200K with the high temperature stability required for XPCS experiments. The presentation introduces the physics of the glass transition, of capillary waves, and of surface-sensitive X-ray scattering. It shows schematics and photographs of both the sample cell and of the laboratory liquid surface X-ray reflectometer equally developed during this project to test and optimize the sample cell. It reports on the results from both the X-ray reflectivity and XPCS experiments carried out using synchrotron radiation at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). References: T. Seydel et al., Phys.Rev.B vol. 63, p. 073409 (2001) and vol. 65, p. 184207 (2002); T. Seydel et al., Rev.Sci.Instrum. vol. 74, p. 4033 (2003)