Well, the fickle weather has finally dropped below 70 degrees—and thank the mighty turkey in the sky, because who wants to eat stuffing when it’s still bikini season? As expected, LA is pulling out all the punches for a Thanksgiving weekend stuffed to the gizzards. We don't want to give too much away, but ideally you’ll end your weekend ensconced in the delicate vocals of the Portuguese David Bowie. It’s all happening, Los Angeles. Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 23
Pre-Thanksgiving Party at Project LA
Start your Thanksgiving weekend off with a sophisticated bang at one of LA’s most exclusive after hours digs. Upscale attire is requested and bottle service highly recommended. Expect plenty of state-of-the-art lighting, attractive crowds and—in their words: “a night of diversion, excitement and pleasure”. Hey, you might snag a hot date to bring home to mom for Thanksgiving.
Deets: 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.;
Project Club LA; $20 at the door; Bottle service prices and more info
HERE
Hyperion Tavern’s Tails from the Crypt
Looking to mix it up with something straight up strange? Halloween may be over but it’s never too late for spooky and serendipitous stories. Especially when said tales revolve around animal ghosts and apparitions. Like the family whose children were attacked by a large, headless phantom cat or the ghostly dog that appeared in a New Mexico train station to prevent an impending disaster. Many more tales await over a pint of beer with author and occult expert Dr. Paul Koudounaris. Live music to follow by Sister Calypso and The Invisible Entities of Opulence.
Deets: 10 p.m.;
Hyperion Tavern; FREE; More info
HERE
Pie: A Thanksgiving Eve Tradition
Akbar in Silver Lake is throwing down for its annual Thanksgiving eve pie event with free musical acts coupled with some tasty pie. Pay it forward by bringing along a food donation for LA’s less fortunate— Akbar suggests canned fruit or veggies, cake or flour mix or boxes of stuffing or mashed potatoes. Donate something and you get $2 off your pie purchase — pumpkin, pumpkin cheesecake or pecan, either whole or by the slice!
Deets: 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.;
Akbar ; FREE; More info
HERE
Thanksgiving Take-out from The Church Key
Not all of us can be José Andrés in the kitchen, and that’s OK. Here’s your plan (because not even Paula Deen’s Thanksgiving Recipes can save you now): Hit up The Church Key and pick up a fully-loaded turkey feast, run it home, and pop it into your oven before the in-laws arrive. Our lips are sealed.
Deets: Pick-up from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.;
The Church Key; From $199 - $299 (serving from 6 - 12 people); Full menu and info
HERE
Free Thanksgiving at Café Gratitude
Nope, that’s not a misprint. Café Gratitude is offering guests at their Arts District location a free plate of Chef Dreux Ellis’ herbivorous take on classic Thanksgiving fare such as Red Holiday Lentil Loaf, Garlic Mashed Potatoes with gravy and Pumpkin Pie. Gratitude is also supporting some great causes, so a wee donation would be much appreciated. Best get your ass out of bed early for this one!
Deets: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.;
Cafe Gratitude Arts District; FREE: First come, first served; More info
HERE
Check out Citizine’s very own vegan bible to LA HERE ...
Gobble Gobble Give
Across the country on Thanksgiving morning, volunteers will come together to bring Thanksgiving to their own communities in the name of Gobble Gobble Good. Now 18 years strong, the organization can be found in DTLA, Echo Park and Santa Monica this Thursday and they would love your help! They are hoping that each volunteer can bring a warm dish of food, some basic toiletry kits and clothing and/or blankets. Check out their site HERE for more info on how you can get involved.
Deets: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; LA Venues: Regent Theater DTLA, Echoplex and The Raven Spa
Image courtesy of DOLA
For more ways to give back to Lady LA this week, we pulled together 12 Ways to Give Back on Thanksgiving HERE ...
Friday, November 25
Enchanted Forest of Light
A one mile, interactive, color-drenched nighttime adventure through the bewitching Descanso Gardens, The Enchanted Forest of Light offers an experience that you won’t find anywhere else this holiday season. With ten unique, magical light displays that include a field of tiny illuminated tulips, this one should tickle the fancies of kiddies, millennials and Grandma Joyce in unison.
Deets: Tickets are timed in advance;
Descanso Gardens; Tickets $24 - $28; Until January 8; More info and tickets
HERE
Record Store Day
Celebrating the unique culture of the iconic record store and the special role that the independently owned stores still play in their communities, Record Store Day is all about throwing it back to the heyday of vinyl. Record stores all across LA (and the nation) will be hosting album releases, meet and greets with artists, DJs and much more. You can view all of the album releases happening over HERE. We can’t think of a better way to ignore the Black Friday carnage at the mall.
Deets: Amoeba Music and various; Explore the official website
HERE to see what local stores are involved
Friday, November 25 - Saturday, November 26
Insomniac Dreamstate
Trying to find zen after your family Thanksgiving? Come trance out for two days straight at Dreamstate in San Bernardino. There are four stages and a stacked lineup of slapping DJs plus stations for candy bracelet making and build-your-own-hot-chocolate to keep your euphoria constant.
Deets: 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.;
National Orange Show Event Center; Tickets $85-$250; Tickets and full event info (including prohibited items)
HERE
Saturday, November 26
Holiday Marketplace at CAFAM
If you haven’t thought about Christmas shopping yet, here’s your wakeup call—we've got 30 days, people! A holiday craft market on the Miracle Mile this weekend may just be your salvation. The Craft and Folk Art Museum is hosting some of their favorite designers across jewelry, art, textiles, homewares and beyond, which guarantees your friends and family one-of-a-kind gifts. Hello, Lizbeth Navarro Ceramic cheese board.
Deets: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.;
Craft & Folk Art Museum; FREE; More info
HERE
Sunday, November 27
The 85th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade
As soon as the Thanksgiving turkey hits the table, it’s time to hang the Christmas lights. At least that’s what every store in town wants you to believe. So why wouldn’t we have a Christmas parade in November? Hollywood’s annual event always attracts a star-studded lineup and this year you can expect Grand Marshall Olivia Newton-John, Kenny G, WAR, the ever-fascinating Cyndi Lauper, Larry King, Robert Wagner, Dean Cain and half the cast of Days of our Lives.
Deets: Parade starts at
TCL Chinese Theatre; Grandstand tickets have sold out but the parade is FREE; More info
HERE
Seu Jorge’s The Life Aquatic Bowie Tribute
Seu Jorge left an indelible mark in Wes Anderson’s A Life Aquatic as a singing sailor who frequently (and randomly) appears to perform haunting Bowie songs in Portuguese. David Bowie even praised Seu for taking his music to a “new level of beauty”. Here’s your chance to both experience Seu’s music live and bask in the sounds of Bowie once more. Get in quick because Saturday has sold out and Sunday and Monday are no doubt “under pressure”.
Deets: 9 p.m.;
The Theatre at Ace Hotel; Tickets $56 - $65 available
HERE;