Thanksgiving Events in New York City

When I think of New York City, the proverbial cornucopia comes to mind. NYC is an endless stream of excitement and fun. This Thanksgiving is no exception. After scouring newspapers, magazines, the internet and interviewing several native New Yorkers, I found a bounty of Thanksgiving events. Parades, cooking classes, park classes celebrating American and Native American heritage, eco-themed craft projects, volunteer projects, nature hikes and more are in store for New Yorkers or anyone who visits NYC this season. The following is a comprehensive guide that lists events in all NYC neighborhoods from November 7th to the day after Thanksgiving.

• Saturday, November 7th -Crotona Park's Fall Harvest Festival - Bronx

Nothing says Autumn more than a Fall Festival and I love the idea of the Crotona Park's Fall Harvest Festival. According to the park's website, "The festival celebrates the changing of seasons in the Bronx and encourages healthy eating and an active lifestyle." The festival activities are perfect for children. A pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating, lawn games, face painting and other arts and crafts are sure to please the little ones. The park's Indian Lake will offer canoeing, fishing and a wagon hayride to festival goers. The festival is located at 1700 Crotona Avenue and Indian Lake at Charlotte Street and Crotona Park East in the Bronx. The Fall Harvest Festival takes place from noon to 3:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, November 10th - Apple Pie Making Class - Manhattan

One of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes is the dessert pies. My sister Lisa is the only one in our family to have mastered the baking of a decent apple pie. With that in mind, I set out to find if there was anyone in the great city of over eight million people who could teach me how to make an apple pie. I found that One Girl Cookies is offering an Apple Pie making class just in time for Thanksgiving. Previous classes have sold out fast, so it's best to reserve quickly. The class is from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 68 Dean Street in NYC. The hands-on class cost $60.

• Saturday, November 14th - Family Art Project - Harvest Time Hangings - Bronx

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of fall crafts; making a turkey drawing by outlining my hand and gathering fall leaves to make wall art. The Sally and Gilbert Kerlin Learning Center will be home to the Wavehill Public Garden and Cultural Center's Family Art Project. Families can gather fall leaves, cones, pods and seed heads. Later, the collected items will be weaved together with the garden and meadow items to create a wall hanging decoration. The Harvest Time Hangings art project takes place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at West 249th Street and Independence Avenue in the Bronx. Admission is free to members and children under 6 years old. Adult admission is $6, students and seniors 65+ cost $3 and children 6 years and older cost $2.

• Wednesday, November 17, 2009 6:30PM - Thanksgiving Sides - Brooklyn

Wouldn't you love to have to have some new side dish tricks up your sleeve this Thanksgiving? "Thanksgiving Sides" teaches you how to make creative vegetarian sides like, cauliflower almond gratin, thyme-roasted mushrooms, creamy mashed potatoes and others. The class is taught by trained Chef Katherine Randazzo. Randazzo has cooked for Seattle's Tom Douglas, Gramercy Tavern and Marlow & Sons and now for you. Randazzo will teach you how to create these amazing Thanksgiving side dishes in a hands-on class. The class is being offered through The Brooklyn Kitchen and begins at 6:30 p.m. at 100 Frost Street in Brooklyn. The cost is $50.

• Wednesday, November 18th - Turkey 101 - Manhattan

After a series of Thanksgiving turkey disasters, it was proud moment when I aced the learning curve and presented my first perfectly cooked turkey to friends and family. Wouldn't it be great if you had someone teach you how to choose the right bird, the brining & trussing, roasting and carving of your own Thanksgiving turkey? Whole Foods Market Bowery on 95 East Houston Street in Manhattan will do just that, in their Turkey 101 course. The head Chef of "Employees Only" and author of the Butcher's Daughter blog, Julia Jacksic will be teaching the mini course at the Whole Foods Market Bowery's Culinary Center. Class is from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00pm. and costs $25 for the demonstration and tasting.

• Wednesday, November 18th - Talkin' Turkey at the Prospect Park Zoo - Brooklyn

Brooklyn is home to many unknown city secrets. The Prospect Park Zoo is one of my favorites. The beautiful sprawling park contains the areas only forest and an amazing zoo. Children ages 3 to 6 years old will love this special Thanksgiving zoo event. In addition to visiting the zoo, families can attend the "Talkin Turkey" event from 11 a.m. till noon. The zoo's Turkeysm is the place to learn about how turkeys gobble and wattle. Children can also make their own craft project to take home. This program requires a reservation. To register your family call (718)399-7327. Admission is $15 for adult and child members or $20 for a child and adult non-member. The Prospect Park Zoo is located on 450 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. Parking is available on Flatbush Avenue.

• Wednesday, November 18th - Extra Thankful November - Barnes & Noble at John Jay Storytime! - Manhattan

As a volunteer reader to school age children, I've seen their faces light up with the fascination of story telling. A life long love of reading can be sparked during childhood. This beautiful storytelling session at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater lobby at John Jay College will enthrall the children in your life. Children's books featuring Thanksgiving will be read. Titles include Blue Clues, "Blues Thanksgiving Feast", "Dora's Thanksgiving" from the Dora the Explorer series, "The Extra Thankful Thanksgiving" from Little Bill and "Winnie the Pooh's Thanksgiving". John Jay College is located at 899 10th Avenue. Story time begins at 11:00 a.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.jjay.cuny.edu/theater.php.

• Thursday November 19th & Friday November 27th - Thanksgiving Crafts & Thanksgiving Day Special - Central Park

I love Central Park in the fall. The colors are spectacular; rich oranges and red cover the landscape. This year, the Central Park Conservancy lists two fabulous events. On Thursday, November 19th the Conservancy has special Thanksgiving Crafts session at the Chess & Checkers House located in the middle of the park at 64th Street. There is limited space so large groups or over sized strollers will not be allowed in the building. For information about disabled accessibility, please call 212-794-4064.

On Friday, November 27th at 11 a.m. there will be a very special walking tour. This Thanksgiving Day special will take you to see a hidden bench that tells time, miniature boats powered by the wind, a magnificent sculpture celebrating fresh water and many more fun sites. Everyone will meet inside Central Park at 5th Avenue and East 72nd Street in front of the statue of Samuel F.B. Morse. If you need directions call 212-772-0210.

• Saturday, November 21st - Family Art Project - Corn husk Creations - Bronx

I'm always grateful for the November focus on the first Thanksgiving with the Native American Indians. It reminds me to be accepting of others. I added this event because it's educational and fun. Wavehill Public Garden and Cultural Center has invited Stephanie and Paul Betancourt of the Seneca Nation of Indians to tell the story of corn husk dolls. The Betancourts will help you and the kids tie, weave and shape dried corn husks for your own super action corn husk figure or a corny doll family member. The Sally and Gilbert Kerlin Learning Center at the Garden is located at West 249th Street and Independence Avenue in the Bronx. There are two corn husk doll making sessions. One at 1 p.m. and one at 2:30 p.m. The Corn husk doll making course is free with admission to the grounds. All children under 6 years old have free admission. Adults are $6, students and seniors 65 years or older are $3 and children over 6 years are $2.

• Saturday, November 21st - Turkey-Cology - Brooklyn

The Salt Marsh Nature Center in the Marine Park is the place to catch a fun, kid-friendly lecture on the incredible Meleagris Gallopavo, the wild turkey. Marine Park is Brooklyn's largest park with over 530 acres of grassland and salt marsh. Visitors can walk the Gerritsen Creek Nature Trail and see thousands of plants, flowers and trees. The park includes a golf course, bocce courts, cricket fields, bicycle greenways and lots of playgrounds. There is also a launch and landing site for canoes and kayaks at Gerritsen inlet. Children 12 years and younger can attend the "Turkey-Cology" event. There will kid friendly craft projects available. Marine Park is located at 2000 Gerritsen Avenue in Brooklyn. Admission is free.

• Saturday, November 21st - Turkey Trot at Midland Beach Playground - Staten Island

My little nephews and nieces love animals and stories of animals. A turkey search and story are just the ticket for fun. A fun, free educational nature event is sure to delight. Find out why Ben Franklin believed that the turkey should be the national bird. There are important monuments located near the beautiful Midland Beach area. The Midland Beach War Memorial and a monument dedicated to Vietnam veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Navy Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Vincent R. Capodanno are fun spots to visit. Midland Beach Playground is located at Bet Graham Blvd. at Jefferson Avenue. The Turkey Trot begins at 1:00 p.m.

• Saturday, November 21st - Volunteer Opportunity - Pre-Thanksgiving Lunch - Bronx

Many people in our neighborhoods will go hungry this holiday. The Catholic Fellowship's The Immaculate Conception Church is looking for volunteers to help assemble food baskets to give to the poor. The assembly will take place in the Ave Maria Hall, the lower Church at 754 East Gun Hill Road from 9:00 a.m to 1:30 p.m. After the baskets are put together the Church doors will open to distribute to people in need. The distribution ends around 12:30 p.m. Thanksgiving lunch will be provided free of charge to all volunteers. Donations can also be brought to the lunch. Frozen turkeys, stuffing mix, canned or fresh vegetables, can or jars of gravy or packets of gravy mix, instant mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, canned pumpkin or pumpkin pie filling are needed for the baskets. You can contact Toan B. Chu if you have questions.

• Saturday, November 21st - Thanksgiving Eco-Crafts - Queens

The Thanksgiving Eco-Crafts is a great way introduce the family to eco-crafts. Kids can make a fun decoration and learn about preserving nature at the same time. You will love the Fort Totten Park area with it's beautiful and historical surroundings. Fort Totten is at Cross Island Parkway, Totten Road to 15 Road in Queens. Participation is free and Eco-Crafts start at 11:00 a.m. If you have questions you can call (718) 846-2731.

• Saturday, November 21st - Thanks to Native Americans - Brooklyn

I added this rich historical celebration to the Thanksgiving events calendar because of it's lush green Fort Greene Park location and interesting subject matter. A perfect Thanksgiving tie-in. This special attraction teaches you about Native American history and the contributions that Native Americans have made to society. The park boasts a basketball court, playgrounds, tennis courts, educational events, sloping hills and beautiful trees. Entrance is free.

• Sunday, November 22nd - Turkey Count Hike - Bronx

You and the whole family will have a great time on the Siwanoy Trail trying to track down the hard-to-find wild turkey. The Turkey Count Hike is at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum at 895 Shore Road. According to the Greenwich Citizen you can, "Walk a mile or two on the land that has passed through the hands of the Siwanoy Indians, Ann Hutchinson, and the Continental Army, to name a few." The hike begins at 10:00 a.m. and is free.

• Sunday, November 22nd - Thrifty Thanksgiving with Shoestring.com - Brooklyn

As a lover of bargain entertainment, I was thrilled to share this Peak Street Financial party with you. The Online magazine Shoestring is an excellent resource for bargain living. The "Thrifty Thanksgiving" combines a tasting menu with wine and beer paring. One to two main courses, three side dishes and one dessert will be offered. Sierra Nevada will bring the holiday ale, celebration ale and pale ale. All the ales are complimentary with attendance. You will receive free copies of Shoestring's favorite recipes and frugal gourmet tips, just for attending. If you sign up for an account in person at the PerkStreet lounge you will receive a $75 cash bonus. Thrifty Thanksgiving takes place at the PerkStreet Lounge at 303 Grand Street in Brooklyn between Roebling & Havemeyer from 2 p.m to 6 p.m. There are a limited amount of reservations and you must RSVP. The event is free with a RSVP.

• Wednesday, November 26th - Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation - Manhattan

The first time I saw the giant helium parade balloon inflation, I was awestruck. It's there, while they are being inflated on the ground, that you realize the enormity of parade balloons. Balloons take up two city blocks and hundreds of sandbags and nets are used to keep them from taking flight. Some take dozens of people to carry along the parade route. New Yorkers get charged up for the parade by gathering to watch the parade balloon inflation around the American Museum of Natural History. You will need to arrive at Central Park West and Columbus Avenue on 77th and 81st streets. Inflation is approximately from 3 p.m. till 10 p.m. Most eateries in the area have extended hours to accommodate attendees. Bring a jacket as it gets chilly at night. There is no charge to watch the balloon inflation.

• Thursday, November 26th - Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - Manhattan

My list would not be complete without the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade's website states that the parade began in 1924. The parade is televised and seen across the globe. This year the parade will have a new route from 77th Street and Central Park West and turning onto Central Park South instead of going down Broadway. At 7th Avenue the parade turns south at the corner of Central Park South and down to 42nd Street. Then, it proceeds east along 42nd from 7th to 6th Avenues. From 6th, the parade will go South to 34th Street then west towards Herald Square, at the end of 34th and 7th Avenue. It's best to take the subway to the parade site. Check the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) website for more details.

A few tips:

-I would strongly advise you to take as little as you can. It's difficult to keep track of bulky purses, folding chairs and other items in the massive crowd.
-Keep children close or use sight tricks like dressing them in the same color or hats etc.
-Bring a smaller bag you can strap across your body instead of on your shoulder to avoid pick-pockets.
-Dress warmly.
-It will be tough to find restrooms anywhere on parade day. Take note to have children use restrooms before you leave a restaurant. Most restaurants will require that you purchase food to use the restroom. You might get lucky with a Starbucks location but be prepared for long lines.
-Bring cellphones that you can text on. It will be impossible to hear on your cellphone.
-Children should know what to do if they get lost.

If you take a few extra precautions, you can enjoy the parade with little worry. Go over this guide and find a few outings to lighten your spirits and create a fun-filled Thanksgiving for your family and friends. Don't you deserve it?

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