The 2013 Thanksgiving Family Guide

THE

2013

THANKSGIVING FAMILY GUIDE

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO RENO NEWS & REVIEW | NOVEMBER 7, 2013

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THANKSGIVING FAMILY GUIDE • NOVEMBER 7, 2013 A SPEC I A L S U P P LE M E N T TO R E N O N E W S & R E V I E W

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P H O T O :T H I N K S T O C K

Give thanks

T h e 2 0 1 3 T h a n k s g i v i n g f a m i ly g u i d e

I

’ve had a couple different kinds of Thanksgivings—the more traditional with a big family gathering and the slightly less crowded with my boyfriend’s family. I don’t exactly know what I’ll be doing for Thanksgiving this year, but I do know that I love the whole premise of it, and I think it’s something that everyone can appreciate because that’s what it’s all about: appreciating what you have in life. I also love that it revolves around loved ones and food. Honestly, I can’t think of anything better than that.

To help everyone enjoy the feast, we’ve included a story about accommodating some of the common dietary needs or preferences: vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free. There’s also a story about some of the things college students do for the holiday when away from home. And there’s a piece about places to go if you don’t want to cook and other things to do in the area over the holiday weekend. For the more or less traditional gatherings, we have a story about outdoor games and activities you can play with your family or friends to stay out of the way of the cooks, a piece about manners for your kids before the big family get together and tips on how to get yourself through the holiday without murdering any of your loved ones.

So when you’re getting ready to enjoy your Thanksgiving—whatever version of the day you carry out—pick up this guide and read through our stories to get you prepared for the annual turkey and stuffing pig-out fest.

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Cheers, Sage Leehey

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nOveMBeR 7, 2013 • thanksGivinG FaMiLY GUiDe

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Family survival tips How not to kill your SiSter

by Sage Leehey

F

or most of my life, I’ve had pretty traditional Thanksgiving celebrations. (This coming one and last year were a little different because I wasn’t able to get home.) My mom, dad, two sisters and I packed ourselves up in the car and drove to southern California every year to be with the massive Leehey side of the family.

My dad has five brothers and when you add each of their wives, kids and my grandmother, the feast adds up to 30 people ... not including some family friends that have come over the years.

My mother and the rest of my aunts typically did the set up, cooking and cleaning involved in the feast, while all of us cousins played outside, watched movies and basically wreaked havoc.

Not that we were especially rowdy, it’s just that 15 young “adults,” teens, tweens and toddlers (plus a couple of babies) running around is generally pretty noisy.

My uncles and my dad also tended to act like big kids throughout the day, skateboarding, starting tag or other team games with us cousins or watching football—except my dad. Football isn’t his thing.

He’s more of the motorcross/wakeboarding/rock climbing kind of guy, so he’d stay quiet or laugh at his brothers as they watched the game and argued whose team was the best.

And naturally, among all this family fun over the years was a whole lot of tension, arguments and hurt feelings. I mean, what family gathering doesn’t have that? I don’t know about you, but I tend to fight with the people I care about a hell of a lot more than other people in my life.

Over the years, I’ve had my fair share of awkward situations and battles with my family during this holiday—and throughout the year—

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and here’s some tips to try to maneuver your way through the day of thanks without murdering your sister.

Stop awaiting change Chances are, your more annoying, inappropriate or crazy family members are not going to change their ways for this holiday. They’re probably going to act the way they have for the last 5, 10, 20 years that you’ve been celebrating the holiday with them. If you keep thinking or hoping or praying that they will be different this year, you will probably just end up with those hopes destroyed as that one relative asks you again about when you think you’re going to get a new boyfriend ... because this one just doesn’t work for her. And if they do happen to have some change of heart, you can still be happy about that. Just don’t count on something that hasn’t happened year after year after year. After all, this is family, and family is supposed to annoy you sometimes, right?

Instead you can just remember that the reason that relative is so obsessed with your love life, weight, job prospects or school is that they care about you, and they’re taking an interest in your life. When a relative says something to you that is annoying, inappropriate or crazy, just assume it’s a joke and act as such. Don’t feed into it. If they stop getting a rise or serious answers from you, they’ll probably—hopefully—move on to the next relative.

Don’t let it get to you I have two sisters. One is two years younger than me—my little sister. And one is eight years

tHaNKsGiviNG Family GuiDE • NOvEmBEr 7, 2013 A SPeC i A l S u P P le M e n t to r e n o n e w S & r e Vi e w

younger than me—my baby sister. Now, my baby sister and I get along fine most of the time. The large age difference contributes to that. But when it comes to my little sister, we fight like we’re crazed at times. It’s not that we don’t like each other or anything like that—we’re actually pretty close, but we bait each other and intentionally anger each other on a regular basis. Hey, we’re sisters, right? But I’ve learned over the years that I just can’t let what she says get to me. Most of the time it’s not something she actually believes or that is true, and I know that. So why do I get so angry? Honestly, I couldn’t tell you, but I’ve realized that if I let it get to me, it always worsens the situation. Each time we start to get into one of these fights, I try to remind myself that. I’m really not good at this, and it’s probably only stopped me from fighting with her a handful of times. But I’m working on it.

This Thanksgiving, when your aunt, brother or mom says that one thing that just drives you completely bonkers—stop and think. Don’t give them the rise they’re looking for, just laugh and walk away.

Call a truce If you know there’s that one topic that always prompts a huge argument between family members, agree to a truce during the holiday. Talk to your family beforehand and tell them that you don’t want to argue during this specific weekend and ask them to do the same. There’s really no reason to ruin everyone’s Thanksgiving because of some stupid old argument that’s been going on for a while. And if someone tries to bring it up, stop the conversation as quickly as possible. Remind

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them that it’s a holiday, and you don’t want everyone’s memory of this year’s Thanksgiving to be that screaming match Uncle Bob and Uncle Andy had. Who knows? Avoiding the argument and just getting along with the person you or your family member has been fighting with for a while could make the whole point of the argument moot.

Don’t focus on what’s different Sometimes the hardest thing about a family gathering is who isn’t there. Loved ones dying or just getting stuck at work or school is a reality of life. If you keep obsessing and depressing yourself over the fact that your grandfather isn’t here anymore to say prayer before dinner or your brother can’t make it because he has to work Black Friday, you’re going to make your holiday a sad one. Yes, it definitely hurts that they can’t be there with you this year, but focus on who is there, what you are thankful for. It’s cliché, but that’s what Thanksgiving is about.

And on the flipside of the coin, if you’re that family member who can’t make it because of work, school or something else, try to make the best of the people you can be with for the holiday, or stay at home, eat your favorite meal and watch Netflix all night. Netflix makes everything better. I wasn’t able to be with my family last year for Thanksgiving because I had to work retail starting on Thanksgiving evening for Black Friday. I really hated not being able to get together with my family, but I went to my boyfriend’s parents’ home for dinner and had a

great time before I had to deal with the crazies coming out for the Black Friday deals. And I’m thankful for it.

Remember your immediate family All the craziness of getting together with all the aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins can make you forget the fact that the holiday is supposed to be about your immediate family, too. While you’re fighting with your cousin or avoiding your noisy aunt, you may start to take out your frustrations on the people who you’re closest to—Mom, Dad, sisters and brothers.

And that can be fine. They probably will take it better than your extended family, but at the end of the day, they should know that you care about and appreciate them during the holiday of thanks, too. And if you end up ignoring them completely, feelings can get hurt without you even realizing it. This might be one of the few times you see them in a year, too, so take advantage of that time together to remind them that they matter to you. And if you do see them everyday, remind yourself that these are the people who you don’t want to be fighting with because you see them everyday. At the end of the day, family is what matters, and these people are the closest family you have.

A S P EC I A L S U P P LE M E N T TO R E N O N E WS & R EV I EW

NOVEMBER 7, 2013 • THANKSGIVING FAMILY GUIDE

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PHOTO: THINKSTOCK/ISTOCK

Give thanks for Good manners TEaching your kids E T i q u E T T E m aT T E r s

by Jessica Santina

J

ennifer Duval’s boys are well-mannered 95 percent of the time. They usually say “please” and “thank you” without prompting, they share well with each other and friends, and they clean up after themselves.

But Duval has noticed that it’s gotten trickier to reinforce etiquette with her younger son, Gabriel, 3, than it is with her older son, Matthew, 7.

“If I’m being honest, I think part of the reason is me!” Duval confessed. “Lately, I’ve noticed that if Matthew politely asks for something, like a snack or more milk at dinner, I give it to him and then automatically give Gabriel whatever Matthew has asked for. So not only did Gabriel not have to ask for it politely, but he didn’t need to ask for it at all.”

Duval says that she’s been actively taking steps to correct it, such as asking Gabriel whether he wants the same thing, and presenting him with the opportunity to say, “Yes, please,” or “No, thank you.”

Is this a big deal? Maybe. Little things like this add up, which could be why our manners are slipping.

The research group Public Agenda conducted a telephone survey of more than 2,000 adults who were asked their thoughts on manners in America.

The findings were disheartening: • 79 percent believed that the lack of respect and courtesy in our society is a serious problem.

• 84 percent said that a major cause of disrespect was parents failing to teach it to children.

• 60 percent said that even when parents do the right thing, too many negative role models counteract those efforts.

As we approach the holiday season—peak season for formal dinner gatherings, meeting new people and offering thanks—the proper behavior of your family likely is—or should be)—top of mind.

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Where have our manners gone?

“Common courtesies are lacking in America,” said Stephanie Kent, founder and director of the Nevada Junior Cotillion, a long-standing American organization that’s open to all income levels (not just for debutantes). Cotillion teaches children to take their first partner-dancing steps, along with the basics of table manners and everyday social etiquette.

“There was a time when television and movies helped instill manners, but not as much anymore,” Kent said. “Instead, we see people not only breaking the rules, but displaying sloppy, rude and inappropriate behavior.”

Kent sees the problem being worse in the west than the east.

“I’m not sure why this is. I’ve always said, when Americans moved west in covered wagons, they hit a bump in the road, and it was etiquette that fell off the wagon.”

She believes that the overall increase in the number of working parents has caused a widespread decline in traditional family dinners, meaning that dinner table etiquette is rarely enforced.

thanksGivinG famiLY GUide • novemBer 7, 2013 a s PEci a L s u P P LE m E n T To r En o nE W s & rE V iE W

“Lady” Margaret Tavener is the owner of Victorian Fancies, a Reno-area business that caters tea parties and teaches etiquette. Tavener blames technology for many of our etiquette woes.

“Children are now plopped in front of TV. It’s a babysitter. They’re given cell phones when they’re in grade school, and they play video games. We’re all working parents, and we try to keep them entertained without spending time with them.”

Etiquette provides an edge But isn’t etiquette just knowing which fork to use?

Do such outdated ideals matter anymore?

Emily Post, the guru of etiquette, said, “Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.”

And as for whether it matters, surveys show that Americans believe it does.

“Learning to be polite helps to build children’s self-esteem, and makes them successful in later years as adults,” Tavener said, adding that children complimented early on for their polite behavior

the rules of the dinner table With the annual Thanksgiving feast upon us, we could all use a brush-up on our table etiquette.

We know the basics: Say “please” and “thank you,” don’t talk with your mouth full and keep your elbows off the table.

But don’t forget things like the importance of a polite smile, which Tavener says is a big first step toward showing consideration of others.

She also recommends having children help to prepare food and set the table, so they have greater respect for the meal, and to encourage them to greet guests at the door and properly make introductions.

“I find that a lot of times, even at church, I’ll see children that I’ve known for years and who are now teenagers walk right past me as if I’m not there,” Tavener said. “They need to learn about proper greetings and introductions. That’s a job skill. So let children be the door greeters.”

Stephanie Kent stresses that the desire to gobble up turkey should never precede basic etiquette such as keeping personal belongings off the table, waiting for all to be seated and for the host to start eating, keeping napkins in laps, passing items counter-clockwise around the table rather than reaching across, breaking off bites of bread one at a time rather than biting into the slice, and holding utensils properly (not “caveman style”).

Other rules that should be encouraged include: • Wait for the host to make the toast, and if your gathering is large, just raise glasses rather than reaching across the table to clink them together.

• Don’t immediately salt food until you’ve taken a bite. Pass the salt and pepper together.

• Don’t ask for second helpings, which may embarrass the host if there isn’t enough food.

Instead, wait until it’s offered.

• Cut one bite at a time, rather than all at once, so that you don’t appear rushed.

• Don’t gesticulate with utensils, and don’t leave your butter knife in the communal butter plate after spreading butter on your bread.

• Don’t take only half of something. The remaining half will be unappealing to others, and will go to waste.

• Leave napkins in your seat when you excuse yourself from the table—“No one wants to see your used napkin on the table while eating,” Kent said.

• Push your chair in when leaving the table, and thank your host for the meal (even if the hosts are your parents).

• Phones do not belong at the table—ever.

P H OTO C O U R T E SY O F J E N N I F E R D U VA L

are hugely proud, and their parents hugely appreciative.

Stephanie Kent saw the benefits first-hand when she enrolled her son in Junior Cotillion when he was in sixth grade. Now 23, he cites Cotillion for providing him confidence in dating, ease in dinner parties and social occasions, and solid performance in job interviews.

“Learning etiquette turns you into a person that others want to be around,” Kent said.

Polite people make friends more easily, better represent companies and organizations, get invited to parties, get dates, get jobs and promotions, and more readily adapt to other cultures. They simply get further in life.

J en n i fer d u va l pos ted a sig n of th e house r u l es for h er c h il d r en.

bringing up polite children Children learn from their parents how to behave.

Many ill-mannered kids learned it from mom and dad. Ask yourself whether you observe the best manners. Are you using your phone during meals, eating like a pig at a trough, talking with your mouth full, putting elbows on the table or forgetting your “pleases” and “thank yous”?

You might do what Jennifer Duval did with her sons: Create a set of house rules, which are posted in their home, and to which each boy keeps the family accountable. They include such things as “Respect each other,” “Be kind,” “No yelling” and “Treat others how you want to be treated.”

If your family could use an etiquette lesson, you may consider attending Nevada Junior Cotillion’s

a s p eC i a l s u p p le m e n t to r e n o n e w s & r ev i ew

family dining tutorial at St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Sunday, Nov. 10 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

At $10 per person (even non-Cotillion members), the tutorial covers basic table etiquette, and is designed with both adults and children in mind.

Enrolling a child in Cotillion is $150 for the 10-week program (the winter program begins Jan. 20), which meets at three locations around the Reno area. Victorian Fancies will run a spring tea party/etiquette program as well, which covers basic tea party and table manners and conversational etiquette.

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THANKSGIVING FAMILY GUIDE • NOVEMBER 7, 2013 A SPEC I A L S U P P LE M E N T TO R E N O N E W S & R E V I E W

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Happy Tofurkey Day Thanksgiving dinner For Those w i T h d i e Ta ry d i F F e r e n c e s

By Erin Meyering

T

hanksgiving is the one day a year you can eat yourself sleepy. Not only can you put heaps of mashed potatoes, stuffing and half a turkey on your plate, but there’s no shame in also finding room for a deviled egg, maybe a few extra olives and one (or two) of your aunt’s famous butter rolls.

But what if a guest at your Thanksgiving Day feast reveals special dietary needs? The words, “I’m so sorry—I’m vegetarian. But don’t worry, there are plenty of sides I can munch on” signal the coveted “best host award” has just slipped through your cranberry-stained fingers.

“A lot of people get scared when they hear the ‘V’ word [vegetarian or vegan],” said Toby Riley, owner of Reno vegetarian/vegan restaurant Pneumatic Diner.

Riley has been a vegetarian for about 22 years and said that cooking this way can help diversify others’ palates, too. You may also be surprised in realizing that cooking with dietary restrictions doesn’t necessarily mean the food will be bland or hard to stomach.

So where do you start? If you’re like the many who keep the menu similar each year, it may be a little difficult. For starters, plan ahead, list alternative ingredients and go to the store early.

Does anyone actually like the hustle, bustle and occasional cart clashing busyness of the holidays?

Breaking it down Vegetarian: no meat, and no fish (unless someone identifies as pescetarian.) There are plenty of classic Thanksgiving dishes that typically don’t need meat: green bean casserole, stuffing, yams, for a few. Try cauliflower mashed “potatoes” for a healthy twist on everyone’s favorite carb. Riley suggests roasting squash and serving it halved as a bowl, filling it with quinoa, corn and any other vegetable. Prepare vegetarian gravy by using vegetable broth instead of pan drippings or animal fat. If you’re craving extra flavor,

season the gravy with herbs and mushrooms.

Be sure to watch out for seasoning packets with ingredients listed in an unbearably small font size.

Dietary Vegan: no animal products. Period.

This means no 2 percent milk in the mashed potatoes, no honey on the yams and no savory turkey gravy. Watch out for hidden animal products such as casin (milk-derived), ghee (clarified butter), lanolin (a grease made from sheep’s skin), carmine or cochineal (a red dye made from crushed beetles), and there are plenty more. Visit The Vegan Society website for a more complete list of ingredients to avoid.

Although this seems incredibly limiting, there are plenty of easily accessible substitutes on the market. There’s soy cheese, which is perfect for melting in mashed potatoes. You can bake—or even deep fry—mock turkey. Prepare vegan veggie burgers for a main dish or maybe a simple and filling soup the entire group can indulge in.

Gluten-Free: no wheat, please—not even in your aunt’s rolls. This request is becoming increasingly common because of allergies and because some just prefer food that is vegan and gluten-free. Riley finds that by soaking flax seed in water and then grinding it can be a terrific binder and a useful substitute for egg.

Wheat is commonly found in most store-bought piecrusts, some spices, broths and, naturally, many flours. Don’t worry, though—flour alternatives are easy to come by. There’s sorghum and rice flour, amaranth (ground from amaranth plant seeds) and other alternatives.

And make sure to check your grocery store’s gluten-free sections for more ideas.

Overall, Thanksgiving is about sharing warmth, and making someone feel like a huge inconvenience because of their diet isn’t the best way to start the holiday season. There are plenty of tools to help create this type of feast, even if you’re not completely comfortable with the idea.

There’s an app for that Epicurious is an app featuring vegan recipes, searchable by ingredient or type, which may be helpful in tapping into your inner chef. There are also heaps of blogs on different dietary lifestyles that can provide spoonfuls of tips and tricks. Even if they’re not entirely Thanksgiving devoted blogs, there’s gold in a bit of research.

A few of my favorites are Gluten-Free Girl, Herbivoracious and Urban Vegan, who claims, “Good food is good food,” putting an emphasis on the idea that vegan food can be good on its own and doesn’t need to be put into a separate culinary category.

Often times, special Thanksgiving editions of magazines provide thoughtful recipes.

Vegetarian Times, Eating Well and The Huffington Post have explored entirely vegan, gluten-free options.

a s p ec i a l s u p p le m e n T To r e n o n e ws & r ev i ew

If you’re the person requesting special dishes, why not bring your own? Make a stellar rice pilaf with lemon zest topped with walnuts and cranberries to wow the nonbelievers. Or bring an extra homey casserole you can devour while others are in turkey heaven. Always bring a little to share, though, in case Grandpa, the born and raised “meat is a side for more meat” idealist, wants a taste.

Whether you’re eating thick and creamy vegan potato soup or a cinnamon dusted gluten-free crusted pumpkin pie, you can still eat enough to join your turkey-loving friends and family in the sleepy daze that follows any true to form Thanksgiving meal—even if it’s Tofurky.

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NoVeMBer 7, 2013 • THaNkSGIVING faMILy GuIDe

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Homesick for tHe Holidays StudentS Spend thankSgiving away f r o m h o m e

by Caitlin Thomas

I

t happens to all of us. It could be a text message from Mom before midterms. Toy Story was on HBO. Again. You’re making your dad’s organic macaroni in your dorm room sink. The symptoms are getting stronger, and denial isn’t a language they teach in college.

You’re homesick, and you’re not going home for Thanksgiving this year.

This is a familiar coming-of-age study: Growing Up 101. And it’s completely necessary. In college, we aren’t just learning business or science or whatever major you might have, but independence, evolving into an adults and creating our own lives. It’s happening on all sides of campus and it’s worth the flashlight in the face. Students are dealing their own way.

Everyone has a story like this, according to Nye Hall resident assistant Ilse Perez.

“Some students literally don’t have family,” she says. “The people they meet here ... that’s their family.”

This is Perez’s second year as a dorm resident assistant. She keeps her floor in check, cleans under desks, and tries to ignite some form of unity for her residents through bonding. And this is especially true during the holiday season.

“Last Thanksgiving, the campus was absolutely deserted,” she says. “I called my family. I know they really miss me, and I miss them. A friend brought over leftovers and heated them up. We longboarded the hill that comes down Lombardi, and it was seriously the most fun I’ve ever had. It was nice not having to worry about cars running us over.”

Though the campus was mostly clear on Thanksgiving, Perez recalls about 20 to 25 students staying in the dorms in Nye Hall. She guesses around the same number were in the other halls. Still, she wishes there was a bigger effort to support the loners during the holidays.

“ASUN [Associated Students of University of

10

Nevada] should do a huge Thanksgiving feast for anyone left over on campus,” she suggests.

“It would be the perfect way to meet people.”

“Homesickness is a major reason students don’t make it their first few years,” says Jason Preus, a public relations speaker for fraternity Kappa Sigma. “ASUN should do an organized dinner or football game.”

When it comes to his own fraternity, Preus says that the community is family and plans on implementing specific traditions that foster a spirit of togetherness.

“This year, we are having a pre-Thanksgiving party called ‘Thirsty Thanksgiving,’ though we normally do a dinner to really emphasize our brotherhood.”

ASUN supports this “power of the community” stance with usual events every weekend that play on cheerleader themes. Words like “diversity” and “unity” bleed blue all over the campus with lots of pep. Arguably, it’s always been this way.

Eli Reilly, former ASUN president and UNR alumnus, seconds this notion. Reilly says there was a constant spirit of support for students.

“I knew plenty of students in Sigma Nu or around campus who couldn’t be with their families during the holidays,” he explains. “Some were from out of town, some were international students. There are several organizations around

tHaNksGiViNG family GUide • NoVemBer 7, 2013 a SpeC i a L S u p p L e m e n t to r e n o n e w S & r e v i e w

the university who reach out to students during the holiday season to provide them some comfort away from home. The residence halls, international center, and graduate school, for instance, usually offered some kind of event or dinner for students away from home to make them feel more at ease. After all, helping each other is a vital part of what a campus community is all about.”

Holiday blues can linger longer than just Thanksgiving. Reilly easily admits he wasn’t immune to it.

“When I felt low, I could always confide in students, advisors, or faculty members to help me through it, especially on occasions like my mom or dad’s birthdays which I couldn’t be there.”

Ashley Hansen, program director of studentrun, university-funded Flipside Productions, regularly plans a wide array of occasions.

Some rightfully commercial (Big Sean played Homecoming last month) and some so quiet you might miss them (Comet Tuesdays allows students to watch the skies at an intense 4 a.m.). ASUN currently poses an event schedule, recently landing on a particularly high note.

“Last [week] we had the Rocky Horror Picture Show,” she says. “It was so full, it was crazy.

In spring, we are trying to start a new program

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK/HEMERA

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called ‘Friends and Family Week’ where we bring up family for the weekend, students completely unaware of the visit.”

“It’s completely new, it’s never happened before,” Hansen says. “I feel like students sometimes need to see their family, and they don’t even know it.”

Crystal Carter, ASUN senator, agrees there is always something going on.

“There will always be someone on campus.

I spent one Thanksgiving with my best friend.

It was really different than being with family.

I had a great time, and its one of my best Thanksgivings ever.”

With an increase of family visits and constant access to events, it shouldn’t be too difficult to enjoy oneself, though festivities almost always bring out some fierce expectations. Ironically, the more memorable times could not have been predicted, but instead are so random that no one would have guessed.

It couldn’t have rung more true for alumnus Gary Nagle.

“One of my favorite Thanksgiving memories is the time I spent it with a close friend of mine,” Nagle says. “It was randomly one year because of a snowstorm, neither of us had cooked a turkey, and we fumbled through it, and it turned out awesome.”

Nagle remembers another time away from family that led to a tradition.

“Fritzgiving,” he says. “Those of us who worked at Fritz and some of the regulars always got together—and still do—every year to do a potluck Thanksgiving dinner.”

Society constantly gets stuck in this idea of Thanksgiving being exclusively for family. As people evolve, though, this notion becomes drained. “I don’t think it matters who you spend any holiday with as long as it is someone who is important to you,” Nagle says.

Perhaps the most important aspect about this holiday is, justifiably, gratitude. We all have something to be thankful for, whether it’s our teeth or patience for people hard of hearing. For some it’s about starting that new era in your life, whatever that could mean.

“Second chances,” Nagle says. “People make mistakes but something about Thanksgiving and being grateful always makes me realize how important being alive is and being able to move forward and start over.”

Some may be more obvious.

“I’m thankful I have a roof over my head,” Perez says.

And sometimes you really are just thankful that Toy Story is playing on HBO.

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A S P EC I A L S U P P LE M E N T TO R E N O N E W S & R EV I EW

NOVEMBER 7, 2013 • THANKSGIVING FAMILY GUIDE

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12 THANKSGIVING FAMILY GUIDE

• NOVEMBER 7, 2013 A SPEC I A L S U P P LE M E N T TO R E N O N E W S & R E V I E W

TradiTions before The Turkey F a m i ly o u t d o o r g a m e s p l ay e d F o r t h e h o l i d ay

by Tim Hauserman

F

P H O T O :T H I N K S T O C K / I S T O C K

or many of us, Thanksgiving is primarily about maneuvering ourselves to a table where the turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, peas, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and whatever else you’ve managed to put together await. And all that wonderful largesse goes down pretty quickly.

Before we know it, we are gazing over our impressive Buddha bellies at a football game, with a spacey smile of contentment on our face caused by massive quantities of tryptophan.

Aside from the fact that we are practically ordered to consume colossal quantities of food, what makes Thanksgiving special is that it’s not about buying presents. It’s just a simple holiday focused on getting together with family and friends and giving thanks for all that you have.

Of course, the next day, all that Kumbayah is thrown into the trash like old leftovers that you forgot to clean out of the fridge before you left for your two-week vacation. In its place, Christmas comes thundering into the room like a loud toddler demanding attention.

Given that it takes hours to cook those delicious birds and all of the accoutrements that come with the feast, many families have developed traditions designed to get those who are not involved with the food preparation out of the house and out of the way. Of course, getting outdoors and letting off some steam also burns up calories providing room for more turkey.

The most common traditions seem to revolve around football—America’s fall sport of choice.

When I was growing up in Tahoe, Thanksgiving was a time when we were able to rally up some neighborhood kids, and a brother-in-law or two, to join us for the annual street football game. The goal lines were the two telephone poles at the end of the street and the edge of the pavement served as the sidelines. The game was ostensibly touch, but if there was a large amount of snow at the edge of the road, tackling out of bounds was acceptable. If we were lucky enough to put together a large group of players we graduated from the confines of the street, to a field of grass somewhere. This added an extra element of fun and danger as invariably the grass was wet, or even better, covered with a thin, slippery coating of new fallen snow. After a mud game, the goal was to sneak past Mom before she saw the gobs of goop we were dragging into the house.

As the years went by these annual events became a multi-generational affair, which created both joy and sadness. Joy for the teenagers who were now officially old enough to hold their own on the field, and sadness for those of us reaching middle age, who began to be outshone by the young whipper snappers. The geezers would then attempt to blame their slow motion waddle to the television after dinner on all that food,

a s p eC i a l s u p p le m e N t to r e N o N e W s & r eVi eW

when really it was the impact of dozens of wind sprints on the body of a fifty something.

While our games were informal gettogethers, some folks are very serious about their Thanksgiving football. My friend Steve Mahlstadt has been part of a Thanksgiving football tradition known as the Toilet Bowl for 40 years. Steve says his kids have always known that the only thing that matters on Thanksgiving morning is the Toilet Bowl. It started with a bunch of friends and family that played football together in high school. Now, several generations later, it’s a tradition that refuses to die. The winning team gets to keep the coveted Golden Toilet Bowl Lid for the next year, and of course experiences the “Flush of Victory.”

It’s not all about football. An informal softball game played by a bunch of North Tahoe folks every year has been christened the Turkey Bowl. I’m sure groups of Ultimate Frisbee fanatics are preparing to run their little asses off the last Thursday of November, and many folks just consider Thanksgiving a good day for a crisp morning hike up Shirley Canyon or a stroll through Reno along the Truckee River.

Bikers are not immune to the attraction of Thanksgiving. Paco Lindsey, who owns Paco’s Bike Shop in Truckee, gathers together a group of riders every snow-free Thanksgiving to head to the warmer climes of the Colfax area for some late season foothill road biking.

In addition to getting outside to burn off calories, what all of these groups are also celebrating is the last hurrah of fall before the winter changes everything. It’s time for that final ride, hike or run on the grass. And if it is one of those rare early winters when ski season is already in full swing by Thanksgiving, everybody is out skiing instead, saving the football for the following year … except of course those Toilet Bowl folks—those guys are fanatics.

There are some who seek more sedentary ways to spend time together on Thanksgiving.

Tahoe native Casey Canino says for her family Thanksgiving is all about ice skating and lounging next to the adjacent fire pits at Northstar, and now that the kids are old enough, hot toddies might be involved. Then the next day, instead of fighting the crowds at the mall, the Canino family drives the old truck into the woods to cut down the family Christmas tree.

Now that sounds like the correct way to begin the Christmas season.

noVeMber 7, 2013 • ThanksGiVinG faMiLy Guide

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• NOVEMBER 7, 2013 A SPEC I A L S U P P LE M E N T TO R E N O N E W S & R E V I E W

WIN!

P H O T O :T H I N K S T O C K / I S T O C K

No cookiNg Necessary ThankSgiving ouTSide The home

by Molly Moser

I

t’s that time of the year again to cook up some scrumptious turkey and to drench gravy on top of those mashed potatoes.

But if there isn’t enough time and energy to put into making the feast from scratch this year, Reno has a lot to offer to families during Thanksgiving weekend.

Reno is the place where Thanksgiving starts—casinos are serving three-course dinner meals that include all of that delicious turkey and cranberry sauce. After filling up those tummies, there’s more to do after. Families can attend local performances and events for crafts and music—a way to give thanks to the Reno community.

If you plan to spend your Thanksgiving in the heart of Reno, you don’t have to cook, and it’s a nice way to change the holiday routine. Help get involved with the community by participating in events and activities and help businesses grow just by paying them a visit on the day after.

Food for thought Before dining out, pump up the Thanksgiving holiday by running a few miles in the Scheels Turkey Trot, at the Outlets at Legends in Sparks. Until Nov. 21, the cost of registration is $25 in advance and $60 on the day of the race. Those who are interested in participating can register at Scheels Customer Service and online. The races will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Most of the larger casinos such as the Nugget, Eldorado and the Atlantis are serving three-course Thanksgiving meals on Nov. 28.

The Eldorado’s Prime Rib Grill, Roxy and The Buffet will be serving appetizers and a main course that includes turkey, mashed potatoes and carrots. Dessert is also a part of the deal, and a variety of choices can be found on the menu. Thanksgiving dinner at the Prime Rib Grill is $24.95 per person, Roxy is $29.95 and The Buffet is $26.99 for adults and $12.99 for kids.

The Rotisserie Buffet at John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks will also serve a three-course meal for families at $32. This includes the choice of turkey, fish or ribs. The Steakhouse is also offering a dinner meal for $36, consisting of a few starters, three entrees and a dessert.

You can make this year’s Thanksgiving culturally diverse, too. The Thanksgiving Chinese Concert will be held at the Silver Legacy on November 28, with tickets starting at $68.

But if you’re looking to devour a Thanksgiving dinner under bright neon lights and a tropical theme, the Atlantis will be hosting their annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner in the ballroom.

The Silver Legacy, Circus Circus and the Peppermill will also have Thanksgiving specials, but their menus are currently under development.

The weekend af ter the feast Reno continues to celebrate the holiday season after turkey day; museums open back up and events are scheduled for the Thanksgiving weekend. Here are a couple of family events to consider: • The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts presents The Addams Family, as a part of the Broadway Goes to Reno series. The musical begins at 8 p.m. on Nov. 29 and Nov. 30, with an additional showing at 2 p.m. on Nov. 30. Tickets start at $44.

• John Ascuaga’s Nugget is hosting a Crafts for Christmas event on Nov. 29 through Dec. 1.

This annual holiday event features hundreds of crafts, gift venues, kids’ activities, and jolly old Santa Claus will be there to take down some Christmas gift requests.

• The Nevada Museum of Art is open the day after Thanksgiving and a variety of galleries from contemporary to landscape to Sierra Nevada works of art will be on display.

Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center

at the University of Nevada, Reno campus is also open the day after the feast. Digital star shows about black holes and the universe will be played by the hour and a light show of Pink Floyd’s The Wall will begin at 8 p.m.

• Instead of shopping ‘til you drop on Black Friday, explore the Animal Ark and animals at 11 a.m. on Nov. 29 and 30. The animals at the park are known to be the most active during the cooler season, so visit them while they’re at their best. Animal Ark is located at 1265 Deerlodge Road.

• Skiing and snowboarding season starts just in time after the holiday—make a splash in some snow at area ski resorts. Mount Rose, Heavenly and Boreal are open for the winter season the day after Thanksgiving.

• Keeping it simple in Reno isn’t a bad idea.

The Century Theatres will be open the day after Thanksgiving to catch any current films.

If shopping is a must, Black Friday sales

a S P ec i a l S u P P le m e n T To r e n o n e W S & r ev i eW

at some stores will begin on the night of Thanksgiving at the Outlets at Legends, Meadowood Mall and the Summit. Stores such as Macy’s, Bath and Body Works, J.C. Penney and Kohl’s are opening their doors at 8 or 9 p.m. on Wednesday night.

To Reno, Thanksgiving is beyond the shopping and the appetizing turkey sitting on a plate—it’s about giving thanks to the businesses and programs that bring the community together during the holidays.

Fo r m o r e i n Fo r m aT i o n abo u T T he S che e lS T u r k e y T r oT, vi S i T S che e lS co m m u n i T y.co m / e ve n TS.

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