Staying in Chicago for Thanksgiving may be the best decision you made all year. We’re less than a month out from election madness, and today is probably the first real test of strength in the face of your extended family. We’ve rounded up escape plans A-Z for any mention of “locker room talk” or e-mails. Here’s how to make Thanksgiving great again:
Where to eat
Bistronomic Chicago’s Gold Coast French Bistro will host Thanksgiving dinner again this year, showcasing their signature French zest with ingredients from Midwest farms. Feel free to ditch the turkey—this menu has ribs, beef tenderloin, pumpkin ravioli, and more. 11 AM-9 PM, 840 N. Wabash, bistronomic.net, $57.
Cafe Des Architectes This contemporary take on French cuisine will feature a prix fixe three-course menu offering roasted pumpkin risotto, shrimp tortellini, chocolate turtle, and more. 11 AM-10 PM, 20 E Chestnut, cafedesarchitectes.com, $65.
Farmhouse Tavern This chic tavern hosts a family-style Thanksgiving dinner with three courses and side dishes for the entire table. 11 AM-6:45 PM, 703 Church Street, Evanston, farmhouseevanston.com, $48.
Mercat a La Planxa If the thought of stuffing is giving you flashbacks to when you butchered your mother-in-law’s recipe, a tapas Thanksgiving dinner at Mercat a La Planxa may be right up your alley. Featuring turkey croquettes, cranberry glazed turkey breast, cinnamon apple bread pudding, and more, feel free to spice it up this Turkey Day. 11 AM-9 PM, 638 S Michigan, mercatchicago.com, $75.
River Roast River Roast hosts a Thanksgiving buffet featuring beet salad, roasted pork shoulder, roasted turkey breast, brioche stuffing, and whipped sweet potatoes. Noon-6:30 PM, 315 N. LaSalle, riverroastchicago.com, $55.
What to watch
Movies Just need some peace and quiet after fighting about the electoral college? Sit in a dark room where talking isn’t allowed and enjoy some of these new movies:
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Moonlight
- Loving
- Allied
- Doctor Strange
- Arrival
- Bleed For This
Where to shop
Christkindlmarket Chicago’s largest open-air Christmas festival is back at the Daley Plaza and open on Thanksgiving Day so we can all walk off the yearly gravy coma we put ourselves into. 11 AM-4 PM, Daley Plaza, christkindlmarket.com.
Above & beyond
McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade The iconic State Street parade will march from Congress to Randolph, featuring staged performances from STOMP, Craig Campbell, Finding Neverland, and honored guests Matt Walsh, Graham Elliot, and Dante Brown. 8 AM-11 AM, State Street between Congress and Randolph, chicagofestivals.org, Free.
Turkey Trot Whether you’re running an 8K, 5K, tailgating in Lincoln Park or doing some turkey bowling, you can let off some steam by getting outdoors and earning those mashed potatoes. 7 AM-Noon, Cannon Drive between Diversey and Fullerton Parkway, turkeyday-5k.com, $45.
McCormick Tribune Ice Rink Work your way down to Millennium Park and strap on your skates for hours of fun at this ice rink sitting under the iconic Bean. 10 AM-4 PM, 201 E Randolph, cityofchicago.org, free, $12 for skate rentals.
Sauers Reunion Six of the Chosen Few DJs—Wayne Williams, Terry Hunter, Mike Dunn, Alan King, Andre Hatchett, and Tony Hatchett—spin sets in tribute to defunct house club Sauers. 8 PM, the Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park, promontorychicago.com, $10.