Cheap and Free NYC Thanksgiving Events Guide 2011

Thursday, November 10-21, 2011
Canstruction
To steal a line from a well-known commercial, “It’s amazing what soup can do!” See sculptures created from soups and other canned goods at Canstruction, an art competition, at the World Financial Center. The event is free, but the public is encouraged to bring a canned food donation to benefit City Harvest. World Financial Center, 220 Vesey Street, 10 am. To 6 p.m. (daily), free!

Saturday, November 12, 2011
Thanksgiving Wine Pairing
Chef/food blogger, Alissa Schrieber hosts a Thanksgiving food and wine tasting workshop at Bottlerocket Wine and spirits. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Bottlerocket Wine and Spirits, Five W. 19th Street. Cost: $20 per person, includes wine and food + $10 credit wine purchase, all to benefit City Harvest! Please note that due the popularity of past events, Bottlerocket will be issuing tickets in half-hour time slots.

Saturday, November 12, and Sunday November 13, 2011
Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill Tasting Tour-A Pre-Thanksgiving tasting Tour
Build up your appetite for the big day and join Discovery Walking Tours for their pre-Thanksgiving Tasting Tour! From Discovery: “These Victorian neighborhoods, New York's earliest historic landmark districts. A home to wealthy 19th century merchants and later 20th century writers, neighborhood stops include Plymouth Church, where Lincoln and Walt Whitman worshipped; the Brooklyn Promenade and its magnificent view of the Manhattan skyline; the home where Truman Capote penned Breakfast at Tiffany’s; where Jackie Robinson was signed and where the Dodgers got their name; and the homes of Jennie Jerome, Churchill’s mother; and writer Thomas Wolfe. Along the way, taste the area’s classic and contemporary foods, from egg creams to spinach pie.” 2p.m. Call 212-465-3331 for reservations and meeting place. Cost: $26 (includes food!)

Monday November 14-Wednesday November 23, 2011
"Tobias Turkey" Puppet Show
The Shadowbox Theater Company presents this tale of a very determined turkey. The play is 45-minutes long and is appropriate for early children from early childhood to second grade. Showtimes are as follows:
When: Monday, Nov. 14, 10:30 am
Tuesday, Nov. 15, 10:30 am
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 10 and 11:30 am
Thursday, Nov. 17, 10:30 am
Friday, Nov. 18, 10 and 11:30 am
Saturday, Nov. 19, 11 am
Monday, Nov. 21, 10:30 am
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 10 and 11:30 am
Wednesday, Nov. 23, 10:30 am
Shadowbox Theater Company, The Bedford Village School, PS 3, 50 Jefferson Ave., Brooklyn, buy tkts here: http://www.shadowboxtheatre.org/index.php?select=payment_options


Thursday November 17, 2011
Thanksgiving Crafts
Create Thanksgiving crafts for free in Central Park! 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Central Park Chess and Checkers House, near Wollman Rink, free!

Saturday November 19, 2011
Pre-Thanksgiving Party/Fundraiser for for Carlos Scissura
Local 61 is hosting an all-day pre-Thanksgiving party to raise funds for Scissura's Brooklyn Borough president campaign! From the website, "We’re throwing an all-day Thanksgiving holiday party. Complete with a raffle full-o Brooklyn made goodness from Red Hook Winery, Saxelby Cheese Mongers, Brooklyn Soda Works, KBBK Kombucha, BK Farmyards, Cut Brooklyn, Brooklyn Brine, Oslo Coffee, Mast Brothers Chocolate, and more! Did we mention that these people will be in-house? All raffle proceeds go to support our good friend Carlo Scissura for his campaign for Brooklyn Borough President." 12p.m. start time, looks to be free, but might want to have cash on-hand for the raffle! Local 61, 61 Bergen Street.

Thanksgiving Produce Bags + Textile Recycling
Wholesale Greenmarket will be selling pre-packed Thanksgiving produce bags. Bags will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis (no pre-orders accepted.) and can be purchased using EBT cards. Produce items will include potatoes, onions, collard greens, sweet potatoes, and more. You can also bring, "clean and dry clothing, paired shoes, bedding, linens, hats, handbags, belts, fabric scraps 36″x36″ or larger and other textiles (no rugs or carpeting). Materials will be sorted for reuse or recycling. Everyone who donates will receive a free energy-efficient CFL light bulb!" 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., La Marqueta, 1590 Park Ave., bet. 112th and 115th Street, produce bags are $7.

Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20, 2011
Little Ireland, Chinatown, and Little Italy History and Tasting Tour – A Pre Thanksgiving tasting Tour
A walk through these ethnic enclaves exploring the trials and triumphs of the American immigrant. Along the way, we will sample ethnic specialties from pizza and cannolli to spring rolls and dumpling. Stops include the Church of the Transfiguration; the site Five Points, made famous in Gangs of New York; Banco Stablile, Confucius Plaza, the residence of Dr. Sun-Yat-sen." 1:30 p.m., Cost: $26 (includes food!), Call 212-465-3331 for reservations and meeting place.

Wednesday November 23, 2011
Justin Bieber Concert
The singer will perform a free concert this morning as part of the Today Show Concert Series, 7 a.m., Rockefeller Plaza, free!

Pre-Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation
When in New York do as the natives do and get a sneak peek of the Macy’s Parade balloons a sneak peek as they are inflated near the Museum of Natural History! Details are here: http://manhattan.about.com/od/eventsandattractions/a/macysballoons.htm. For a yummy pre-or post balloon meal hit up the nearby Shake Shack!


Let My People Go Presents The Turkey Ball Singles' Event
Tired of looking for that shiksa goddess, or the male equivalent? Ready to settle down with a member of the tribe? If the answer to boyh of these questions is 'Yes!', Let My People Go has you covered! Party it up on Thanksgiving-Eve at Hudson Terrace's Rooftop Bar! 621 W.46th Street, bet. 11th and 12th Avenues. Tkts are $20 in advance with RSVP, $25 at the door with RSVP, and $30 at the door without RSVP. Buy tkts in advance here: http://turkeyball2011.eventbrite.com/

Stuff Yourself Silly, The Coney Island Variety Show - Thanksgiving Eve
From Coney Island, "This Thanksgiving Eve, Coney Island is the place to be for Stuff Yourself Silly, The Coney Island Variety Show…With All the Fixins.Thanksgiving Eve marks the one year anniversary of Stuff Yourself Silly, and Adam has harvested a wide assemblage of talents to ring in the holiday season.You’ll witness a cornucopia of talented performers at this fast paced, high energy vaudevillian romp. There’s something for everyone!... Don’t be a turkey, risk temptation and spend the eve with Adam!Scheduled to appear at Stuff Yourself Silly:Comedian-Jeffrey JosephContortionist-Lady HourglassNaughty Balloon Twister-Mistress B Sideshow Magician-Nelson LugoFire Performer-Sasha Fire GypsyMind Reader-Christopher BolterHosted by: The Professa, Adam The First Real ManWith his sidekicks Mr. Drake and Kryssy Kocktail$13http://shop.coneyisland.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=136 In advance or at the door.http://www.coneyisland.com/." 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., $13, For more info and to RSVP go here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=299331836761005

Upright Citizens Brigade Macy's Day Before Thanksgiving Parade Performance
From UCB, "This is not a show about that parade. This is a show about the Macy's Day-BEFORE-Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's a totally different parade. It's like...better." UCB Theater East, 153 E 3rd St (between Ave's A and B), tkts are $5 and can be bought here: http://east.ucbtheatre.com/performances/view/21215

November 23 through 27, 2011
The Empire State Building will be lit red, orange and yellow in celebration of Thanksgiving.

Thursday, November 24, 2011-HAPPY TURKEY DAY!
Enjoy a feast! Check out a list of NYC Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving: http://gonyc.about.com/od/thanksgivingdinner/New_York_City_Restaurants_Serving_Thanksgiving_Dinner.htm

These attractions are open on Thanksgiving:
Central Park Zoo
Circle Line 2 Hour Semi-Circle Cruise & 3 Hour Full Island Cruise
Ellis Island
Empire State Building
Madame Tussauds' Wax Museum
Statue of Liberty
Top of the Rock Observation Deck

Thanksgiving Day Marathon
If you want to get a jump on burning calories before the big meal, and don’t mind an early-morning schlep to the Bronx, then you can participate in the 2nd annual Thanksgiving Day Marathon! 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., free, details here: http://thethanksgivingmarathon.com/

Free Accidentals Concert (part of Target Free Thursdays Concert Series)
See the Accidentals perform a free concert in the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, 8:30 p.m., free!

Guide to Thanksgiving volunteering gigs from my friends at Time Out New York: http://newyork.timeout.com/things-to-do/55671/thanksgiving-volunteering?packa592453ge=

Cooking the bird yourself? Check out these tips from Readers' Digest!
http://www.rd.com/slideshows/12-thanksgiving-turkey-tips/?trkid=NL-13H-111116w

New York Mag's take on T-Day!
http://nymag.com/guides/holidays/thanksgiving/?mid=twitter_nymag

Tired of Tofurkey? Try these options!
http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/whats-a-good-entree-for-a-veganvegetarian-thanksgiving/?smid=tw-nytimesdining&seid=auto

Brokelyn's T-Day Under $35 Guide:
http://www.brokelyn.com/thanksgiving-out-still-under-35-a-head/

And some peanut butter treats from Peanut Butter and Co.
http://www.facebook.com/PeanutButterCo?sk=app_204567929596684

Friday November 25, 2011
Evacuation Day Walking Tour
Fraunces Tavern Museum is holding an Evacuation Day Walking Tour. From the museum website, “New York City had been the main base for the British for over 7 years of war. On November 25th, 1783, they filed onto their ships to leave for good; the War for Independence was finally over. Led by licensed New York City Tour Guide, Fred Cookinham, you will follow in the footsteps of General Washington & his troops as they entered New York in triumph. Picture Fraunces Tavern and the surrounding neighborhood as it looked over 200 chosen to be on?” s. Tickets in advance are required. The tour runs from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is $20 for non-museum-members, and $15 for museum members, and may be purchased and may be purchased here: http://frauncestavernmuseum.org/mus_cal.html

Housing Works' Black Friday Happy Hour
Need a place to rest your feet after a day of shopping? Grab a beer, board game and grilled cheese at Housing Works! http://www.housingworks.org/events/detail/friday-night-happy-hour1, and while you're there check out their Black Friday sale! http://www.housingworks.org/events/detail/black-friday-blowout-sale1

Black Friday Fashion sales!
http://www.refinery29.com/nyc-black-friday-sales

Old Navy Extravaganza!
http://gobblepalooza.com/

And Other NYC Sales!
http://www.thecheapgirl.com/2010/11/24/nyc-black-friday-deals-for-top-shop-jcpenney-old-navy-target-macys-forever-21-kmart-sears-aeropostale/

Time Out New York Black Friday Guide! http://newyork.timeout.com/shopping-style/shopping/2247793/sample-sales-and-shopping-events-november-24%E2%80%9330-2011

Don't foget that MOMA is free from 4p.m. to 8 p.m. today!

And The Museum of the Chinese in theAmericas is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.!

Tired of turkey and shopping? Brooklyn Boel is offering free Black Friday bowling today! http://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/77925/

Saturday November 26, 2011
Great Indoor Turkey Burnoff-Indoor 3K
Participants will be timed for two miles on the treadmill. The runner with the fastest time wins! 8 a.m., Asser Levy Recreation Center, 23rd Street to 25th Street, and FDR Drive, free!

85 Years of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade-Museum Exhibit (starts today and runs through January 16, 2012
This exhibit features photos, posters, snow globes and models of Parade balloons commemorating the parade's, as well as illustrations from Melissa Sweet's Balloons Over Broadway, and the story of Tony Sarg, the puppeteer of the Macy's parade. You will also be able to view newsreel clips of patades past and learn trivia about the big event! Children's Museum of Manhattan, Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Sreet, $11 admission! Cheap Chick Cheap Tip: It's free on the first Friday of the month!

Weekends in November, head down to the Prospect Park Zoo to meet their very own turkey Franklin! At 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., free with zoo admission!

And anytime pay a free visit to the National Museum of the American Indian!
http://nmai.si.edu/


Monday November 28, 2011-Happy Cyber Monday!
Find some great NYC deals here! http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/11/10/holiday-shopping-online-sites-for-cyber-monday-and-beyond/

Tired from all that mouse-clicking? Get free spa treatments at Nina's European Day Spa's Shopping Recovery Party! There will be free skincare consultations, free bikini, underarm, and brow or lip waxing, and a free 15-min facial with pumpkin exfoliation! Plus gift cards will be 50 percent off and you can enter a raffle drawing for a $250 gift card to the spa! 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Nina's European Day Spa, Five West 35th Street, free!