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Out and About: November 2013
Thanksgiving by the Numbers
Yes, Thanksgiving is a day for stuffing faces, football and the occasional 5K for the true overachiever, but what’s behind this holiday we all know and love? Here are some fun facts you may, or may not, know about Turkey Day. Gobble, gobble!
1863
The year Thanksgiving was officially declared a holiday by none other than President Abraham Lincoln.
2,020
Weight in pounds of the largest pumpkin pie. Baked in New Bremen, Ohio on October 8, 2005, the pie measured 12 feet and one inch long
3 million
The number of people who brave the cold streets of New York City to watch the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade. Add that to 50 million who watch the parade on TV from the comfort of their couch, and you’ve got quite a spectacle!
75
The amount of money Neal Page pays the taxi driver at the beginning of the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles after negotiating with the New York attorney with absolutely NO good nature. “Anyone who would pay 50 dollars for a cab would most certainly pay 75.”
15
The amount of time (in minutes) you should spend before bedtime jotting down a few things for which you are grateful. A recent study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being showed that this practice helped study subjects worry less, fall asleep faster and ultimately sleep better.
Cowboy Christmas
It’s that time of the year again. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, twinkling lights all over town, a chill in the air, and Wranglers…and cowboy hats, boots and honky-tonks. December is when that thing we call Rodeo takes over the city for a few weeks and the whole place goes from big city feel to a little country haywire. Admittedly, the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is known around these parts for being more of a spectator sport for the thousands of fans it draws to The Strip (and may be a reason for us locals to avoid Las Vegas Blvd. for a while), but we can think of at least one awesome side effect of this country fever: Cowboy Christmas.
Held in over 300,000 square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Rd., this is the cowboy answer to Disneyland or FAO Schwartz for those lovers of leather and worshipers of western wear. Over 400 vendors can provide you with your weight in holiday gifts, and maybe even some décor for that Old Western themed room you’ve been trying to finish. Whatever it is you’re looking for, if it’s by way of John Wayne or Wyatt Earp, this is the place to go. Cowboy Christmas runs in tandem with the NFR from December 5 – 14. Visit www.nfrexperience.com for more information.
Mojito Tropico
2 oz. Cruzan Guava rum
1 oz. Cream of coconut
1 ½ oz. Freshly squeezed lime juice (strained)
¾ oz. Monin hibiscus syrup
6-7 Large, fresh mint leaves
2 oz. Carbonated water
Garnish: Toasted coconut, Sugar cane & Mint sprig
Glass: Collins glass
Muddle, build in glass and rocked over ice once completed.
Recipe courtesy of Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House in the MGM Grand
Did You Know?
The almighty Turducken – a duck, stuffed into a deboned chicken, stuffed into a deboned turkey with a layer of stuffing in between each bird – gained popularity on modern day Thanksgiving spreads when NFL voice John Madden gave it to the winning team in the “Thanksgiving Bowl.” The history of bird stuffing, however, dates all the way back to the 1800’s when chef Grimod de La Reniere stuffed 17 birds to create the Roti sans pareil. The birds? Warbler, ortolan, lark, thrush, quail, lapwing, plover, partridge, woodcock, teal, guinea fowl, duck, chicken, pheasant, goose, turkey and, finally, a bustard.
The Must Do List
Editor’s Picks
November 9
fresh52’s Autumn Harvest Festival
November is one of our favorite months, and is the perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and food of the season. The fresh52 Autumn Harvest Festival offers up seasonal produce from local farmers, baked goods, gourmet olive oils, salsas, sauces, nuts and more. Basically, at its core, it’s a festival full of “yum” and an awesome way to support local businesses while filling up on (mostly) healthy, chemical/pesticide free treats. On top of that, the Harvest Festival features a chili cook-off, petting zoo, live entertainment and beer truck among other fun additions. At a grand total of free it’s an ideal and all-around wholesome way to spend a Saturday with the family. The festival runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.fresh52.com for more information.
November 15 – January 6
Glittering Lights
Over a million people have enjoyed just as many lights in the past 13 years of this well-known holiday event (formerly Gift of Lights at Sunset Park). Gather the little ones or a special someone for a unique and romantic date night, and make your way out to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7000 N. Las Vegas Blvd., to really get in the holiday mood. Starting this year, enjoy a Living Nativity scene put on by United Methodist Church and drive down the Avenue of Trees – 80 different Christmas trees symbolic of the charities benefitting from the nearly six-week-long event. At t he cost of $20 per car on weekends and $15 on weeknights, this is a fun event to attend as a group. Visit www.glitteringlightslasvegas.com for more information.
November 22 – January 6
Magical Forest
Another great way to enjoy the holiday season with family and friends is to visit the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village, 6300 W. Oakey Blvd, including the Gingerbread House Display and The Night Before Christmas 3D Experience. We love this long-time event not only because of the beautiful lights, fun entertainment and other “warm & fuzzies,” but also because of the charity and worthy cause behind the holiday staple that draws over 75,000 people annually. Named one of the nation’s top five rehabilitation service providers in the U.S. by the Social Security Administration, Opportunity Village has given a great deal to our community, including special family events like this one. Visit www.opportunityvillage.org or call (702) 262-1550 for more information.
December 7-8, 14-15, 21-22
Santa Train in Boulder City
Meeting Santa is pretty high up on the list of things children love and remember for many years to come. A very close second to that is riding on a train, so the annual Santa Train in Boulder City is sure to be a nostalgic experience for parents and a memorable one for the kids. Weekends in December offer this fun ride from the Nevada State Railroad Museum, 600 Yucca St., complete with a visit from St. Nick and Mrs. Claus. Kids can also write letters and place them in Santa’s mailbox before or after the trip. Departure time is every hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with boarding 15 minutes prior and four out of the five rail cars are heated. Tickets are $5 per person. Before you depart, check out some of the other train paraphernalia from models to full-sized unrestored equipment at a train “bone yard.” Visit www.nevadasouthern.com or call (702) 486-5006 for more information.
December 20-21
“The Nutcracker”
Prepare to be moved and impressed. This is a full-length professional feature of beloved ballet The Nutcracker to be performed solely by children ages 4-19 years old. Produced by the Nevada School of Dance, the performances (7 p.m. on December 20 and 6 p.m. on December 21) at Faith Lutheran Performing Arts Center, 2015 S. Hualapai Way, promise to highlight the incredible talents of 76 young students in all the main and supporting roles of the ballet. A special showing at the final dress rehearsal on the morning of December 21 will host groups representing special needs children to enjoy the performance in a more casual setting. Visit www.showtix4u.com or call (702) 332-2211 for more information or to reserve seats.
Food Drives
For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy family, friends and great food. For some, however, it’s a day like many others in which food is hard to come by. Fortunately, incredible organizations all over our community spend time each year collecting food for these individuals and families that may otherwise not have access to it. Below are a few of those organizations sponsoring food drives around your neighborhood as you consider giving back.
Nevada Homeless Youth Plastic Drive
The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing assistance and resources to homeless teenagers in Southern Nevada hosts its Seventh Annual Plastic Food Drive through Tuesday, November 26.
– What to Donate: Fast food and grocery store gift card vouchers in $5 and $10 denominations.
– When: Gift cards may be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
– Where: William Fry Drop-In Center, located at 4981 Shirley St.
Comfort Foods with a Cause
B With A Twist Catering & Events is hosting a fine dining experience at its new location to help raise food donations for the Salvation Army. The public is invited to participate in the “Comfort Foods For a Cause” five course dinner. This event fills up at 50 guests so call (702) 373-9924 or email bwithatwist@yahoo.com to reserve.
– Cost: $25 (200 cans of food per person will be donated by B With A Twist)
– When: Thursday, November 14 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
– Where: B With A Twist Catering & Events, 9272 Tamarus Street, Suite 138
Help of Southern Nevada Turkey-A-Thon
If you find yourself looking at frozen turkeys for the holidays and will consider purchasing an extra, you can drop them off at the annual Turkey-A-Thon hosted by Help of Southern Nevada. The organization’s goal this year is to feed 1,200 families in need.
– What do Donate: Frozen turkey or fiscal donation
– When: November 21, 22 and 23
– Where: Locations to be announced after Nov. 1 at www.helpsonv.org.
Throw Your Own Food Drive
Something you might consider is throwing your own food drive. Whether it’s at your office (or throughout your office building), at your child’s school or through another social group, there are never too many donations for organizations working to provide food to those in need. Many local organizations like Three Square (www.threesquare.org) or Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada (www.catholiccharities.com) provide tips for throwing your own food drive and most needed items. A food drive can help to bring awareness to hunger in the area, so be sure to read up on current statistics and information to help spread the word. If you don’t have time to throw a food drive, a money donation to your organization of choice will also have an incredible impact on families in need in your neighborhood.
Small Business Saturday
Running a small business is no easy task, but that doesn’t stop your local dry cleaner, salon or corner restaurant from braving this world of roller coaster economies, government shut downs and every day stress. That’s why we love the premise behind the newest shopping day in November – the tasty leftover turkey and fixins between the frenzied shopping sandwich of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – Small Business Saturday. Just a few years old now, this shopping holiday after Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to focus all of our attention, and our dollars, on the small businesses in our communities to show them our appreciation for their hard work, employing our locals and giving our town the unique and different attributes we love.
We know many consider this yet another “Hallmark” holiday, created by a larger corporation to make more money, but we want to take the approach that it gives us an opportunity to do some good for our friends who work to run small businesses in our neighborhoods. This year, we encourage you to take an hour on Saturday with your family or friends to visit a small business you’ve never been to. Shop for Christmas presents for colleagues in your office (did you know 50% of the U.S. works for a small business?) or try out that restaurant you’ve been meaning to go to. Make a conscious effort to purchase from a small business – we know we will!
Brides Across America
The beginning of November is a time to show our pride and appreciation for those who have fought for our freedom as well as their families. On Veteran’s Day, November 11, many will head to the streets for the largest Veteran’s Day Parade west of the Mississippi (right here in downtown Las Vegas – www.veteransparadelv.com) and it’s sure others will celebrate the three day weekend getting in one last BBQ before the weather becomes too cold. A local bridal shop, Couture Bridal (www.couturebridallv.com), will do something a little different to show their support this year by hosting Operation Wedding Gown in partnership with Brides Across America.
The event on Monday, November 11 plans to donate wedding gowns to the fiancés of military either currently deployed or deployed within the last five years to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Libya, Korea or Japan. To date, wedding boutiques across the nation have donated more than 8,000 gowns. If you or someone you know is interested in participating in this event, visit www. Bridesacrossamerica.com for more information on qualifying.
