HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO GET YOU THROUGH THE REST OF THANKSGIVING WEEKEND (TURKEYPOCALYPSE)

  

Thanksgiving: it's a holiday weekend that really starts with a bang on Thursday, but leaves us having to figure out what to do with our stuffing-stuffed selves for the next few days. Here are some helpful hints of what to do post the Turkeypocalpyse: 

I hate leftovers. I mean, I can eat Thanksgiving Round 2 about 12 hours after I consumed it the first time, but then what? God knows there’s more turkey and fixin’s than I can shake a stick at, and dagwood sandwiches are looking kinda' meh at this point.

Martha Stewart has of course thought of about 2,000 ways to correct our little problem (along with inventing a lot of problems we didn’t even know we had). Here are 35 OF HER BEST-LOOKING POST-THANKSGIVING LEFTOVER RECIPES. Here are my personal favorites of the bunch: 

-Pocket Pies: who doesn’t want all that yummy-ness baked into a fatty piece of dough? Carbception.

-Penne with Goat Cheese, Kale, Olives, and Turkey: I like my leftovers to look nothing like they did the first time around. Turkey and pasta could be a stretch, but I’ll take my chances.

-Cranberry Pancakes: Sounds like the perfect hangover combo after finishing all the Thanksgiving wine.

-Turkey-Poblano Tostadas: Who doesn’t love a tostada?

-Turkey and Sweet Potato Hash: For you salty-sweet combo people. 

I would venture to say that most of us have an embarrassing amount of canned food and non-perishables left over from an Irene/Thanksgiving combo... and really, when did I think I was going to need to survive on lima beans? (all the vodka is already gone though). That being said, this is a great time to focus on replenishing ourfoodbanks, pantries and soup kitchens (especially the many that are right here in our hood). Use the Food Bank NYC’s website to find the closest spot to donate your leftover food, cash or spend some time serving Brooklyn’s needy families. Give thanks for what you have by giving some away.

So you’ve eaten, and are equal parts bloated and wanting to snack. Beat the bloat and boredom by walking the park. Not only are you gonna' burn some major calories, you’ll get to enjoy one of the last decent weekends before Brooklyn becomes a frozen tundra for the next 4 months.

You’ve walked the park a million times before…I know. To spice up your trek, use one of these self-guided walking TOURS from the Prospect Park website. I have actually done one of these and it was pretty fun, and I only got lost for a total of 15 minutes. They’ve got 3 different trails to walk, so pick one and lead your urban tribe/family/strangers on a little autumnal adventure.

 

You may start to get cabin fever and/or need to drink to forget the awkwardness of some family interaction? Well, you’re in luck. There are two new bars in the Slope: Wolf + Deer and Uncle Barry’s. Conveniently, they’re within stumbling distance from one another. So beat the holiday doldrums and/or avoid Black Friday madness by popping in and having a drink.

-  WOLF AND DEER 74 5^th Ave (between St. Marks and Prospect Pl.)

-  UNCLE BARRY’S 58 5^th Ave (between St. Marks and Bergen)

There’s no fucking way I’d ever find myself in Manhattan in some god-forsaken American Eagle on Black Friday. It’s pretty much the worst day of the year to navigate and travel around the city (it's runner up to the Puerto Rican Day Parade Day).

BUT if you still need to start holiday shopping, you’ve got the day off of work and you’re willing to venture into the outside world -- instead of heading to the city, here are three unconventional shops to hit up on Black Friday, all right here in the hood:

URBAN ALCHEMIST: At Urban Alchemist, you find a myriad of quirky accessories, handmade baubles made by Brooklyn guys and gals, and off-beat home décor…at pretty decent prices. 343 5^th St. (at 5^th Ave.) 

COMMUNITY BOOKSTORE: To buy the perfect holiday gift for the discerning reader in your life, hit up the Community Bookstore. They’ve got a well-curated selection of all kinds of literary goodness (and there are cute animals roaming around this quaint spot). 143 7^th Ave.

BOB + JUDI’S: Antique trinkets, jewelry, vintage apothecary goods and Brooklyn memorabilia are the highlights at this boutique. What they don’t have in square footage, they make-up for in charm. The store is almost always manned by Bob and Judy themselves. 217 5^th Ave. (between Union St. and President St.)

Hope this helps in the effort to get you off your ass this weekend!