What is Thanksgiving in Los Angeles like?

November 21, 2014 5:54 AM

My wife and I (from Toronto) will be in Los Angeles all next week. Being Canadian, we only realized yesterday that this means we'll be there on Thanksgiving weekend.

Two questions:

1. What is LA like on Thanksgiving weekend? Busy? Packed? Kind of empty? I'm not a big shopper but my wife has definitely made some kidding-not-kidding comments about Black Friday.

2. Any suggestions on things we must do both this coming week and over Thanksgiving?

posted by renderthis to Travel & Transportation around Los Angeles, CA (17 answers total)

There's the Hollywood Christmas parade and a Turkey Trot.
posted by brujita at 6:13 AM on November 21, 2014

None of the tourist attractions (museums, etc) are open but Disneyland, Universal and Knotts are, so that might be an option if you were thinking about doing any theme parks. Roads will be relatively clear. If you're thinking about dinner reservations on Thanksgiving, make them now (seriously) - I happen to know that there are a few available by the beach if you want a traditional thanksgiving dinner (use open table for reservations). Otherwise, things are going to be VERY quiet.

As for Black Friday, it totally depends on what she's looking for and where you're staying. You can feel free to me mail me. I'm around all Thanksgiving week, was born here and have a pretty clear lay of the land.
posted by Sophie1 at 6:40 AM on November 21, 2014

Avoid the damn malls and Disneyland, that's for sure. But the weather's supposed to be lovely and the LA Zoo is open on Thanksgiving.
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:43 AM on November 21, 2014 [2 favorites]

It won't be universally true, but assume that most daily-life things like supermarkets will be closed for at least most of the day. If you're renting an apartment, rather than staying in a hotel, I'd make sure you have what you need for the day ahead of time.
posted by jaguar at 6:57 AM on November 21, 2014

Best answer: It's been over 10 years since I've Thanksgiving'ed in Los Angeles. But I remember one year pretty distinctly. My husband and I had planned nothing and at the last minute decided to go see if we could find a place to eat out on Thanksgiving. The streets were staggeringly deserted. We ended up at some dive bar in Marina Del Rey, playing pool and eating a very diner-esque turkey dinner. I have never seen Los Angeles so deserted or quiet.

I would not be surprised if there are restaurants doing a turkey day special dinner though you may be a bit late to get a reservation. If you are staying in that evening, make sure to get some dinner provisions (of any sort) the day before or in the morning.
posted by amanda at 7:04 AM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Best answer: In my experience, there will be a number of grocery stores and similar "general goods" places that will close early in the day (maybe noon), if they're open at all. But there are some places that are always open, so you won't be starving if you don't have enough ahead of time.

Regarding Black Friday, if you or your wife are at all serious about it, plan ahead. What do you really want, are the sales actually significant sales, and can you buy it online instead? Many stores will publish what is on sale days to weeks ahead of Black Friday, so you can virtually shop around and possibly save yourselves the stress of the early morning crush.

Malls will be madness, and the biggest sale items are likely to go fast. But if you're interested in less popular items, you could possibly stroll in a few hours later, after the chaos has subsided a bit, and still pick up good deals.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:30 AM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Long-time Los Angeles resident here. This is my opinion:

Thanksgiving is very quiet here. It's a lovely day to go to the beach, or up to the mountains for the day.

Large chain grocery stores will be open in the morning. Most will be closed in the afternoon for a while and open again in the evening. Unfortunately, most large shops will be open, forcing their minimum-wage employees to give up a holiday with their families. I refuse to shop on Thanksgiving for this reason. Any deals worth having in stores will also be available online. YMMV.

It is far too late to try to get a reservation at a "nice" restaurant for Thanksgiving Dinner, but should be able to find lots of small ethnic restaurants open and happy to have your business.

Go to the Hollywood Christmas Parade on Sunday. To get the best possible seats, go to the Pig and Whistle earlier in the day, get an outdoor table, and sit there snacking, drinking, and relaxing until parade time. Just keep ordering small things to keep the staff happy. Tip well.

I avoid Black Friday like the plague, so I can't help you there. Black Friday is the day we stay home, eat leftovers, and decorate for Christmas.
posted by erst at 7:42 AM on November 21, 2014

There's the Doo Dah Parade tradition, but unfortunately it's already come and gone this year.
posted by blucevalo at 7:43 AM on November 21, 2014

The Doo-Dah is early every year these days. It's also over in East Pasadena rather than right in Old Town.

Anyway, Thanksgiving in SoCal is a great day to golf, usually, if you and your wife happen to be duffers.
posted by notyou at 7:57 AM on November 21, 2014

Best answer: Delis will be packed on Thanksgiving. Seconding beaches, and in particular exploring the bike paths. The Hollywood Christmas Parade is a good idea, too.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:25 AM on November 21, 2014

Oh, and it always helps if you can give us a general idea of where you're staying and if you'll have a car.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:28 AM on November 21, 2014

Response by poster: Thanks so far everyone. This is fantastic.

We'll be in West Hollywood for the first part of the week, and Santa Monica for the second part. We'll have a rental car the whole time.
posted by renderthis at 8:54 AM on November 21, 2014

Be aware, the Wednesday before the holiday, traffic will be MISERABLE. I'd recommend staying away from the freeways from 3pm on. Thanksgiving Day won't be bad though, everyone will have already gotten to where they're going by then.
posted by stennieville at 11:18 AM on November 21, 2014

Are you going to be in Santa Monica on Thanksgiving? They're doing something at the 3rd Street Promenade with snow. Or maybe they're bubbles? Surprisingly little information on it but it's probably going to look cool whatever it is if you're down that way.
posted by Room 641-A at 1:03 PM on November 22, 2014

Grocery stores will he open on Thanksgiving Day but they will be absolutely packed with people who forgot to get cranberry sauce, etc. If you must go, the earlier the better. Markets generally open at 6am. Don't even attempt to go somewhere like Disneyland, this week is literally their busiest week of the year. You should be fine in more open places like the beach, although I can't speak for parking on that side of town.
posted by vignettist at 2:15 AM on November 23, 2014

If you're going to be in SM on Wednesday check out the Wednesday farmers market in downtown. It's world-renowned, and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is always a scene.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:10 PM on November 23, 2014

Everything will be closed, and I would absolutely avoid any Black Friday sales, unless you're into elbows in the face. Echoing the advice to do outdoorsy things (hikes, beaches, etc.) and avoid Disney. Also traffic on Wednesday will be terrible.
posted by ancillary at 5:50 PM on November 24, 2014