Our Friendsgiving Guide For Less Stress, More Fun (And Other Headlines)

It’s Food Friday! This week, it’s all about Friendsgiving.

Sure, Thanksgiving gets a lot of attention. But there’s something extra special about a dinner party dedicated to your friends – your chosen family – that really drives the holiday home for me.

Grateful for gathering friends

Think about it this way: these are people who willingly put up with your nonsense every day. No familial obligations. That says a lot.

But hosting Friendsgiving can be a little stressful. Especially if you have no idea what you’re doing. From meal prep to playlist building, there’s a lot to do and not a lot of time.

Lucky for you, our associate editor of food and culture Gab Chabrán has a list of 25 tips for a flawless Friendsgiving. Some of my favorites:

• Pick a date that works for you. (Doesn’t even have to be in November.)
• Spreadsheets are your friend. (So friends can sign up for what dishes they’ll bring.) 
• The camera eats first. (For memories! Not Instagram. Okay, maybe both.) 

Check out Gab’s full list here.

More Thanksgiving food tips you’ll be thanking us for:

• Where To Get Your Thanksgiving Feast If You Hate Turkey
• Need A Thanksgiving Gluten-Free Or Vegan Pie? Here's Where To Buy One (or Many) In LA
• Want A Healthy Thanksgiving, But Can't Cook? These Recipes Are For You

Stay thankful, L.A. There’s more news below — just keep reading.

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More news

(After you stop hitting snooze)

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• Timeline To Reopen 10 Freeway Is Reduced To Nov. 21 Before Thanksgiving
• Live Near The Tustin Hangar Fire? Here’s The Latest On The Cleanup
• Utilities Commission Votes To Cut Some Rooftop Solar Incentives
• TV Shows To Watch This Weekend: 'Julia' Season 2, 'The Crown' Season 6' & 'Scott Pilgrim Takes Off'

Wait! One more thing...

Or things... to do this weekend

Holiday season lights, seen here in 2022, return to the at The Mission Inn Festival of Lights in Riverside on Nov. 18.

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David McNew/Getty Images

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Getty Images North America

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If you like to keep it cozy with a blanket and some hot tea, you’re in luck. We’re expecting some more rain this weekend.

But if you’d rather get out and do something, don’t worry! There’s still plenty of stuff happening around Los Angeles. Just don’t forget your umbrella.

We’ve got a full list of weekend events for you. Here are some (free) highlights:

• Desire, Knowledge, and Hope (with Smog) at The Broad (Opening celebration Saturday at 10:00 a.m.): Desire, Knowledge, and Hope (with Smog) is a new exhibition drawn entirely from The Broad's collection, featuring works by L.A.-based artists. Taking its title from a John Baldessari piece, the museum’s first-floor galleries include 21 artists including Doug Aitken, Lari Pittman, Catherine Opie and Mike Kelley, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Sayre Gomez, and Joe Ray.
• 31st Annual Festival of Lights at The Mission Inn, Riverside (Opens Saturday at 5:00 p.m.): Millions of lights illuminate The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, which is decked out in its holiday best with animated angels, elves, and holiday decor. Guests and performers at the opening public event include Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray, Skip Martin of the Dazz Band, and Kool & The Gang; Tommy Tutone and Cheech Marin.
• 44th Occasional Doo Dah Parade in Pasadena (Sunday at 11:00 a.m.): Known as the "twisted sister" to the pomp, circumstance, and hoopla of the Rose Parade, the Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade has become known for its irreverent satire and eccentric marchers. The parade returns to its original route this weekend beginning on Raymond Avenue in Old Pasadena at Holly Street, then heading south two blocks, turning right onto Colorado Boulevard, and ending at Pasadena Avenue.

Bonus: What are you doing at 10 a.m. today? Oh, I know: tuning into LAist 89.3 FM for a new episode of Larry Mantle’s FilmWeek!

This one features Taika Waititi. You know, the Academy Award-winning writer and director of the new comedy, Next Goal Wins. Larry and Taika chat about an unusual casting technique for the film, the importance of comedy, and how Hollywood is still struggling to bring indigenous voices to the fore.

If you miss today’s episode, you can catch FilmWeek on 89.3 Saturday at noon. You can also download the FilmWeek podcast.

As always, there’s plenty more to do and learn about at LAist.com. If I don’t catch you at that Doo Dah parade, have a great weekend!