Potlucks and volunteer opps: Where to eat and serve in LA on Thanksgiving Day 2012

Whether you're on your own this Thanksgiving or you're looking to widen your holiday get-together, a number of restaurants and clubs are offering places for Angelenos to gather for the Thanksgiving feast. But before the feasting begins, be sure to check out the volunteer opportunities:

Gobble Gobble Give - Echo Park & Santa Monica

The grassroots Gobble Gobble Give campaign is both a volunteer and potluck event. This year there will be two in the L.A. area — one at Echo Park's epic "Echoplex" and the other at Santa Monica's The Raven Spa. Both are still seeking donations of food, clothes and other items (including DJ equipment and warm ovens to help prepare the food.) More info: Santa Monica | Echo Park)

Hornblower Cruises

Hornblower Cruises are offering Thanksgiving Day tours through Newport Harbor with a traditional Thanksgiving buffet, a boarding glass of champagne and live entertainment. Tickets are $81.95 per adult and cruise ships leave at 3 p.m. from 13755 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292 | More Information

Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck Picnic

Enjoy Southern California weather with an outdoor vegan Thanksgiving potluck. Bring a vegan dish to share, with a note card labeling the ingredients. Bring musical instruments if you might like to play. Bring frisbees, balls, and other park play items. Dining starts at 11 a.m. in Rancho Park, 2551 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90064 | More Information

Geoffrey’s in Malibu

Geoffrey's is serving a 3-course gourmet feast overlooking the ocean in Malibu. The many entree choices include roast turkey roulade stuffed with a spinach bread pudding and traditional sides; herb-crusted Atlantic salmon; grilled filet mignon with bleu cheese potatoes; roasted chicken breast with Brussel sprout ragout and mustard sauce, and more. Dinner is $56 for adults and $28 for children. Service goes from 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. 27400, Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265 | More Information

Thanksgiving at the Beach at Gladstones

Gladstones offers a three-course menu of Thanksgiving favorites with entree options including free-range turkey, ham, salmon or wild mushroom risotto overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The regular menu is also available. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. and Thanksgiving meals cost $45 per adult and $25 per child. 17300 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 | More Information

 The Original Pantry Café

Craving a late night turkey dinner? Working for the holiday? Sit down to an old-fashioned turkey dinner with all the trimmings in one of the city's original all-night diners. Dinners are $18.95 a plate at 877 S Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA. | More Information

The Laugh Factory

The Laugh Factory provides a free Thanksgiving dinner and live comedy show every year to comedians, actors, writers and anyone else who is alone for the holidays including the neighborhood homeless population. Seatings are at 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. No reservations. 8001 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90046 | More Information

Orphan Thanksgiving Potluck Picnic in the Park

This event is for all the LA Transplants that don't have family in town or any place to go to share a Thanksgiving meal with family or friends. LA Asian Foodies and LA Foodies can be part of your family. Brink a potluck dish to share and your own beverages. The meal starts at 11:45 a.m. in Brosnon Canyon in Griffith Park. 2800 Canyon Drive, Hollywood, CA. | More Information

Namasté Thanksgiving Feast & Social

Connect with your inner-spirit at the Namasté Center in Seal Beach. Dinner starts at 12 p.m. through the afternoon. All are welcome to join us for Namasté's 2nd annual Thanksgiving Day Celebration and Feast. 610 Pacific Coast Highway, Seal Beach, CA. | More Information

Thanksgiving Day Bike Ride from NoHo Metro Station to Chinatown

Burn some calories on your way to a thanksgiving feast with this meetup. Bike ride from North Hollywood Metro Station to Union Station in Chinatown should take about an hour-and-a-half. Followed by lunch at Hong Kong BBQ. Meet at the North Hollywood Metro Station at Lankershim and Chandler boulevards at 9:30 a.m. | More Information

Thanksgiving Potluck and Hike

Meet up at the Kadampa Meditation Center California for an informal vegetarian potluck, followed by a post-tofurky stroll in nearby Elysian Park.  Bring a dish to share or just bring yourself. Potluck starts at 2 p.m. at 1492 Blake Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90031. | More Information

Volunteer Opportunities

Thanksgiving Day Run and Food Drive

The city of La Canada hosts a 5k run and food drive to benefit the homeless on Thanksgiving. Includes a 1-mile kids run and family games and food. The registration fee is $35 and includes a t-shirt. The race begins at 8:30 at 1301 Foothill Blvd., La Canada, CA 91011. Please be there early to register. | More Information

Food on Foot

This Thanksgiving, volunteers can aid low-income and homeless families by volunteering to distribute a Thanksgiving meal. Volunteers and their donations will benefit these populations by providing them with a sleeping bag, nutritious meal and bus tokens. Register online at foodonfoot.org. Cost is $100 per person to provide materials. Meet at 2 p.m. at 1625 N. Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. | More Information

Fred Jordan Missions

Join the Fred Jordan Missions’ Thanksgiving Street Banquet. Members of the community will come together to feed thousands of homeless people for this holiday celebration. Families with few resources will be served a hearty turkey dinner with meal sides and refreshments. Volunteers help make this annual event successful by working as greeters, helping set up, assist with preparing meals, and clean up. Volunteers can take a morning or afternoon shift beginning at 8:30 a.m. and continuing until 4 p.m. The feast takes place at 445 Towne Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90013. | More Information

Know of any we missed? Let us know in the comments!