FEASTS
Hornblower Thanksgiving Dining Cruises
Nov. 24. Enjoy Thanksgiving brunch or supper aboard Hornblower Cruises. Take in the beautiful views while indulging at a Thanksgiving buffet. 11:30 a.m., 4 p.m. Brunch $67.95 adults, $40.77 children ages 4-12; Dinner $90.95 adults, $54.57 children ages 4-12. 2431 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 310.301.9900. hornblower.com
Dockside Dining at The Ritz Prime Seafood
Nov. 24. Indulge on an elegantly prepared holiday feast from chef George Neyra and his kitchen team. With views of Mariner’s Mile accompanying the meal, begin with a seasonal kale salad. Second course options include chestnut soup with lobster and black truffle or squash agnolotti with pumpkin seeds and asiago cheese. Main course selections are braised short rib with celery root puree; maple-glazed wild salmon with cipollini onions; or heritage breed turkey breast and leg confit with cinnamon cranberry sauce and classic gravy. Entrees are accompanied by a selection of hearty sides such as traditional brioche dressing, potato-cheddar gratin and baby turnips with pearl onions. Don’t forget the pies—choose from pumpkin, pecan or orchard apple. 4-8 p.m. $79. The Ritz Prime Seafood, 2801 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach, 949.720.1800. ritzprimeseafood.com
Island Hotel Thanksgiving Brunch
Nov. 24. Savor Thanksgiving classics in Island Hotel’s ballroom. Seasonal dining offerings include free-range turkey, carved-to-order prime rib, a seafood station, a create-your-own risotto station and of course champagne to wash it all down. Enjoy live music as well as crafts for children. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $80 adults, $20 children ages 5-12. Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.760.4913. islandhotel.com
Thanksgiving Champagne Buffet
Nov. 24. Sip Champagne and enjoy an ocean view with your Thanksgiving feast this year. Enjoy live entertainment, Thanksgiving favorites and an entree selection that includes items like apple-crusted pork loin with sundried fruit and maple glaze reduction. Create your own gourmet macaroni and cheese with assorted cheeses, shrimp, bacon, wild mushrooms, basil pesto and more. 1:30-6 p.m. Adults $99; Children 6-12 $40. Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, 949.487.7516. lagunacliffs.com
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Thanksgiving Buffet
Nov. 24. Skip the prep work and the cleanup—head to the Vista Ballroom at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach for a grand Thanksgiving dinner buffet. Indulge on all the traditional sides, zesty salads, seasoned meats and sweet treats. Start your dinner of endless choices with freshly shucked blue point oysters with mignonette then move on to the stand-out, brown sugar-mustard brushed baked ham with orange clove glaze. To satisfy that sweet tooth, try the farmer’s market dry harvest apple cobbler or indulge in the vanilla bread pudding with spiced crème anglaise. Reservations required. 12-6 p.m. Adults $75, children ages 4-12 $25. 21500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.845.4893. huntingtonbeach.regency.hyatt.com
Three-Seventy Common Kitchen + Drink
Nov. 24. Let chef/owner of Three-Seventy Common, Ryan Adams, and his team prepare the perfect Thanksgiving feast. Enjoy three delicious courses with traditional sides. Black pepper thyme Parker House rolls with spiced butter, roasted free-range turkey with thyme gravy and sage sausage stuffing and candied yams with marshmallows and pecans are just a few of the drool-worthy menu options. 1-8 p.m. Adults $52; Children 10 and under $26. Plus tax and gratuity. 370 Glenneyre, Laguna Beach, 949.494.8686. 370common.com
Fleming’s First Thanksgiving
Nov. 24. Fleming’s will host its first ever Thanksgiving Day feast in the form of a four-course prix-fixe menu. Start with an amuse bouche for the table to share. Choose to start with either Fleming’s salad or lobster bisque and for the main course, savor a classic herb roasted turkey breast served with all the trimmings. For dessert, choose between pumpkin cheesecake or a three-layer carrot cake. Fleming’s popular full menu will also be served for those craving prime steaks or fresh seafood. A three-course children’s menu will also be available. 11 a.m. to close. $39.95 adults, $19.95 children 12 and under. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 455 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.720.9633. flemingsteakhouse.com
Oak Grill Thanksgiving Feast
Nov. 24. Relax under the oak trees while savoring a delectable four-course holiday menu. Highlights include traditional carved turkey, roasted filet mignon and wild salmon, plus traditional desserts created by pastry chef Andy de la Cruz. Gather around the table with friends and family to enjoy the best part of Thanksgiving this year—not doing any dishes. Call for reservations. 4-9 p.m. Adults $90; Children 5-12 $35; 4 and under free. Oak Grill, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.760.4920. oakgrillnb.com
Back Bay Bistro
Nov. 24. Feast with your eyes and your stomach at a beautiful waterfront Thanksgiving dinner with Back Bay Bistro. Buffet offerings include carved-to-order slow roasted turkey and New York strip with walnut stuffing, cranberry relish, au jus, herb gravy and creamy horseradish. Indulge on additional items like crab cakes, macaroni and cheese, corn bread and fresh roasted corn off the cob. No Thanksgiving feast is complete without dessert—pumpkin pie, caramelized apple pie, pecan pie and a chocolate fountain are just some of the sweet endings available. 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Adults $48; Children 10 and under $22. 1131 Back Bay Dr., Newport Beach, 949.729.1144. newportdunes.com
Del Frisco’s Grille
Nov. 24. Skip the prep work this Thanksgiving and feast on a chef-prepared spread. The three-course Thanksgiving prix-fixe menu at Del Frisco’s Grille includes an appetizer, main course and desser. Menu highlights include deviled eggs with truffle chive vinaigrette, sliced roast turkey and trimmings and pumpkin cheesecake. See website for full menu. $42. 772 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, 949.341.0376. delfriscosgrille.com
Mesa
Nov. 24. Head to Mesa this Thanksgiving for libations, live entertainment and leftover sliders (duck confit with pommel puree, gravy and cranberry sauce). Sip on specialty cocktail, o’mai captain, made with pumpkin rum, ginger, allspice, orange and lime while enjoying the tunes of Wet Hand Dan. Don’t forget the pumpkin cheesecake! 9 p.m.-2 a.m. No cover; food and beverage items individually priced. 725 Baker St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.6700. mesacostamesa.com
Thanksgiving at EATS Kitchen & Bar
Nov. 24. Pull up a chair for some traditional Thanksgiving favorites with signature twists. Feast on items like braised short rib, oven-roasted turkey, kabocha squash soup, roasted pork and much more. 5-9 p.m. $39. Hotel Irvine, 17900 Jamboree Road, Irvine, 949.225.6780. eatskitchen.com
Bistango
Listen to live music while enjoying a three-course Thanksgiving dinner. Choose from roasted organic turkey or bourbon-glazed ham complete with all the fixin’s. Top off your meal with a pecan-crusted pumpkin cheesecake or chocolate raspberry truffle cake with raspberry sauce. 1-8 p.m.; live music 5-9 p.m. $42 adults, $19 children. 19100 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.752.5222. bistango.com
Zov’s Thanksgiving To-Go
Step away from the kitchen this holiday season and order your Thanksgiving feast to-go from Zov’s Bistro. Made to serve 12-15 people, the all-inclusive gourmet feast includes items like wild mushroom and jasmine rice stuffing with black currants, maple-glazed roasted yams, garlic mashed potatoes and sage gravy. Must order by Nov. 16. Pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 23 between 1-5 p.m. $450. Zov’s Bistro, 17440 E. 17th St., Tustin, 714.838.8855. zovs.com
FITNESS
Turkey Burn
Nov. 24. What better way to prep for Thanksgiving than a fitness bootcamp? CycleBar Laguna Hills, a premium indoor cycling studio that offers a high energy workout in a concert like atmosphere, in conjunction with Total Training Orange County, a high-intensity interval training gym, will host two, 75-minute “Turkey Burn” workouts. Get ready to experience a workout with killer music, a DJ booth, energy-enhancing graphics and rider-specific performance data, all while set in a state-of-the-art, IMAX-Style CycleTheatre. In the spirit of giving, monetary donations (a minimum of $25) and/or donation of non-perishable items in support of the OC Food Bank will be accepted. 7 a.m.-8:15 a.m., 8:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m. CycleBar Laguna Hills, 26534 Moulton Parkway, Suite A, Laguna Hills, 949.220.2517. lagunahills.cyclebar.com
Burn The Bird
Nov. 25. Enjoy a Thanksgiving feast first, burn the calories and the guilt after. Join Life TIme Athletic Laguna Niguel for a specialty post-Thanksgiving 90-minute workout. The “Burn The Bird” workout will start with a 30-minute EDG cycle class— an energetic and results-driven class that will challenge you with intense drills set to motivating music. And next—a 30-minute Kettlebell Kombine class, a full-body workout designed to improve endurance, flexibility and body strength using kettlebells. The final portion of “Burn The Bird” will be the Booty Blast, in which instructors will utilize their individual creativity, skills and talent to craft a workout for you. 9:30-11 a.m. Free. 25600 Rancho Niguel Road, Laguna Niguel, 949.238.2719. lifetimefitness.com
Turkey Trot
Nov. 24. Burn some calories before you feast with the annual Thanksgiving Day run, which takes you through the beautiful beaches, cliffs and coves of Dana Point. Bring the kids to participate in a mini-trot of their own. 6-11 a.m. $35-$50; Kids’ Gobble Wobble 1-mile race, $15-$25. Golden Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.1555. turkeytrot.com
Plymouth Rock ‘N’ Run
Nov. 24. Earn your Thanksgiving calories by starting the day with a 5k- or 10k-course around the perimeter of the Yorba Regional Park and the Santa Ana River bike trail. There will be live music throughout the run as well as prizes, food, a finish line festival and a 1k kids fun run for ages 12 and under. Race start times: 10K (timed) 7 a.m.; 5K (timed & untimed) 8 a.m.; kids 1K fun run (untimed) 9 a.m.; tot trot 9 a.m.. $15-$50. Yorba Regional Park, 7600 E. La Palma Ave, Anaheim, 714.779.7833. plymouthrocknrun.com
FESTIVITIES
Winter Fantasy
Weekends beginning Nov. 19. The Sawdust Festival grounds are transformed into a winter wonderland. See 175 artists display and sell their creations as holiday gifts. Enjoy food, live holiday entertainment, art classes, a petting zoo and of course—Santa Claus. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $7. 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.494.3030. sawdustartfestival.org
Queen Mary’s Chill
Nov. 23-Jan. 8. Experience frozen magic as The Queen Mary is overtaken by a deep freeze for the fifth annual Chill. In addition to ice skating, ice tubing, sleigh rides and visits with Santa, jump in on a new interactive and immersive experience—Alice in Winterland. The re-imagination of the classic Lewis Carroll story features stunning, larger than life lanterns as you follow Alice and her adventure into the Hall of Doors, the White Rabbit’s kitchen, Mad Hatter’s work shop, the proverbial tea party and much more. See website for select dates and times. $39.99, Children ages 4-11 $29.99. Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, 877.342.0752. queenmary.com
Newport Dunes Lighting of The Bay
Nov. 25-27. Jump right into the holidays and enjoy the lighting of the bay. Entertainment includes live performances by OC Children’s Song Group and Corona del Mar High School Choir. Don’t miss Santa—he will arrive on Friday night for the lighting of the bay at 5:30 p.m. See website for full weekend schedule. Free. 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, 800.765.7661. newportdunes.com