Every Thanksgiving Day, Josh and Tran Wills hustle their kids from one family member’s house to another, where the crowd is generally engaged in the usual holiday pastimes.
But not this year.
“We don’t like football or turkey,” says Tran Wills, a Denver event promoter and mother of four. She wouldn’t mind eating sushi and seeing the new “Harry Potter” movie come Thanksgiving. “We’re going to start our own tradition.”
But holiday routines — and cultural pressures — can be hard to ignore. And sometimes the easiest path is simply to follow the herd.
Denverites willing to upend the status quo might consider the following ideas for making this Thanksgiving a respite from a tag team of turkey and touchdowns.
1. Hit the slopes
Although November tends to have unpredictable weather, this year several resorts have already reported great conditions. Arapahoe Basin’s 13,000-foot summit elevation tends to get a shimmery white blanket earlier than other ski mountains. Not to mention that skiing or snowboarding is a heartier way to spend the holiday than couch-surfing through the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
2. Take a trip
The otherwise forgettable 2008 yuletide film “Four Christmases” features a couple who take an exotic trip on Dec. 25 to escape their family. Why not turn Thanksgiving into a similar chance to live in the moment — and maybe even take dear old Dad along with you? Sign up for e-mail news alerts from travel websites and airlines to spot the best deals of the season. ‘s “Deal” page is updated daily, for example. Just have your bags packed ahead of time . . . being impulsive takes some planning.
3. Turkey, shmurkey
Scott Parker, head chef at Denver’s Table 6 restaurant, doesn’t mind turkey on Thanksgiving. But Parker says a tasty alternative is curing and smoking a ham for the occasion.
“Leftovers are the important part,” he says, and who could argue with a smoked-ham-and-cheese sandwich?
Dana Rodriguez, co-owner and sous chef at Rioja restaurant in Larimer Square, suggests marinating a pork leg or loin overnight in a blend of chipotle pepper paste, fresh pineapple, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Roast the meat at 300 degrees for 45 minutes and then cover with foil and place it back in the oven for 3 hours. Rodriguez recommends roasted potatoes and spinach salad with a pineapple vinaigrette for side dishes.
4. Give a worker a break
Each year, the Lutheran House for All Church oversees “Operation: Turkey Sandwich” to curb the appetites of people who work on Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers take hot sack lunches with turkey and as many fixings as can fit in a small bag — including pumpkin pie bars — to bus drivers, convenience store clerks and other hardworking Denverites. Volunteers can help with the cooking the day and night before Thanksgiving, or they can hand out the freshly prepared meals on the holiday itself. Last year, the congregation handed out 225 portable meals. Visit house for information.
5. Hooray for Hollywood
November is the time of year when the movie industry releases its Oscar- worthy films. So instead of watching gridiron athletes, why not take in “127 Hours” (based on the true story of Aspen’s own Aron Ralston), “Conviction,” “The Social Network” or “Burlesque,” all of which could be battling for Oscar glory come January. And, if the weather outside happens to be frightful, cable providers offer video on demand services featuring some of the very same independent films playing in local art-house venues.
6. Take a “Trot”
The 37th annual Turkey Trot, sponsored by Mile High United Way, draws between 8,000 and 10,000 participants each year. The 4-mile race, at 10:15 a.m. at Denver South High School, draws trotters from as far away as Australia. Last year, 780 participants came from outside the Denver area. Some who took part in the first few years of the race are now running alongside their children and grandchildren. For registration and volunteer information, visit unitedway .
7. A hunting we will go
Why not hunt for your next meal rather than pick it up from the local supermarket or butcher? The Colorado Division of Wildlife says late November is the right time for archers to hunt plains deer. Just don’t think about hunting turkey, as that season has passed. But if you still dream of freshly hunted turkey, the 2011 turkey- regulations brochure should be available in late December. For more information, visit wildlife , or for more specific tips.
8. Rescue a soul in need
The Denver Rescue Mission’s phone lines are open early most days to give people ample opportunities to donate money, food and time for the less fortunate. The organization’s annual turkey drive is now in full swing; 14-16 pound frozen turkeys can be dropped off at the Lawrence Street Shelter, 1130 Park Avenue West. They’ll be used for hundreds of Thanksgiving food boxes and for its Great Thanksgiving Banquet, with remaining birds to be distributed to smaller nonprofits and churches. More information at denverrescue .
