Gobble up good times with all the fixings

By Meredith Deliso

The night before Thanksgiving always seems to be an unofficial high school reunion in suburban towns across America.

Here in Brooklyn, it’s just another night to party.If you’re not leaving the city this holiday, skip the random drinking and celebrate Thanksgiving a day early on November 25 with some fun activities right here in the borough.

Through the Bell House, explore the depths of the neighborhood – Gowanus – as well as Park Slope and Carroll Gardens through the bar’s Great Gowanus Pilgrimage, a pre-Thanksgiving scavenger hunt for those of you feeling adventurous.

The bar promises a night you won’t soon forget, as they bring you outside hunting and gathering. By night’s end, bring your goods back to the Bell House for points towards prizes, including gift certificates from Brooklyn Tattoo, Biefkraft and others. Then stick around for the dance party.

It all kicks off with a happy hour and check-in from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. including free food. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., you’re out and about, then back for the party. The scavenger hunt costs $5 to participate per person, with two to four people per team. It’s free to hang out. Email to register. For more information, call 718-643-6510.

Over at Southpaw, the Park Slope venue hosts its annual pre-Turkey Day bash. In its seventh year running, this year’s features Brooklyn dance pop duo Jonka (pictured), hip hop outfit Epick and others to be announced. Admission is $5, with doors at 8 p.m. and the show at 9 p.m. For more information, go to or call 718-230-0236. Southpaw is located at 125 Fifth Ave.

Up in Williamsburg, Public Assembly presents a party named after the best part of Thanksgiving – “The Stuffing” – featuring Brooklyn new waver Gordon Voidwell, rap duo Das Racist (these guys seem to be everywhere lately), and DJs Ballantino (Soul Imperial), Hans Beck, and Louis VuiTron.The party kicks off at 9 p.m. Tickets are $8. Public Assembly is located at 70 N. 6th St. For more information, call 718-384-4586.

If sitting back and watching movies is more your speed, MonkeyTown is the place for you. The Williamsburg venue is hosting a Thanksgiving Film Week, with four nights of screenings ranging from documentaries to 70s psyche horror.

On November 22, it’s the documentary road trip “Last Thoughts,” in which the filmmaker retraces the travels of his grandfather, a rail-riding hobo (at 8 p.m., $5 admission, plus a $10 minimum). The next night features one short documentary film from each decade since the dawn of film, including a 1948 PSA by Carl Theodor Dreyer and pieces of vaudeville, experimental, propaganda, found footage and home movies (at 8 p.m., free, with $10 minimum).

On November 24, check in for the horror film “Simon King of Witches” (7:30 p.m., free with $10 minimum) and on November 25 and November 27, the venue screens “Wildwood, NJ,” a documentary about the New Jersey beach town circa 1994 (7:30 p.m., free, with $10 minimum both nights, and an additional 10:30 p.m. screening November 27).

We’re not sure what any of these films have to do with Thanksgiving, but it sounds like a good way to spend an evening any night of the week.

MonkeyTown is located at 58 N. 3rd St. For more information, call 718-384-1369.