'Twas the night before turkey . . .
Cory Gallant thinks Thanksgiving Eve has become a more important date for nightlife than Halloween, or even New Year's Eve.
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Cory Gallant thinks Thanksgiving Eve has become a more important date for nightlife than Halloween, or even New Year's Eve.
People coming home for the holiday, reuniting with friends and family, make the evening particularly lively, said Gallant, general manager of Lucky Strike Lounge & Lanes in Center City. "It's about personal relationships, not just drinking," Gallant explained. And if the club and bar scene isn't for you, there are plenty of other places to meet up with the old gang before the bird is carved.
Lucky Strike's Take Me Home Tonight Party
Take Me Home Tonight, in its seventh year, is the longest-running Thanksgiving Eve event in Philadelphia, its producers say. This year, for the first time, the party will be held at Lucky Strike Lounge & Lanes, a bowling alley with full-service bars, dance floors, and electronic art shows. Past events have seen an attendance of more than 2,000 partygoers. Gallant, Lucky Strike's general manager for about two years, thinks this year will be no different.
"What I'm excited about is introducing this long-running event in a new venue and seeing how that affects the guest experience," Gallant said. "This event brings in a great crowd and this year they'll have a lot more amenities to have fun with."
Learn-to-Skate Sessions at Dilworth Park's Rothman Ice Rink
Watch out, Rockefeller Center: Rothman Ice Rink in Center City's Dilworth Park, which made its debut Nov. 14, will offer instructional courses for hopeful skaters beginning Sunday. Other sessions will be held Nov. 30, Dec. 7, and Dec. 14, with more scheduled for January and February. The $60 ticket price includes skate rental and a four-visit punch card. Aspiring skaters can register at the rink for this weekend's session, but advance registration is required for later sessions.
Unleashed by Petco's Thanksgiving Eve Feast
For those reuniting with canine family as well as human friends, the Thanksgiving Eve Feast at Unleashed, a Northern Liberties pet-supplies store, lets dogs in on the feasting, too. The all-day affair provides dog-friendly treats before the next day's big meal. Maybe an extra treat at the feast will avert begging puppy-eyes the next day - but not likely.
Thanksgroovin' at Xfinity Live!
Xfinity Live!'s large venue, located in the Wells Fargo Complex, hosts an annual night of festivities that producers say is Philadelphia's largest Thanksgiving Eve celebration. The event, Thanksgroovin' Eve, is five parties at once. This year will feature aerial drape dancers, an NBC Sports arena, pie-eating, a craft beer garden, VIP seating with bottle service and special cocktails, and "Wild Turkey Riding" - think mechanical bull in avian form. Trying to catch up with everyone you've ever befriended in just a few days? Xfinity will send a bus to pick up groups of 30 or more - and get them home safely at the end of the night.
It's All About the Baste at Kings Oak
Northern Liberties sports bar and New American restaurant Kings Oak, at the Piazza at Schmidts, will host a drinking and dining event this Thanksgiving Eve called It's All About the Baste. Inspired by the viral pop song "All About That Bass," Kings Oak makes its own priorities clear - drink specials like pumpkin spiced martinis, craft beers, an open bar from 8 to 10 p.m., and bottle service.
Rumor Nightlife hosts Amsterdam DJ sensations
Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano have become "popular all over the world," Rumor Nightlife general manager Gary Shusman said - famed French DJ David Guetta has praised their dance music production. Shusman has known the pair about four years, and can't wait for the nightclub to host them on one of the liveliest nights of the year.
"When they play, their energy is undeniable," Shusman said. "It's there - everyone feels that energy. Everyone wants to party and celebrate."
The upscale venue is partnering with Disco Donnie to present the night of music, in a style Rumor's website describes as "funky electro and Latin sounds." Equipped with multiple dance floors and bars, Rumor can hold about 500 patrons and expects to reach capacity on Thanksgiving Eve, Shusman said.