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It finally happened: You're grown up enough to host your own Thanksgiving dinner. But now what? Start chipping away at this checklist now and you'll be good to go by Thanksgiving Day.
1. Snag a seat at the Everything But the Turkey class (6:30 p.m. Nov. 19, $69) at Sur La Table, where you'll learn to make a host of soups, salads and sides, from cranberry chutney to Brussels sprout gratin with bacon and bourbon.
2. Pre-order pies from Hoosier Mama Pie Shop, where piemaker Paula Haney's Thanksgiving options (pictured) include apple quince ($20), cranberry chess ($18) and classic pumpkin ($20), among others. Don't delay--capacity is 400 pies, and Haney's already received about 250 orders. Order by phone or in person (online ordering not available for Thanksgiving pies) for pickup Nov. 24-26.
3. Reserve your bird with Green Grocer Chicago, which is offering broad-breasted white turkeys from TJ's Pastured Free Range Poultry in Piper City, Ill. ($3.75 per pound). Order by Nov. 16 for pickup Nov. 24-25.
4. Stock up on wine at affordable new West Town shop the Noble Grape, where staff picks include Cycle Clement's pinot noir ($15, great with turkey and stuffing) and Montinore Estate's biodynamic gewurztraminer ($16), which has a slight effervescence to stand up to rich Thanksgiving side dishes.
5. Don't forget the beer drinkers! Pick up a growler of Magnus, a German-style schwartz (black lager) with roasty chocolate notes and a clean finish ($15.50), at Half Acre Beer Co.
6. Hit up Willow, an offbeat gift boutique that's returned in pop-up form for the holidays after closing earlier this year, for cool carafes ($30-$45) and quirky serving platters ($32-$42, right) with designs such as skulls and silverware cross-bones and an anatomical heart captioned "eat your heart out."
7. Swing by Bucktown home shop Crosell & Co., where owner Dianne Crosell will help you pick the perfect tablecloth to dress up your sad-lookin' hand-me-down table from a collection of kitschy printed runners, elegant French-made cloths and more ($30 and up).
8. Raid the Green City Market, now at its seasonal location at the lot north of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, for locally grown autumn veggies. Market runs 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays and Wednesdays, including Nov. 25, when you can catch a demo by Rob and Allie Leavitt of Mado (10:30-11 a.m.). No market Nov. 28.
9. Load up on fresh loaves for the table at new West Town bakery La Farine, which is offering special fig-anise, raisin-walnut, cranberry-walnut and potato-pumpkin breads for the holiday (prices vary, $2-$8). Order at least 48 hours in advance; La Farine opens for pickup only Thanksgiving Day (8 a.m.-1 p.m).
Lisa Arnett is the Metromix nightlife and shopping producer. M. Kathleen Pratt is the Metromix dining producer. metromix@tribune.com
