What's Open on Thanksgiving

I think it has a fever. Uploaded to flickr.com by Edsel L

Thanksgiving is a time to pause and reflect on how grateful we are for the gifts around us, be they friends, family, and a small roasted ostrich and twenty side dishes (have more!).   But what happens when you find yourself in need of something to complete the perfect feast? Perhaps you will feel the need to stretch your legs and walk off some of that gravy and sweet potato casserole after Thanksgiving dinner, or maybe you just need a break from a certain in-law.

Do not fret; you have options.  There are diversions on the Hill available on Thanksgiving Day should you need to remove yourself from your house, whether for a last minute ingredient, a pick-me-up, or some sanity time.

Remembered all the ingredients but forgot the roasting pan?  Need another baster since your kid took yours as a bath tub toy? (It happens.)  Hill’s Kitchen will be open 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for last minute cooking utensil needs.

You may need a jolt of caffeine to get you through the cooking, or keep you awake through the televised parade from New York.  Peregrine Espresso will be open 7:00 a.m. to noon.  Pound Coffee will open doors from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Starbucks at Eastern Market is open until 3:00 p.m.

All CVS stores will be open on Thanksgiving day, should you need stomach remedies, ibuprofen, or last minute milk or soda.  All Harris Teeter stores will also be open on Thanksgiving day until 2:00 p.m., and both of our local Safeway stores will be open until 6:00 p.m.  But take stock of your ingredients early, because I wouldn’t want to be the one in line buying cranberry sauce at 5:45.

The U.S. Botanic Garden will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. should you need an indoor escape or a place to take out-of-town relatives while the turkey roasts.  The annual holiday exhibit “Seasons Greenings” opens on Thanksgiving Day, so you can enjoy a little bit of Christmas with the trees, model trains, and other fun creations.

Contemplate what you are thankful for and get a dose of history at Congressional Cemetery.  The grounds are open for walking, and self-guided tours can be downloaded from their website.

If the weather is favorable, burn off those pie-baked calories with a walk to one of our many parks, and better yet take the little ones to one of our playgrounds to burn off some energy.  The fountains may be off at The Yards Park, but a walk along the water on a crisp fall day can be invigorating.

Whatever you do, enjoy your time on the Hill this Thanksgiving.