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We’ve got one week left to celebrate Friendsgiving, Squadsgiving, Worksgiving, Petsgiving — what have you — before many of us are dispatched this Nov. 23 to a day of ~family dynamics~ and gorging the usual nap-inducing assortment of Thanksgiving fare. 

So today, we’re going to talk about how to throw a creative, drama-free and well-delegated (note that ingredient) Friendsgiving before the holiday hits. If you live in a tiny space like yours truly, fret not, I’ll be sharing some alternative outdoor locations in Long Beach to park your party. 

But first, how did this whole Friendsgiving idea and term originate? According to Merriam-Webster, the first known use comes from a 2007 tweet. 

And whatever your opinions are on the rather vanilla ‘90s sitcom, “Friends” (RIP Mathew Perry), many have made the case that the show popularized the alternative holiday in numerous episodes from 1994 to 2003. According to, yet again, ye old faithful Merriam-Webster, it rose to prominence ever since Bailey’s Irish Cream used the term in an ad, which became a plot point in “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”

Anyway, onto our very first Off the Clock Friendsgiving guide.

Step 1: Pick a theme 

Whether you’re into pajama Friendsgiving, pumpkin carving Friendsgiving, Game of Thrones Friendsgiving, sweetsgiving, jello-shotsgiving or just the good old trad-Thanksgiving-Friendsgiving — there’s more than one way to skin a potato. 

Last year, my partner and I workshopped vegansgiving. I was skeptical at first, but it absolutely hit the spot. We made roasted-sweet potato vegan Thanksgiving wraps, miso-glazed roasted Brussels sprouts, roasted squash salad with crispy shallot and balsamic reduction and somehow, more. If you plan to attempt a plant-based Thanksgiving, I highly recommend nabbing recipes from Minimalist Baker. 

Traditionally, Friendsgiving is a potluck situation. But I’ve also attended some rather extravagant Great Gatsby-level Friendsgiving parties that were entirely put on by the host — five-course meals, pie buffets — the works. It’s really your call. 

Tomorrow, myself and the rest of the plucky Post staff are stringing together our own Worksgiving. Our theme is simply a potluck of assorted turkey-day fare, but there’s been a running joke that every person is bringing mashed potatoes or some variation of potato dish (*eye-roll*). Personally, I hope this doesn’t actually unfold, but if you’d like to throw your own spudsgiving, here’s 21 recipes to check out. 

Step 2: Find a location

My very first Friendsgiving, a 19-year-old me and my eight other roommates laid a 10-foot surfboard down across some wooden boxes and made that our dining table. Whatever works. 

If you have enough room and you’re willing to risk someone spilling their Pumpkin Spice White Russian on your IKEA rug, by all means, host away.

Otherwise, you could opt for a Friendsgiving picnic. I’d suggest rounding up a good amount of blankets and tapestries: Something large to sit on and small blankets to keep cozy. If you’ll be setting up in the evening, gather some candles, those battery-operated twinkle lights and lanterns. 

Here are my favorite parks to picnic at in Long Beach:

• The Colorado Lagoon (the grassy area along East Sixth Street is my favorite spot)
• Bixby Annex Park
• El Dorado Park
• Marine Stadium
• Drake Park
• Lincoln Park
• Bluff Park
• Hilltop Park, Signal Hill

There’s also always the beach. Personally, I like Mother’s Beach or Bay Shore Beach.

Note: Please take your party shrapnel with you.

Step 3: Invite, delegate and regulate

Assemble a guest list of people you like, presumably, and those you know will chip in and pull their weight. I guess if you wanna get cute, you can create your own invitations on Evite or Canva and share it via email, text, your close friends list on Instagram, etc. 

However you get the word out, once you have that finalized guest list, get clear right away on the expectations: Is it BYOB? Is there a dress code? 

Are you serving a five-course candle-lit meal or will it be a potluck? If it’s going to be the latter, Make. A. Spreadsheet. If you’re organizing, make sure you’re also delegating tasks, if there are seven people bringing mashed potatoes (I’m looking at you — Post staff), you’ve got a problem and you need to wrangle your people. 

The bottom line: Make sure there’s a variety of items being brought or made by your guests — who’s bringing the main dish (protein), the themed cocktail, etc. 

Step 4: Shop locally for the dish/drink you’re bringing

Alright, so I could probably write you an entire newsletter of how to forage everything you need for your party at the holy Trader Joe’s (not Whole Paychecks). But this is a (mostly) Long Beach-focused newsletter, so let’s run through all of the best local markets.

For your produce, be sure to check out one of the city’s Farmers Markets, running Sunday through Tuesday, here.

Here’s a list of other places to shop for ingredients, side dishes (hey, no ever said you had to cook), wine, vegan charcuterie, cheese, cocktail mixers, spirits, desserts, pastries and more:

• Olives Gourmet Grocer
• The Plant Butchers
• Anna’s Joint
• The Vintage LBC
• Fior Di Latte
• Ma N’ Pa Grocery
• Angelo’s Italian Deli

How do you typically celebrate pre-turkey day activities with your friends? Where do you shop? Any advice for me? I’d love to hear from you.