Did you let your small cousin pull the wishbone this Thanksgiving, or help Dad set the table? Some stars also gave in to that altruistic holiday impulse over the weekend. While Britney Spears went shopping, "Hairspray" star Nikki Blonsky performed at New York's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade; while Paris Hilton went on an MTV junket to China, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa headed up a crack team of stars willing to give up their Thanksgiving to serve the homeless.
While Kirk Douglas reminisced about Olde Hollywood with the mayor, Harrison Ford and wife Calista Flockhart put their rubber gloves on, and Spencer Pratt of "The Hills" dished up some succotash. Man, these stars are cooler than that one weird couple who always shows up at our Thanksgiving dinners!
Since it's a huge weekend for holiday travel, we shouldn't be surprised to see so many celebrities passing through airports themselves, even if they don't necessarily celebrate Thanksgiving.
Sienna Miller and her current flame Rhys Ifans got into Heathrow yesterday after a fervid party weekend (in which Miller and Kate Moss nearly came to blows over Ifans) and looked like they needed the rest of the week off. (Maybe they were just a little soused.)
Any way we can get a TSA ban on Rhys' ridiculous shoes? Bet they're much harder to remove at security than Sienna's flats. His man-bag can stay, but we reserve the right to laugh at it.
Struggling to regain the good graces of passengers during the worst year for airline travel, airlines and now even President Bush, are scrambling to prepare for this week's impending travel crush. Last week, W proposed a plan to improve travel during the holiday season, but will it really work? Not likely, say aviation experts.
Airline industry analyst Michael Boyd told the New York Times that the plan calls for improvements that are still contingent on the assumption that the holiday season will be without bad weather:
What's all this rah-rah about the holiday season? What's changed? We're just going to stagger on the way we've been doing for the past year, vulnerable to any glitch in the system, vulnerable to any weather issues.
And Boyd isn't the only one who thinks things could get ugly. Atlantic correspondent James Fallows writes about the president's widely-reported initiative to free up military air space:
It's not worth explaining all the details here, but the main point is: There aren't that many "special use" areas near the big East Coast airports. If New York City were where Camp Lejeune is, in North Carolina, then military airspace might be an issue. But, umm, it's not. The NY-area special airspace that looks biggest...is way out over the ocean anyway.
In other words, look out for bad weather and get ready for ground delays--and don't believe the hype.
The latest update from the TSA had us in stitches until we realized it was 100 percent serious. It's a guide to what foodstuffs you shouldn't pack when rocking up to your local security checkpoint over the holidays.
Remember, the agency's 3-1-1 liquid rules are still in effect, so you can't tote the following onboard, unless they're in containers smaller than 3 ounces and stuffed in your 1 quart zip-top bag:
Gravy, Salad Dressing, Cranberry Sauce, Salsa, Jams and Jellies, Wine and Beer, Soups
And before you ask, the TSA didn't forget about dessert:
You can bring pies and cakes through the security checkpoint, but be advised that they might be subject to additional screening.
We wouldn't be so excited about fall if we knew that in a week we would be plucked, bound and having involuntary surgery in your mom's kitchen. But this year, as happens every year, one lucky turkey will get to live out his retirement as a Magic Kingdom resident instead of as leftovers. This year's sixtieth anniversary National Thanksgiving Ceremony at the White House allows President Bush to do what he does best--look ridiculous in the Rose Garden.
The as yet unnamed turkey hails from Dubois, Indiana and has been coached especially for his big moment. (You can vote to decide his name at the White House website.) After the November 21 ceremony, he will serve as the grand marshal of the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade, and live out his days in the backyard of Mickey's Country House at the Magic Kingdom.
Perhaps you're on a plane this very moment, or sitting at the airport waiting out a delay. Bless your heart if you don't have to travel for the holidays, but if you do, a few final thoughts:
· Get to the airport early. It won't kill you.
· Avoid checking luggage if at all possible. If you're not going on an extended vacation, you can swing it. Don't pack pajamas...you can sleep naked. Invest in some Febreze, for your duds, which will keep your clothes "fresh" and allow you to get away with packing less. No bags to check means dealing with one potentially monstrous line instead of two.
If you're driving, keep up with local radio for traffic news. DON'T SPEED! The cops will be out in full force this week to keep tabs on you. Remember, every dollar spent on a traffic ticket is a dollar lost for a business-class ticket on that Tijuana-Narita flight you've been dying to take. < / end of speech >
Jaunted will be off for the holidays and resume publishing on Monday, November 27. Our inbox and comments will be open all weekend, though, so please do contribute your notable Thanksgiving travel experiences. Don't miss us too much, and we promise to put the tryptophan buzz to good use when we get back.
Everyone knows the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, but there's more parading to be done on Thursday, November 23, and all around the country at that. If you have kids to humor, dig Pikachu balloons, or simply want to use the excuse of catching the "sick" skills of marching band snare drummers, several cities around the country are hosting events. After the jump is a smattering of local options--all are free and take place on Thursday, though some provide premium seating at a price. For an alternative option, or simply an appetizer, tomorrow's Turkey Testicle Festival in Huntley, IL, awaits. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like.
0 Comments - Add Yours
by egw
