Good Friday is here! Everything to know from what is the holy holiday to what's open, closed
LIFE

Thanksgiving and Black Friday: a primer

IndyStar

 

A Thanksgiving plate.

20 places to dine out in Indy for Thanksgiving

Many Indy restaurants close their doors for the Thanksgiving holiday, but for those that choose to stay open on Nov. 26, it’s one of the busiest days of the year. Some offer special menus of traditional foods such as turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce; others stick with their regular offerings. Some evoke the feel of a Thanksgiving at home with family-style or buffet meals, while others serve by the plate.

More places to dine out in Indy for Thanksgiving

Indy-area churches, charities feed the hungry on Thanksgiving

For 33 years, Thelma Turner was the stuffing that held the Thanksgiving meal together for her Near-Northside neighborhood. Last year, 9,000 meals were given away at Watkins Park Family Center and several satellite locations. This year, it will be done without "Mama Turner," who died Aug. 29 at age 85, leaving a gaping hole in the Thanksgiving dinner preparations, but an even bigger hole in the hearts of those who loved and depended on her.

Indy-area churches, charities feed the hungry on Thanksgiving

8 drinks, no fights, one happy family

It's Thanksgiving, and that means gathering with friends and family, counting our blessings, and stopping our busy lives to spend time with each other, blah, blah, blah. Thanksgiving also means the mashing together of different personalities, and finding a way, any way, to make everyone happy. The turkey may be too dry, and the mashed potatoes too runny, but at least everyone will have the perfect drink to sip.

8 drinks, no fights, one happy family

Kids give thanks for all you’ve given them

Shelter. Health. Food. Love. We want all these things for our children. And more. Thanks to you, thousands of kids in Central Indiana have been fed, clothed, housed, educated and loved.

Kids give thanks for all you�ve given them

Moms share Thanksgiving horror stories

From frozen turkeys to unexpected runs to White Castle, Thanksgiving doesn't always go as planned. The Star asked theCityMoms, a social network and support group for local moms, to share their Thanksgiving fails, horror stories and disasters! Here are seven not so perfect stories from theCityMoms.

Moms share epic Thanksgiving horror stories

6 things to do the night before Thanksgiving

By most accounts, the night before Thanksgiving is the biggest drinking night of the year in the United States — take that, New Years Eve! — but in Indy, there’s plenty to do beyond counting shots with that kid from your 10th grade algebra class. We’ve collected some of the best options — drinking and otherwise — for your big night out, before the big day in.

6 things to do the night before Thanksgiving

11 shows to get you into the holiday spirit

Ever since you watched baby Jesus (who may or may not have been played by your neighbor’s little brother) birthed into a manger at a local Christmas pageant, presenting the holiday season onstage has been a natural association.

11 shows to get you into the holiday spirit

How to find Black Friday deals in Indianapolis

The days following Thanksgiving have become a shopping extravaganza — to the point where it’s hard to keep all the specials, deals, and discounts straight. But fret not, sale seekers, we have you covered. Here’s a list of some of the Indianapolis area businesses that are participating in Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and even Cyber Monday:

How to find Black Friday deals in Indianapolis

When stores will be open Thanksgiving, Black Friday

What time will area retailers and malls be open Thursday and Friday?

When stores will be open Thanksgiving, Black Friday

Shoot holiday food photos like a pro

Family or not, nobody likes a bad photo of the food they just spent a million hours fussing over. I showed some of my worst pictures to Indy Star photographer Michelle Pemberton, and we found a few others in the Star's photo archives. Our plan? To spare you the dreaded #fail.

Shoot holiday food photos like a pro