Confession time: I love Thanksgiving. While not my favorite holiday (that would be "Talk Like a Pirate Day"), it comes in a close second. How can you not love a day completely dedicated to gorging yourself and passing out in front of the umpteenth showing of Home Alone on TBS?
That said, it's not a particularly geek-friendly holiday. Halloween is an excuse to dress up as your favorite comic book character/Internet meme/Firefly cast member, while the many, many nerdy Christmas ornament selections ensure that you can let your geek flag fly amidst all the tinsel and cheesy Mariah Carey songs.
Thanksgiving is a little tougher. How do you express your inner geek during a holiday devoted to family, football, and ingesting coma-inducing amounts of Tryptophan? Here are ten suggestions for how to geek up your Turkey Day.
Set out Mario and Zelda Triforce napkin rings
One enterprising Reddit user is hawking some neat Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda napkin holders. (Check out a pic here.) Your pals will enjoy dining with video game power-ups, while your aunt will ask where you found such creative designs. Plus, they'll be great for theme parties year-round.
Pick up a copy of Cooking for Geeks
Jeff Potter's new cookbook offers some creative recipes (mmm, Pumpkin Cake) while also delving into the science nerdery behind cooking. Impress your foodie friends with your knowledge of precise cooking temperatures and meticulous attention to things like basting and caramelization. Best of all, Potter encourages creativity, allowing you to express yourself while also filling bellies.
Action figure place settings
Skip the usual (and dated) tiny Pilgrims and Native Americans and place G.I. Joe, Star Wars, Marvel Universe, DC Direct, or other toys next to your guests' plates. (Maybe include a few extra Han Solos to avoid fights.) This way your guests will have something to fiddle with during conversation lulls.
Make a "Thanks" music mix
Face it: you're going to need dining music to drown out Uncle Mike's meandering stories. So why not nerd it up by creating a mix CD or iPod playlist comprised entirely of songs with "thanks" in the title? Bob Hope crooning "Thanks for the Memories," Abba's "Thanks for the Music," Dido's "Thank You," "Thank Me Later," by Drake, Adam Sandler's "Thanksgiving Song," Flaming Lips' "Thank You Jack White," that Natalie Merchant song that repeats "thank you" over and over and over again. Your guests will thank, er, ask you to burn them a copy.
Recreate the first Thanksgiving with Star Wars LEGO
Looking for a great table centerpiece? Why not stage the first Thanksgiving at the Ewok Village? Luke Skywalker and other Rebels can be the Pilgrims, while the Ewoks stand in for the Native Americans. After dinner, they can team up to take down the Empire's AT-ST Walkers.
Create zombie turkey decorations
Thanksgiving is a great time to get crafty. Turn your paper-mache birds into undead, brain-gobblers with a few pointy teeth and demonic, red eyes. If you're into baking, whip up some Pokemon-shaped cookies that your guests will fight over. Whatever your craft may be, the holidays are a great time to put your talents in the service of creative geekery.
Break out the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dinnerware
Time to stop hoarding the He-Man or Rainbow Brite birthday party plates you got for a steal on eBay and actually serve food on them. If you don't want your grandmother to have to eat her turkey and mashed potatoes off of Optimus Prime's face, save the nostalgic plates and cups for desert. They're made to hold birthday cake, after all.
Screen a Thanksgiving horror movie marathon
Halloween and Christmas aren't the only seasons for screams-- there are quite a few slashers set during Thanksgiving. Try 1981's Home Sweet Home, a thriller about an escaped mental patient who goes on a Thanksgiving killing spree. Then there's ThanksKilling, a low-budget killer turkey flick with pretty much the greatest title of all time. Top it off with Eli Roth's gory "Thanksgiving" trailer from Grindhouse. Just be sure to hold off on the extra serving of pumpkin pie before viewing that one.
Mix up some nerdy cocktails
The Intertubes are brimming with tons of recipes for geek-themed beverages. Whether it's the classic Romulan Ale, a can of Slurm, or a "Dark Knight" cocktail (basically diet cola and Sambuca), there are many ways to get your geek--and drink--on. (Check out some more geeky cocktail ideas over on Wired.) If your tastes run to the more traditional (cheap beer), you can always pour your mead (or Miller High Life) into one of these collectible World of Warcraft steins.
Give thanks to Joss Whedon, Peter Jackson, Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury, Gene Roddenberry, Douglas Adams, Felicia Day, and other geek icons
They've given you so much. Why not include them in your Thanksgiving prayers this year?
Any other geeky Thanksgiving ideas?
That said, it's not a particularly geek-friendly holiday. Halloween is an excuse to dress up as your favorite comic book character/Internet meme/Firefly cast member, while the many, many nerdy Christmas ornament selections ensure that you can let your geek flag fly amidst all the tinsel and cheesy Mariah Carey songs.
Thanksgiving is a little tougher. How do you express your inner geek during a holiday devoted to family, football, and ingesting coma-inducing amounts of Tryptophan? Here are ten suggestions for how to geek up your Turkey Day.
Set out Mario and Zelda Triforce napkin rings
One enterprising Reddit user is hawking some neat Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda napkin holders. (Check out a pic here.) Your pals will enjoy dining with video game power-ups, while your aunt will ask where you found such creative designs. Plus, they'll be great for theme parties year-round.
Pick up a copy of Cooking for Geeks
Jeff Potter's new cookbook offers some creative recipes (mmm, Pumpkin Cake) while also delving into the science nerdery behind cooking. Impress your foodie friends with your knowledge of precise cooking temperatures and meticulous attention to things like basting and caramelization. Best of all, Potter encourages creativity, allowing you to express yourself while also filling bellies.
Action figure place settings
Skip the usual (and dated) tiny Pilgrims and Native Americans and place G.I. Joe, Star Wars, Marvel Universe, DC Direct, or other toys next to your guests' plates. (Maybe include a few extra Han Solos to avoid fights.) This way your guests will have something to fiddle with during conversation lulls.
Make a "Thanks" music mix
Face it: you're going to need dining music to drown out Uncle Mike's meandering stories. So why not nerd it up by creating a mix CD or iPod playlist comprised entirely of songs with "thanks" in the title? Bob Hope crooning "Thanks for the Memories," Abba's "Thanks for the Music," Dido's "Thank You," "Thank Me Later," by Drake, Adam Sandler's "Thanksgiving Song," Flaming Lips' "Thank You Jack White," that Natalie Merchant song that repeats "thank you" over and over and over again. Your guests will thank, er, ask you to burn them a copy.
Recreate the first Thanksgiving with Star Wars LEGO
Looking for a great table centerpiece? Why not stage the first Thanksgiving at the Ewok Village? Luke Skywalker and other Rebels can be the Pilgrims, while the Ewoks stand in for the Native Americans. After dinner, they can team up to take down the Empire's AT-ST Walkers.
Create zombie turkey decorations
Thanksgiving is a great time to get crafty. Turn your paper-mache birds into undead, brain-gobblers with a few pointy teeth and demonic, red eyes. If you're into baking, whip up some Pokemon-shaped cookies that your guests will fight over. Whatever your craft may be, the holidays are a great time to put your talents in the service of creative geekery.
Break out the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dinnerware
Time to stop hoarding the He-Man or Rainbow Brite birthday party plates you got for a steal on eBay and actually serve food on them. If you don't want your grandmother to have to eat her turkey and mashed potatoes off of Optimus Prime's face, save the nostalgic plates and cups for desert. They're made to hold birthday cake, after all.
Screen a Thanksgiving horror movie marathon
Halloween and Christmas aren't the only seasons for screams-- there are quite a few slashers set during Thanksgiving. Try 1981's Home Sweet Home, a thriller about an escaped mental patient who goes on a Thanksgiving killing spree. Then there's ThanksKilling, a low-budget killer turkey flick with pretty much the greatest title of all time. Top it off with Eli Roth's gory "Thanksgiving" trailer from Grindhouse. Just be sure to hold off on the extra serving of pumpkin pie before viewing that one.
Mix up some nerdy cocktails
The Intertubes are brimming with tons of recipes for geek-themed beverages. Whether it's the classic Romulan Ale, a can of Slurm, or a "Dark Knight" cocktail (basically diet cola and Sambuca), there are many ways to get your geek--and drink--on. (Check out some more geeky cocktail ideas over on Wired.) If your tastes run to the more traditional (cheap beer), you can always pour your mead (or Miller High Life) into one of these collectible World of Warcraft steins.
Give thanks to Joss Whedon, Peter Jackson, Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury, Gene Roddenberry, Douglas Adams, Felicia Day, and other geek icons
They've given you so much. Why not include them in your Thanksgiving prayers this year?
Any other geeky Thanksgiving ideas?
Leave a comment