Survive Thanksgiving weekend with style

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The days leading up to Thanksgiving are about two things: arranging food and traveling. At this point you may have your menu set and your turkey ordered. However, if you're still wondering how you'll feed your crew, and your oven racks are currently being used for extra shoe storage, allow us to suggest a few catering options. We can also point you to some fantastic restaurants where, last we checked, reservations are still available.

Perhaps your only food worry is getting to the plane on time so that you're there to devour Nana's traditional feast. We have you covered in that department, too, with a chart to plan your departure to any of New York's airports at any time of day. Read the disclaimers carefully, and if you're leaving Wednesday, we suggest adding some extra buffer time.

Those of you still in the city would do well to catch the balloon inflation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, taking place this afternoon. Many prefer it to the parade itself. Savvy locals also know that tonight's relaxed and semivacated atmosphere makes for an ideal party night. We have the dirt on all the best bacchanals.

If you're anywhere near the city, there's almost no avoiding the buzz of the Macy's parade. Read our extensive parade guide for information on nearby breakfast spots, good vantage points and any other information you might need, including a slide show of the most popular balloons.

We know you've already decided if you're shopping today or not, so we won't try to sway you either way. If you're out with the hordes, we recommend you find your way to these extremely tempting sales. We also urge you to deflect some of the gift-choosing burden onto us by writing to our UseThisElf shopping blog. You describe the friend or family member who's stumping you this year, and our shopping experts will do their best to answer your query in our continually updated journal of holiday-buying advice.

Also, you may just want to sleep off yesterday's food binge and go party some more. We can help you find the hot spots for that, too.

If your two days off have included any sort of travel or family encounter or visitation to a retail establishment, you're in full-on recovery mode by now. We say, kick back! Seek relief at one of the city's fine international spas. Or veg out at one of the Oscar-contending movies that are released this time of year—perhaps Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men or Margot at the Wedding. Basically, anything that isn't Fred Claus.