Thanksgiving is usually a day that we spend with family and friends, eating delicious food, watching tons of football and giving thanks for everything we have. But what about those people who don’t have any family, a hot meal, a television or… anything at all? The Greater Chicago Food Depository helps them year round, especially on holidays like Thanksgiving.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is located on Chicago’s Southwest side. Its huge warehouse acts as a food bank that distributes millions of pounds to food to 600 member shelters, pantries and soup kitchens. In the last year, the GCFD gave more than 46 million pounds of food.

Most of the food is donated by hundreds of local and national companies, grocers, produce markets, growers and foodservice organizations. They find a convenient way to give leftover food to hungry people when it would otherwise go to waste. A lot of food also comes from people like you, who donate during the GCFD food drives. Last year, people from all over Chicago donated 5780,000 pounds of food and $825,000.

Not only can you provide food and monetary donations, but through the food depository, you can also volunteer at one of the hundreds of shelters, pantries or soup kitchens. However you wish to help, contact the Greater Chicago Food Depository at 773.247.3663 or visit their website.

Opening on what would have been the King’s 75th birthday this January 8th, the National Portrait Gallery’s upcoming exhibition, One Life: Echoes of Elvis, will be looking back on popular depictions of the face that launched a thousand Vegas impersonators– and, yes, there will be ample amounts of black velvet.

Starting with Elvis’s canonization as the patron saint of pop Americana via Andy Warhol’s 1963 silkscreens, One Life turns a perceptive eye on the world’s continuing fascination of rock and roll’s first crossover superstar more than thirty years after his death. Skinny Elvis, Fat Elvis and the aged-Elvis-that-never-was will all be getting face-time on the Portrait Gallery’s walls and in a variety of media as mixed as varied as the King’s international fan-base of audiophiles and eccentrics.

From collector’s plates and dioramas to punk rock cover art and the front-page of the National Enquirer, the best of bad taste will on display for all to see through August 22, 2010. Admission is free. For more information, visit the National Portrait Gallery’s homepage.

For more goings-on in the metro area, check out the CultureMob blog or follow us on Twitter.

Ten years after the turn of the millennium, we may not have hover boards, food pellets or universal language translators — but at least we haven’t forgotten how to party. As the first decade of the 21st century draws to a close, here are a few District venues that will going all carpe diem at midnight on Dec. 31st. With 2010 just around the corner, it would seem that the future really is now. Or at least coming soon.

2010: A Space Fantasy @ The Capitol Skyline Hotel

Presented by Brightest Young Things (who recently masterminded the Bentzen Ball comedy festival), this Arthur C. Clarke-themed (kinda) bash is taking over the entire Capitol Skyline Hotel with “robots, light up dance floors, stilt walkers, moon bounces, enchanted forests, balloon animals, polar bear club diving contests, and a roller skating rink dance party or laser tag in the parking garage or something” – along with a small army of DJs that includes AutoRock, Fatback, Chris Burns and others. Tickets — with open bar privileges included — are $45. Find out all there is know here.

Metropolis Robotica @ The Rock and Roll Hotel

The Rock and Roll Hotel is going the sci-fi route with the New Year’s eve extravaganza their calling Metropolis Robotica, in tribute to Fritz Lang’s phantasmagorical 1927 film. The evening’s electro-centric soundtrack comes comes courtesy of The Dance Party, DJs Nacey & Starks, Beautiful Swimmers, Ca$$idy & Austin of Garutachi, Dmerit, DJ Jackie O and DJ Keenan. The Robotica’s organizers have instituted a three-tier pricing system that starts at $30 a head. Get your tickets over at the RnR Hotel’s homepage.

Licensed to Thrill Thunderball @ The Washington Plaza Hotel

For those who prefer their cinema-themed New Year’s parties to be paired with healthy dose of schlock, the Thunderball can’t be beaten. With chicks in gold bodypaint, Sean Connery impersonators galore and rooms meant to invoke the faraway destinations frequented by 007 himself, it’s safe to the “shaken not stirred” martinis will be following liberally. In case you haven’t picked up on it yet, yes, this is a James Bond-themed New Year’s party and not a bar mitzvah. Find out more from the party’s head honchos at Eurone International.

Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings @ 9:30 Club

That being said, as far as 60s throwbacks go, it doesn’t get much better than the neo-R&B stylings of Ms. Sharon Jones. This year, Washingtonians will have the rare chance to dance the night away as the soul chanteuse and her tight-as-hell funk combo ring in the New Year. Fellow tambourine-toting indie soulsters Fitz and The Tantrums open. Tickets are $55. Get more info at www.930.com.

New Year’s Eve Ball @ The Black Cat

Lastly, to facilitate a little end of the decade revelry, the good folks at 14th St.’s Black Cat are opening the up their two-story space for a New Year’s Ball officiated by the pre-War, Latin-tinged, cabaret weirdness of Peaches O’Dell and Her Orchestra on the main stage. Meanwhile, the downstairs bar and backstage will be manned by a host as-of-yet unnamed DJs — all for the princely sum of $25. Find out more here.

For more notable goings-on in the metro area, check out the CultureMob blog or follow us on Twitter.

Broadway fanatics know Loretta Devine from the original “Dreamgirls”—she played Lorell. And while she didn’t reprise her role 20 years later in the film adaptation, she did have a cameo, singing “I Miss You Old Friend.” But I’m getting off-topic. Non-Broadway obsessives might recognize Devine from her roles on shows like “Boston Public,” for which she won several Image Awards, and “Grey’s Anatomy,” where she plays Chief Webber’s wife Adele.

…I’m getting off-topic again. The point is, Loretta Devine has some very impressive credits, not to mention a world-class voice—which is why I’m excited that she’ll soon be performing her new act at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco. You’ve got three chances to catch the show: it begins this Friday, November 27, and continues through the weekend. The performances are at 8 p.m., except for Sunday night’s, which is at 7 p.m. Hey, you’re going to be feeling those post-Thanksgiving blues (I don’t know what that means; tryptophan withdrawal?)—what better way to cheer you up than with a Broadway star?

If you’re interested in attending any of Devine’s shows, tickets are $40 and can be purchased on The Rrazz Room website.

With the latest installment of his Reel Journalism series at the Newseum, veteran reporter Nick Clooney is bringing along ABC correspondent Cokie Roberts for a showing and discussion of Howard Hawkes‘ beloved 1940 screwball romance, His Girl Friday on Tues., Dec. 1st.

Required viewing for any current or future j-school students, the film stars Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell as a divorced pair of rival journalists, one of whom will stop at nothing to win the other back. (Spoiler: hijinks ensue.) Famous for its rapid fire dialogue and witty repartees, His Girl Friday inspired at entire generation of newsman and actors alike and remains influential to this day. (Clooney’s screen icon son, George, even it cited as an influence 2008’s Leatherheads, which be both starred in and directed.)

According to Newseum reps, Roberts will be on hand “to share her thoughts on why the movie — after nearly seven decades — remains such a hilarious crowd pleaser.” Tickets are $25 for the general public and $20 for museum members. Get more info at the Reel Journalism homepage here.

For more notable goings-on in the metro area, check out the CultureMob blog or follow us on Twitter.

I’ve gotta think of a rating system for my Not New Movie Reviews, but since I am seeing these movies and I am writing about them I clearly like them, so that’s my rating system.   I really don’t enjoy writing all the reasons something sucks (it’s a bumme, really), so I won’t waste my time here because I don’t have to.  If it’s here, it’s good.  C’est tout.

So Charlie Bartlett. O.M.G.  It’s a dream of a delicious little movie that not many people saw but they should.    It stars Robert Downey Jr. Hope Davis, Kat Dennings and Anton Yelchin.  Steller.

First off, Anton Yelchin is so super talented I can’t believe he didnt get nominated for like every award.  (He was the super funny Russian in Star Trek.)  Funny, vulnerable, singing and playing the piano, the kid is not only adorable but a serious acting talent.  I must disclose that I have a soft spot for the dorky high school kid (Pauly Bleeker aka Michael Cera is a dream), but this part and actor won me over.  Anton was great in Huff, where I first thought he was a talent, but in Charlie Bartlett he shows his range.

Charlie Bartlett tells a charming story of a clever, wealthy, high schooler who finds himself in public school after getting kicked out of a bunch of private schools.  He has to find his way in this new system. and in doing so deals with his past and himself.  He becomes the therapist to all the students, doling out medication after sessions.  It’s like every teen flick rolled into one, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Wierd Science, Pump up the Volume, Say Anything, and then adds its own modern story.  Great stuff.

Charlie is the loner in us all, but his zest for life and engagement in it brings rewards that remind us it’s better to dive in and get messy.  (Given it has to have some nice message for me to like it, though it’s not some annoyingly after-school special one.)  A great soundtrack adds to the movie watching experience.

There is love, teen angst and the reminder that we all want to connect and be heard, even if we are all a little inept at it.

Check it out, you won’t be sorry.

I knew the show was going in epically odd directions when a friend facebooked during the show that Jermaine Jackson had a son named Jermajesty.  It was like, what more kookieness can be added to the interesting and noteworthy show.  Back in the day when Michael would do a show stopping number on an award show, the next day it was all anyone could talk about.  Well, the AMA’s made news again the day after this year although for falls, a kiss and wardrobe issues.  We miss you Michael.

So J.Lo fell, which can happen, but she was a pro and rebounded in the same time count she would’ve been standing so that was amazing.  And really recovery is all that counts when you fall so well done. Today on Ryan Seacrest, laughing, she said it was part of the plan.  Whatev’s J.Lo.

In other news, while presenting Kate Hudson’s silver dress move in a direction that double sided tape rescued.  Not to self: buy stock in double sided tape.  That stuff really is amazing.

But the event of the night was Adam Lambert’s show closing number featuring a not short kiss and him shoving a male dancer into his crotch.  What’s the big deal people?  Lady dancers have shimmied all over men for years, and a kiss is just a kiss as the famous song says.  Did you see the threesome on Gossip Girl?  That’s an 8pm show geared to kids. Get over it people, the cat’s (are almost all) out of the bag.

Wow, I can’t believe I didn’t think of New Moon for a few minutes. That was strange.

Thanksgiving and really all holidays used to be particularly fun for television because you would watch you favorite characters deal with it all the week before you had to deal.  The Cosby Family and Ally McBeal, Seinfeld and Carrie Bradshaw, it unified us all to know that while your particular situation had its own nuances (bad food or tragic holiday sweaters or lip kiss relatives) we were all going through the holiday craziness together.  How American to see others on TV deal with your reality, only with better lighting and more clever comebacks.  Ahh, the good old days.  Now though, there is no TV Holiday season, which is sad.  Oh sure, there will always be Charlie Brown, but since there are not many modern shows in production, holiday episodes are almost nil.  There is Jon and Kate plus 8 post divorce (who wants to watch THAT holiday mess), The View ladies comparing holiday traditions (the same threat of fights that linger at family events only without the nice makeups we see at the end of a 3o minute show and in our families) – I mean, when your family holiday is better than that offered on TV, there is a crisis in entertainment for sure.

Though we still have Christmas Story re-runs, Turkey and Football.  So we got that going for us, which is nice.

Though their most recent tour this past October passed over DC in lieu of Charm City, fans of Thievery Corporation needn’t head into the new year without a live dose their trademark down tempo, genre-tripping electronica. On Saturday, December 12th, the DJ duo will get behind the decks at co-founder Eric Hilton’s 18th Street Lounge for an exclusive set that promises to dive deeply into their respective collections of esoteric aural oddities.

As of yet, news of the December DJ set — no classical Indian chants or guitar solos here, folks — hasn’t been formally posted by the band, their record label or the Lounge, but take it from us — tickets are now on sale and are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Contact info@eighteenthstreetlounge.com to find out where to pocket a pair for entry to this Christmas present come early, but bear in mind that this event is strictly 21 and up. Doors open at 9:30.

In the meantime head over to over Current TV for a sneak preview of the band’s upcoming appearance, where they’ll be playing tour guides to the DC underground.

For the rest of the beat that’s fit to tweet, check out the CultureMob blog or follow us on Twitter.

UPDATE: The promoters over that the 9:30 Club have just announced that Thievery will be playing three back-to-back live dates at the V Street venue on January 21st, 22nd and 23rd. Tickets are now on sale, so grab ‘em fast…the band managed to sell out a record-setting series of five shows at the very same club last year, after all.

Tim Burton exhibition opens at the Museum of Modern Art (through April 26)

New Amsterdam Market monthly Public Market on South Street from 11 a.m.

Michael Jackson’s Video Art at Film Society of Lincoln Center at 6:15 p.m.

“Don Giovanni” at the NY City Opera at 1:30 p.m.

Big Band Social on the Promenade of the David H. Koch Theater at 4:45 p.m.

Devendra Banhart at Town Hall at 8 p.m.

St. Petersburg String Quartet at BargeMusic at 3 p.m.

Nareh Arghamanyan concert at The Frick Collection at 5 p.m.

Port O’ Monkeys with Jeff Greene performance at 3 p.m. at the Museum at Eldridge Street

Hudson River Historic Concerts at Wave Hill: Stephen Hamilton directs actor Reed Birney in recreating a reading of
“Doctor Marigold” and “Mr. Bob Sawyer’s Party”, first given by Charles Dickens in 1868 at New York’s Steinway Hall and in Albany

NY Giants home game vs. Atlanta

NY Knicks vs Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden at 1 p.m.

Thanksgiving with the Beasts at the Staten Island Zoo

Free Urban Glass Open House

Urban Oyster tour of the Brooklyn Navy Yard

Municipal Art Society walking tour: Woodside Avenue, Queens at 11 a.m.

92Y Excursion: Lower East Side Synagogues, Bialystoker the Beautiful, Shteibl Row and the Sites of Historic East Broadway at 11 a.m.

ASSSSCAT 3000 comedy shows at Upright Citizens Brigade at 7:30 ($10) and 9:30 p.m. (free)