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Last year, Valley residents were just pouring gravy over their mashed potatoes.
This year, they can wrestle in it.
More Valley bars and clubs than ever before are hosting events this Thanksgiving week—from high-profile dance nights to a Twister-and-DJ party to a gravy bikini wrestling competition.
Typically, the night before Thanksgiving is a casual, neighborhood bar affair, as people return home to reconnect with old friends before they spend the next day doing the same with family. The Tempe party collective RedMonkey stands out as an exception with its long-running Work That Turkey dance party on Thanksgiving night, as does the venerable but now closed El Chorro Lodge in Paradise Valley, with its pre-Thanksgiving party catering to the well-heeled 35- and-older crowd.
But amid this year's rough economic climate, club and bar promoters are looking to capitalize on any occasion to boost attendance, even if it means turning a national holiday marking gratitude and togetherness into a mini weekend in the middle of the week.
Axis/Radius: That's what Scottsdale-based event planner and promoter Steve LeVine's doing with Axis/Radius' Gobble Get Down Friday night. The 18-and-older event typically caters to a crowd that's made a special point to go out that night.
"Normally, for a Friday night party, we don't make flyers. But because a lot of people are coming home, we want to host something fun that's not just your neighborhood bar," he said.
"This year, things are not the same as they were before, so a lot of bars and clubs are trying to open every night and get as much business as they can."
Hurricane Bay: The most outrageous Valley party Thanksgiving week is at the west Phoenix club Hurricane Bay, where owners are hosting "Come Get Sauced!" on Wednesday night featuring cranberry sauce and turkey gravy bikini wrestling. Little person Mark Trombino, a Valley-based motivational speaker and actor, will referee.
"We've done Thanksgiving Eve parties before and typically have had a big turnout, but we haven't planned anything as big as this before," club owner Steffani Pratico said.
Jet at Tempe Marketplace: On the same night on the other side of the Valley, Australian pop-rockers Jet will perform to an expected crowd of 2,000 at Tempe Marketplace as part of KUPD's (97.9) Homeless for the Holidays concert series. The band is known for their inescapable 2003 hit "Are You Gonna Be My Girl," and guests can get into the show with five canned goods or $5.
Wrigley Mansion and Estate House: Also on Wednesday night, two new events have sprung up to replace El Chorro Lodge's pre-Thanksgiving party now that the restaurant is closed for remodeling until February.
Phoenix's Rhonda Verona used to love the parties.
"Usually, (El Chorro) was filled with older people and was very quiet, but the night before Thanksgiving, it would be wall-to-wall young people and you could barely get in," she said.
Now, Verona is deciding between a party at Phoenix's Wrigley Mansion or a soiree at the Estate House. Wrigley Mansion's low-key Thanksgiving Eve party kicks off at 3 p.m. on the patio at Geordie's with music from resident performer Alan Dequina
The upscale Estate House in Scottsdale hosts the fourth Raven's Thanksgiving Eve party, where organizer Raven Valdes expects 400-500 guests. Santana cover band Kokomo will perform and she's brought in a cigar roller to add a sophisticated touch to the night.
"Thanksgiving isn't one of those holidays where a lot of people go out of town; they tend to wait for Christmas," said Valdes. "I figure people want to take advantage of that night off."
SideBar: On Thanksgiving night, party promoter Jen Deveroux banded together with DJ friends to put on a party named Turkey Tits at SideBar in Phoenix. She sees it as a home away from home, bringing in homemade desserts and games like Twister and Spin the Bottle to give it a kitschy, house party feel.
"A lot of people don't have family here and are seriously transits," Deveroux said. "I decided to create an event this year where people can...hang out with friends."
