The Week In Eats

Get Out!

by Nikki Volpicelli

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Prepping a turkey is an art, one that leaves many first-timers injured by the time their guests are seated around the table starving for the centerpiece. For those of you who just had to try/fail, check out Tavern 17's professional T-Day feast. Give thanks for house-smoked bird with vanilla-infused sweet potato mash or lamb chops au poivre served with roasted garlic cheddar taters. Give thanks for the children's menu for kiddies. And most importantly, give thanks that you didn't break a sweat. Tavern 17, Warwick Hotel, 220 S. 17th St., 215-790-1799, tavern17restaurant.com. 

The Hill is celebrating Christmas on Germantown Avenue more than a month early, draping about 100,000 energy-efficient LED lights around 135 pine trees in a traditional dressing ceremony. Enjoy an evening of hot chocolate, cookies, caroling and all the other sweet stuff that made the Grinch's cold heart grow. The Mummers will start strutting at 5 p.m. sharp. Honestly, what would a holiday fete be without Mummers? Germantown Avenue and Highland Avenue, 215-247-6696, chestnuthillpa.com.

Tango is celebrating Black Friday with a special menu featuring dishes with the word "black" in 'em (e.g. black-eyed pea soup, blackened swordfish, black squid ink fettuccine). Sure, the prices may not necessarily fit the budget of the hungry shopper in need of a sit-down bailout come evening, but if you managed to save a wad of cash via door-buster deals and discounted prices, treat yourself to your very own early Christmas gift. Tango, 39 Morris Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-526-9500, tastetango.com.

You may not learn to sculpt a buttery statue of David, but after this art class, you'll be confident in your ability to spruce up a table. Chef John Reese shapes fruit, veggies and other edible materials into creative focal points for any plate. The demo will be filmed and DVDs will be available for purchase. Reservations required. Cliveden of the National Trust, 6401 Germantown Ave., 215-438-6003, cliveden1767.wordpress.com.

Once the feasting is over and the "how have you been/wow you've lost weight/why don't you visit more" chatter ceases, head down to South Philly's Devil's Den to polish off pumpkin ales and watch the Eagles — without grandpa snoring in the background. Don't bother with dessert — Southern Tier Pumking (9 percent APV) is drunken pie in a bottle. Devil's Den, 1148 S. 11th St., 215-339-0855, devilsdenphilly.com.