Thanksgiving weekend: 5 things to do if you want to avoid Black Friday madness

Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but Thanksgiving weekend and the days leading up to it have always been reserved for spending quality time with the fam and, well, indulging in Thanksgiving dinner leftovers.

Pumpkin pie, anyone?

Who wants to spend it camping outside in the freezing cold just to be the first person in line for a flat screen TV?

Not me!

Just take a look at this:

But if you're tired of the Black Friday chaos and want to do something in the days after the holiday that doesn't involve a 19th serving of stuffing, here are five suggestions.

You can thank us, pun intended, later.

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If you have kids…

Potter Park Zoo

After your turkey dinner, head to Potter Park Zoo to admire the thousands of lights and holiday displays that are the centerpiece of the zoo's annual Wonderland of Lights.

That's right, it's open on Thanksgiving Day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Say hello to Serena, the snow leopard, or wander through the bird and reptile house. There will also be cookies and craft activities.

New this year is a Santa house. Every Friday and Saturday until Dec. 23, kids get a meet-and-greet and their photo taken with Mr. Claus.

How to go: Wonderland of Lights from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays until Dec. 31, excluding Christmas Day. Potter Park Zoo, 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Lansing. Adult tickets cost $7 and $5 for kids between the ages of three and 12. Children under 3 are free. potterparkzoo.org

Family Day at The Grid

The Grid in Old Town is usually closed off to those under 21 but not on Family Days, which are held once a month.

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From noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, kids with adult supervision can play retro games, from Donkey Kong and Tetris to Frogger and Robocop pinball.

"It's fun to watch all the kids get introduced to some of the old-school arcade and pinball games," said owner Corey Montie.

Adults? Don't worry. The Grid has 40 craft beers on tap and 18 specialty cocktails.

How to go: Family Day at The Grid from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at 226 E. Grand River Ave. in Lansing. Closed Thanksgiving Day. All games operate using tokens, which go for 25 cents each. thegridoldtown.com

Impression 5

If your little ones still haven't met Clifford the Big Red Dog, there's good news: Impression 5's traveling exhibit featuring a 9-foot-tall Clifford runs through Jan. 7.

Also? Scientific activities are held on the weekends, and they're always free although admission fees still apply, said Morgan Butts, Impression 5's creative communicator.

November's theme is body science, which means children can make bone models out of recyclable material, while learning about each bone's function.

How to go: Impression 5's scientific activities are held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Regular Thanksgiving weekend hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Thanksgiving Day. Impression 5, 200 Museum Dr. in Lansing. Admission rates: $8.50 adults and children 2 and up, $7 seniors and military members. Children under 1 are free. impression5.org

If you absolutely need to get away from your family...

Had enough of listening or singing along to Christmas carols?

Tired of pretending to laugh your uncles' so-not-funny jokes?

Head on over to Dagwood's, where it's quiet, dim and the folks there only have one thing on their mind: a good drink.

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Of course, other bars will be open and probably lots of fun, too, but where else can you tackle a 15-patty cheese burger the day after gorging on turkey? Not that brave? You might want to stick with a five or 10-patty burger. Better yet? Just ... never mind. Leave it to the pros.

How to go: Dagwood's Tavern & Grill, 2803 E. Kalamazoo St. in Lansing. Closed Thanksgiving Day. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday.

If you're feeling nostalgic...

Pinball Pete's

Pacman? Skeeball? Galaga?

From pinball machines to air hockey, Pinball Pete's is nostalgia at its finest, even if it's nostalgia for games your parents played.

How to go: Pinball Pete's, 220 Albert Ave. in East Lansing. Noon to midnight Sunday through Thursday, noon to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Thanksgiving Day. Games range from 25 cents to $1.25. www.pinballpetes.net

Turner-Dodge House

Searching for someplace rich in history? Then round up your family and friends after the turkey coma wears off and schedule a guided tour at the Turner-Dodge House.

Built for James and Marion Turner, the 1858 house boasts Classical Revival-style architecture. Thirty-five years ago, the three-story house was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Dodge Mansion and get this: It's the only 19th Century residence in Greater Lansing that's still open to the public.

"James Turner was a true pioneer in every sense of the word, helping to establish Lansing as the capital city," said Barbara Loyer, program director for the Turner-Dodge House.

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James and Marion's daughter, Abigail, married Frank Dodge in 1888. Together, they purchased the house, and they later had it renovated by Lansing architect Darius Moon so that it could accommodate their growing family. Abigail lived in the house until the day she died in 1947, Loyer said.

Inside the house you'll find Mrs. Dodge's custom Steinway piano and oil paintings she painted herself. Fun fact: In 1869, Mr. Turner took Abigail to Washington when she was 8 years old. She played a recital for then President Ulysses S. Grant.

How to go: Turner-Dodge House, 100 E. North St. in Lansing. Closed Thanksgiving Day. Special Thanksgiving weekend hours: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $5 per person and $3.50 for City of Lansing residents.

If you want to make your own drinks at home…

Spend your Friday afternoon in a cocktail making class, where you'll learn all the proper techniques that are sure to come in handy the minute the kids or your S.O. start driving you crazy.

"If you don't have good spirits, you're not going to have a good cocktail," said Rick Wyble, head distiller and president for American Fifth Spirits. "Fresh ingredients and a citrus component are also important."

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Insider Deal: 10% off cocktail class on Black Friday

The best part? You get to drink what you make, including a Ramos gin fizz cocktail from the late 1800s. And you'll leave with a set of tools, including a shaker set and strainer.

How to go: Cocktail class from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday. Closed Thanksgiving Day. American Fifth Spirits, 112 N. Larch St. in Lansing. $85 per person, $150 per couple. Limited spots available. Tickets must be purchased through www.eventbrite.com.

If you enjoy beer and boats…

All aboard!

The Michigan Princess is hosting a Black Friday brew cruise, featuring light appetizers and over 40 seasonal beers and ciders, including a blueberry maple stout, ginger peach cider and salted caramel porter.

"For those who don't want to shop on Black Friday, this is something laid-back and different," said Paul Starr, creator and owner of imabeerhound.com, a Michigan beer news website.

What makes a good beer? "Something solid from start to finish and no shortcuts," Starr said.

Planning to attend the brew cruise? There's no set structure. Just a bunch of folks sampling beer and having a good time. A DJ will be on board spinning the tunes, as well.

How to go: Michigan Princess Black Friday brew cruise, doors open at 6 p.m., riverboat departs at 7 p.m. and returns at 10 p.m., party ends at 11 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day. The Michigan Princess is located inside Grand River Park, across the street from the Dispatch Bar & Grill at 3004 West Main St. in Lansing. $20 per person. Tickets can be purchased at www.michiganprincess.com/events/784.

Princess Gabbara is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact her at pgabbara@lsj.com or (517) 377-1006. Follow her on Twitter at @PrincessGabbara.