Relax … and Give Back!

The new V Spa at Dallas' Hilton Anatole Hotel Has the perfect way to help a local charity while winding down from your Thanksgiving stress. Through Nov 30, the spa will donate a portion of sales from its treatments to Genesis Women's Shelter, which provides safety and shelter to local battered women and their children. The spa offers manicures, pedicures, massage, facials, men's treatments and more. Services are available from 9am-8pm daily. Call 214/761-7800 to make an appointment.

Give It Up!

At some point, you've probably hurried past someone collecting for charity, grimacing as you pat your pockets and mumble, "Sorry, I don't have any cash on me!" But this Christmas season, The Salvation Army is one step ahead of you: The ubiquitous red kettles are going cashless. The new techno-savvy kettles were set to roll out in Dallas Nov 20 and will be set up in 12 locations across the Metroplex. The kettles will be equipped with credit card scanners attached to the stands. So be on the lookout for the new high-tech giving gadgets ... and have your card ready!

TV Time

Tune in to the CBS Early Show this Saturday (Nov 22), and you might see a familiar face: Chef Jon Bonnell of Fort Worth's Bonnell's Fine Texas Cuisine. The culinary dynamo will present a special "Chef on a Shoestring" segment in which he'll create a traditional (and delicious!) Thanksgiving feast for just $80. When viewers across the U.S. see dishes like Butternut Squash Soup with Chili-Spiced Pecans and Pumpkin Seeds and Pumpkin-Spiced Cheesecake with Cinnamon Bourbon Whipped Cream, they'll learn what Fort Worth foodies have known for ages: Bonnell is a local gem.

— Claudia

How Not to Cook on Thanksgiving

Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes with little marshmallows, pumpkin pie, green-bean casserole - all homemade ... Wait, are you kidding?! I can barely get spaghetti with Newman's Own sauce on the dinner table without some minor disaster (or major whining). If Turkey Day seems just a bit insurmountable to you too, you might want to check out the Thanksgiving Day Ballroom Brunch at The Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. You'll get an eye-popping (and gut-busting) selection of ham, prime rib, sushi, omelets and, of course, turkey with sage dressing. There will even be an elaborate children's buffet (just their size!) featuring all their favorite foods. Top it all off with a dessert table that includes a chocolate fountain and sugar-free goodies.

Reservations are recommended. The price is $65 adults; $25 children ages 6-12; and free for children under 6. You can even add tickets to the "ICE! Exhibit," Gaylord's winter wonderland featuring 2 million pounds of ice carved into life-size sculptures, for $75 adults; $30 children 6-12; and free for children under 6. Call 817/778-2000 or visit www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-texan.

— Claudia

Delicious Decision

Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops want you to vote, and they're ready to put their ice cream where their mouths are (actually, where your mouths are). The dreamy ice creamery, which has locations in Plano, McKinney and Highland Village, will give away free scoops (one per customer) from 5-8pm Nov 4, Election Day, in celebration of democracy. So get out there and vote (yes, it really is that important!), and then treat yourself to some Chunky Monkey, Cherry Garcia or any other decadent B&J flavor. You earned it!

— Claudia