Quote:
Originally Posted by
grimslade 
I don't think it's crass, but I do think it's a little sad. A recipe for sadness, if you will, since you transform an occasion to offer others in your life something made with your own hands into an opportunity to "plop down some $ and not have to worry about anything else."
I don't know, people make their own traditions. If SoCal and his family from out-of-town would enjoy their time together more by eating out, what's so terrible about that? Despite my generally misanthropic disposition, I really like family Thanksgivings (much more so than many other traditional holidays). I enjoy cooking, and the bustle of getting ready with small children and drunk old people getting underfoot is part of the fun. But I can certainly understand people at a different point in life finding that more of a hassle than a plus. One year when I was in law school, my mother and younger brother were in town for Thanksgiving day on their way to some event. I had a crappy little apartment with a makeshift kitchen and not a lot of free time. The three of us, after a desultory search for restaurants open Thanksgiving day, ended up going to some mediocre seafood place in Jack London Square. We actually had a really nice time and still talk about it when we get together for more traditional Thanksgivings.
Anyway, I'm on the wrong coast, so unfortunately can't offer any useful suggestions. I do think, knowing some people who cook for hotel restaurants, that restaurants associated with hotels are often more likely to be open for holidays.