11/17/23 Volume 2 Issue 47
Five on Friday
November 17, 2023
“The turkey. The sweet potatoes. The stuffing. The pumpkin pie. Is there anything else we all can agree so vehemently about? I don’t think so.” –Nora Ephron
One: Thanksgiving Prep
Thanksgiving is less than one week away. Family gatherings, chaotic travel, big meals, and activities. Are you ready? Check your to-do list, and read this newsletter for things to do to prepare.
From People, 12 Last-Minute Thanksgiving Essentials You May Have Forgotten About — Prices Start at Just $5
From Martha Stewart, Use This Get-Ahead Timeline for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving Dinner
For travelers, from The New York Times, Air Travel Is Chaos. This Gear Will Help Get You Through the Exasperating Delays.
Plan your outfits:
From Vogue, The Affordable Fashion Edit: Over 100 Pieces Under $300
From Rank & Style, Fall’s Must-Have Jewelry Trends
Last year, I wrote about Thanksgiving Traditions and Outfits, read or reread it for more ideas.
Two: What to Watch
Thanksgiving episodes:
I’m still shocked by Matthew Perry’s death, but I have found comfort in rewatching Friends. Chandler Bing’s hatred of Thanksgiving always provided funny content.
From Buzzfeed, I Made A Playlist Of All The “Friends” Thanksgiving Episodes
From PureWow, The 30 Best Thanksgiving Episodes from Our Favorite TV Shows
Christmas Countdown:
The Christmas Countdown is in full swing. Each week, I will let you know about the premieres of the new Christmas movies.
Lifetime and Netflix have joined the Christmas Countdown with new movies this week.
Hallmark (Peacock):
See the full list from ET, Hallmark Channel’s 2023 Counting Down to Christmas Movie Lineup: See the Schedule!
Note: You can watch these movies right after they air on Peacock, but they disappear from their collection within a week. To catch up later, watch on demand or record them on the Hallmark channel.
Navigating Christmas (Nov. 17th), Recently divorced Melanie (Hobbs) and her son Jason visit a remote island for Christmas, only to find themselves running a real working lighthouse where she connects with the curt but cute owner (Huszar).
A Merry Scottish Christmas (Nov. 18th), When estranged siblings, Lindsay (Chabert) and Brad (Wolf) Morgan travel to Scotland at Christmas to reunite with their mother Jo, a big family secret is revealed.
Holiday Hotline (Nov. 19th), After leaving London, Abby (Tennant) connects with an anonymous caller while working at a cooking hotline. The caller is single dad “John” (Matter) who Abby unknowingly has become smitten with in real life.
Catch Me If You Claus (Nov. 23rd), Avery Quinn (Ricci) is an aspiring news anchor who’s finally getting her big break on her station’s Christmas morning newscast. But that’s put in jeopardy when she captures an intruder in her home wearing a red suit claiming to be Chris (Macfarlane), Santa’s son, who is on his first mission. A night of adventure ensues as they find themselves being pursued by the police as well as some shady characters. Along the way, they connect over living in the shadow of their parents and inspire each other to go after their dreams.
Lifetime: (Watch live on Hulu if you have that type of subscription, stream it after it airs)
For the full list: Lifetime to release 12 new Christmas movies starring Teri Hatcher, Tia Mowry, and more — see the schedule
Christmas Plus One (Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT), “When sisters Cara (Emily Alatalo) and Amy (Vanessa Smythe) make a pact to find their soulmates by next Christmas, they’re not expecting anything to come from it. However, one year later, Amy’s winter wedding is approaching, and Cara finally finds her own perfect man, Chase (Andrew Bushell), who agrees to attend as her plus one. But after immediately losing his number, all hope is lost. Will she find him in time to make her Christmas wish come true? Or does love have other plans for Cara when magazine writer Michael (Corey Sevier) signs on to help her in her quest?”
Planes, Trains, and Christmas Trees (Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT), “During a business trip to Indiana, event planner Kayley (Kathryn Davis) and sports agent Brett (Olivier Renaud) find themselves unable to fly home for Christmas due to a terrible snowstorm. Determined to get back to New York by Christmas Eve, the two team up and try to make their own way home, but when the storm hits, they’re forced to seek refuge in the sleepy town of Redwood, Ohio; a place that ignites some much-needed Christmas magic in their hearts.“
Netflix:
Read: November new releases from Tulum and from Vulture.
Best Christmas Ever! (film), After a twist of fate brings their families together for Christmas, Charlotte sets out to prove her old friend Jackie’s life is too good to be true.
Rustin (drama/documentary 2023 film), Bayard Rustin, advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., dedicates his life to the quest for racial equality, human rights and worldwide democracy. However, as an openly gay Black man, he is all but erased from the civil rights movement he helped build.
The Crown (season 6, part 1), Queen Elizabeth II reflects on her legacy and lineage as Diana dazzles the public in the final weeks of her life and the monarchy faces a reckoning.
Downton Abbey (series), If you’ve never watched this series, now is a good time to binge watch. Exposing the snobbery and machinations of a vanishing class system, this series chronicles events in the lives of the Crawley family and their servants. Some people prefer this series to the Gilded Age.
Matt Rife: Natural Selection – Netflix Comedy
Max (HBO):
New on HBO and Max: November 2023 from Vulture and PureWow.
Julia (season 2 premiere), The show is a dramatized retelling of Julia Child’s life and career, starring Sarah Lancashire in the titular role. In the new installment, the aspiring chef must navigate her show’s newfound success all while tackling social issues—like gender discrimination.
Hulu:
New on Hulu: November 2023 from Vulture.
FX’s A Murder at the End of the World (two-episode limited series premiere), A Gen Z hacker seeks the truth behind the death of a guest at an ultra-exclusive retreat hosted by a tech billionaire in the series created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij (‘The OA’). THR
The Lady Bird Diaries (documentary film), Telling the story of one of the most influential and least understood first ladies in history, Lady Bird Johnson, using her own audio diaries.
The Secret Life of Dancing Dogs, complete docuseries, A pack of handlers and their canine counterparts from all over the globe each prepare a dog-human duet worthy to compete at a dog show.
Drive with Swizz Beatz (docuseries), Swizz Beatz, hip-hop legend and car collector, and his son Nasir Dean visit places where cars are loved. The two try to investigate the region-specific car culture and bring car clubs together.
Disney+:
New on Disney+: November 2023 from Vulture.
Dashing Through the Snow (2023 film), A social worker remembers the joy and magic of the Yuletide season after a Christmas Eve journey with his estranged daughter.
Amazon Prime:
New on Amazon Prime Video: November 2023 from Vulture.
Twin Love (series premiere, reality): Ten sets of twins will be divided into two houses with identical casts, where they will start an intriguing search for love.
Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story (documentary), Presents a portrait of Tyler Perry, the billionaire writer, actor, filmmaker and studio head.
Peacock:
New on Peacock: November 2023 from Vulture.
Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain (2023 comedy film), Three deadbeat co-workers fend off hairless bears, desperate park rangers and a hypocritical cult leader while searching for a priceless treasure.
Apple TV+:
The Buccaneers (drama series starts 11/8/23), Sent to secure husbands and titles, young American women explode into the tightly corseted London season of the 1870s, kicking off an Anglo-American culture clash.
Paramount+:
Paramount Plus November 2023 Schedule: New TV & Movie Release Dates
In Theaters:
Thanksgiving (horror/slasher), After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the holiday.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (drama/action), A prequel to the Hunger Games books and movies, based on the novel. Years before he becomes the tyrannical president of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow remains the last hope for his fading lineage. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow becomes alarmed when he’s assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird from District 12. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and political savvy, they race against time to ultimately reveal who’s a songbird and who’s a snake.
May December (drama/romance), Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance, a married couple buckle under the pressure when a Hollywood actress meets them to do research for a film about their past.
Next Goal Wins (sports/drama), Dutch coach Thomas Rongen tries to turn the American Samoa soccer team into winners.
Saltburn (drama/thriller), A student is invited to an eccentric classmate’s estate for an exciting summer.
Trolls Band Together (animation/comedy), Poppy discovers that Branch and his four brothers were once part of her favorite boy band. When one of his siblings, Floyd, gets kidnapped by a pair of nefarious villains, Branch and Poppy embark on a harrowing and emotional journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd from a fate even worse than pop culture obscurity.
Three: What to Wear
Sweater sets:
Get cozy and chill in your sweater set while watching your favorite shows or reading your book.
From Rank & Style, Trending Sweater Sets
Four: What to Try
Family Game Night:
If you are gathering with your family for the holidays, ask everyone to put away their devices and participate in family game night.
Looking for ideas? Read, 50 Best Family Game Night Ideas For All Ages
Five: What to Do
Donate: November is National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Month
In Boston:
Volunteer – https://stfrancishouse.org/volunteer/
Donate – Donate Clothing or make a financial donation. $25 provides a Thanksgiving meal.
Project Bread: Holiday Giving . Donate or create a Facebook fundraiser. $35 provides a meal.
Volunteer – in person or create street outreach bags, welcome home baskets, or drop off snacks for donation.
Donate Goods, purchase items from the Amazon wish list, or donate money. $40 for Thanksgiving meal.
The Home for Little Wanderers:
Big Wishes Gift Drive – “This time of year can be especially difficult for the children and families we serve, but you can make it brighter by donating a toy to our Toy Room, sending a gift card or making a monetary gift to The Home.” ends December 21.
Organize your gift lists and Shop:
The sales have begun, and several companies have started their Black Friday deals.
From Rank & Style, The Best Gifts Of 2023
From Refinery 29, 24 Free People Gifts That Are Oh-So Dashing (& Under $50)
Banana Republic’s Gift Guide
From Rank & Style, Gifts For Mom
Oprah’s Favorite Things from Rank & Style.
Lifestyle of a Fashionista 
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