Thursday, November 22, 2012, 12:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency, Bethesda, MD.

The VSDC Life-Affirming Thanksgiving is an annual event that brings together vegetarians and non-vegetarians to enjoy compassionate and healthy food and a wonderful social setting.  Celebrate Thanksgiving Day with hundreds of people enjoying a gourmet vegan feast at the annual Vegetarian Society of DC (VSDC) Life-Affirming Thanksgiving Celebration.

 This annual event brings together vegetarians and non-vegetarians to enjoy compassionate and healthy food in a wonderful social setting. The programming includes exciting door prizes, a silent auction fundraiser, exhibitors, and a live musical act following lunch. Everyone will leave with vegan chocolates from Rose City Chocolates. Someone will walk away with a Vita-Mix, others will leave with gift certificates, while still others will be enjoying the Bamboo cutting board, Tofurky Lunch Box filled with goodies, a one-night free stay from Hyatt, just to name a few things.

This has been a very successful event for years so we feel confident that you will leave pleased again this year!

Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Milton Mills, a practicing physician and the Associate Director of Preventative Medicine with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Dr. Mills will speak about the health benefits of a plant-based diet. He is an accomplished speaker, television commentator, and author. Dr. Mills is a graduate of the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Our exciting, abundant buffet menu is:

Soup

- Coconut Butternut Squash Soup [1]

Salads / Appetizers

Vegetable Crudités (Raw Vegetables) with Artichoke Hummus, Moroccan Carrot Dip [2] Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Spread [12]

Garden Salad with Pine Nuts, Avocado, and Raspberry Vinaigrette

 Freshly Baked Sourdough, Crusted Olive Bread, and Pumpkin Rolls with Herb-Infused Oil for dipping

Hot Buffet

Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Tomato and Fennel Broth Red and Black Rice Stuffing with Red Lentils, Almonds, and Cranberries [3]

Vegan Country “Meat” Loaf with Golden Gravy [4]

Sage-and-Pumpkin Seed Encrusted Seitan with Roasted Garlic-Pumpkin Sauce [5]

Spicy Collard Greens with Sun-Dried Tomatoes [6]

Green Bean Casserole [7]

Mashed Potatoes with Groovy Onion Gravy [8]

Traditional Cranberry Sauce [9]

 Dessert

Vegan Pumpkin Pie [10]

 Beverages

Spiced Cider [12], Iced Tea, Freshly Brewed Coffee, and Teas

 RESERVATIONS

 Registration is open on the VSDC Thanksgiving page (http://www.vsdc.org/Thanksgiving_Event.html). You can make a reservation using your credit card (via PayPal) or you can print a registration form and mail it to VSDC. The registration fee is $2 lower if you register with a check via mail compared to PayPal.

 All registrations must be received by Monday, November 19.  Online registration will close at noon on November 19th.  Mailed in registrations must be postmarked by November 13th.  Reservations are essential; there will be absolutely no walk-in registrations.

 Please note that RSVPing on this Meetup page does not get you into the event. Nor does it guarantee you a place at the proverbial (and literal) table. This is simply a way to alert people of the event.

 DONATIONS

--The Washington Humane Society has been the DC area’s leading voice of compassion for pets and wildlife since 1870. VSDC will accept donations from the Washington Humane Society's wish list at our Thanksgiving event.

 --Community of Hope provides our underserved neighbors with the building blocks they need to create meaningful lives and better futures. Please bring vegan, non-perishable food items as donations, so we can help them in their mission of improving the quality of life for homeless, low-income, and underserved families and individuals.