Life-Affirming Thanksgiving Celebration

Thursday, November 27 at 12:00-5:00pm
7400 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD
Celebrate Thanksgiving Day with hundreds of people enjoying a gourmet vegan feast at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda in Bethesda, Maryland. The VSDC Thanksgiving feast is an annual event that brings together vegetarians and non-vegetarians to enjoy life-affirming food and a wonderful social setting. This has been a very successful event for years so we feel confident that you will leave pleased again this year!

VSDC is really excited about having Wendy Rieger as our guest speaker this year. Ms. Rieger, who anchors NBC4 News4 at 5:00pm, will talk about her journey in becoming vegetarian as well as share insights from her view as a news anchor and environmentalist.

Registration and appetizers start at noon and the meal starts just after 1:00pm (you must arrive by 1:00pm)! An exciting, abundant menu is being finalized (so changes are possible) but will look something like the following:

Soup:
Roast Vegetables Saffron Soup
Salads / Appetizers:
Vegetable Crudités (Raw Vegetables)
Garden Salad with Pine Nuts, Avocado, and Raspberry Vinaigrette
Sauteed Kale with Onions
Freshly Baked Sourdough, Crusted Olive Bread and Pumpkin rolls with Olive Oil for Dipping

Hot Buffet:
Vegan Stuffing and Gravy with Cranberry Sauce
Hearty Thanksgiving Stuffed Tofu in Ginger Citrus Sauce
Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Tomato and Fennel Broth
Roasted Potatoes with Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Julienne Vegetables served with Asian Peanut Sauce
Country Harvest Rice Pilaf Cooked in Homemade Vegetable Stock

Dessert:
Vegan Pumpkin Pie
Fresh Seasonal Fruit and Berries
Beverages: Lemonade, Iced Tea, Freshly Brewed Coffee, and Teas

Stephen Svoboda will be performing soft live music on acoustic guitar! Additional socializing is planned after the meal, and non-profit exhibitors will be invited so you can learn about their great work. Door prizes and a silent auction will enable guests to acquire exciting vegan items. We will have special seating sections (e.g., tables marked for Singles, Family, Groups, or special needs) so please include such requests with your registration and we'll do our best to honor them.

Reservations are essential; there will be absolutely no walk-in registration. Register early — the price of the event (postmarked on or before October 31) including tax and gratuity, is $50 for VSDC members and $53 for non-members. Children aged 3-12 are $36, and those under age 3 are free. Highchairs are available upon request. After October 31, the cost for members is $53 and for non-members is $56. When you RSVP, please include the number of attendees in your party (spelling out all names), your email address or phone number for confirmation, and any seating preferences. All mailed-in reservations MUST be postmarked by November 20. To reserve, please send a check made payable to "VSDC" and mailed to: VSDC TG, PO Box 4921, Washington, DC 20008 (memo line: VSDC Thanksgiving).

We are in need of a volunteer to video tape this event. Please contact us if you are interested and able to do this.  http://www.vsdc.org/contact.html

Please bring vegan, non-perishable food items as donations for the Community of Hope, so we can help them in their mission of improving the quality of life for homeless, low-income, and underserved families and individuals.

Don't delay — sign up immediately and save money. Bring your family and friends, celebrate, and give thanks on this day in our very special way!

About VSDC:  http://www.vsdc.org/benefit.html