5 Things To Do Black Friday

Not everyone wants to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Plopping down on the couch in front of a television is not the only alternative. Here is a list of five local activities for Black Friday, or anytime this weekend.

1. Gor For a Walk at Prairie Lakes Community Center

What better way to follow a day of consuming snacks, turkey and pie than with an invigorating walk? Prairie Lakes Community Center will be open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday. It has an indoor walking track above the basketball courts, which will also be open to the public. For a small fee you can use the facility's fitness center, including treadmills, weight machines and a whirlpool.

After burning some holiday calories Friday morning at the community center, head over to a favorite local restaurant for a lunch in stark contrast to Thanksgiving dinner.

Prairie Lakes Community Center, 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines, 847-391-5711.

2.  Eat seafood

If you've had enough turkey for a while, enjoying some fish at Don's Dock may be a welcome menu. Stuffed salmon, fried shrimp and crab bisque are a few of the items you'll find at this Des Plaines staple. Since 1951 Don's Dock has fed the local population grilled and fried fish. You can also purchase fresh seafood by the pound to take home and cook your own creation.

But if you were the cook on Thanksgiving, you're probably going to prefer eating at the no-frills, homey dining area at Don's. They're open Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

After exercising and having a good meal, you've got the whole afternoon in front of you. Following the excitement and celebration of the holiday, a little quiet time may be in order.

Don's Dock, 1220 E. Northwest Highway, Des Plaines, 847-827-1817.

3. Curl up with a book

The Des Plaines Public Library is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. It has comfortable reading areas with large windows in the northwest corner of the building overlooking downtown. If you're not sure what to select from the 275,000-plus collection, take a look at the staff picks on the library's website. Joel Sawyer, reader services, recommends an audiobook, Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War" by Nathaniel Philbrick, and the novel American Gods by Neil Gaiman, for the holiday weekend. Mayflower presents a realistic picture of life as a pilgrim in the Plymouth Colony, and American Gods has to do with what happens when immigrants leave old belief systems behind and adapt new ones.

Now that you've exercised your mind, it's time to consider the evening. If you cooked on Thanksgiving, going out for dinner Friday may be appealing. It doesn't get any more straight forward than pizza on Friday nights.

Des Plaines Public Library, 1501 Ellinwood St., Des Plaines, 847-827-5551.

4. Go out for pizza

Since 1969 Barnaby's has been serving its famous thin-crust pizza with sausage and mushrooms. The family-friendly dining room is dark, has lots of heavy wooden tables with bench seats and a juke box. Order some fried mozzarella sticks, some pop, beer or wine and enjoy some quality family time without the cleanup. Barnaby's will be open 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday.

After a fun pizza dinner, a great way to finish the evening is going to the show.

Barnaby's, 636 E. Touhy Ave., Des Plaines, 847-297-8866.

5. Watch Megamind at the Pickwick

Thanksgiving weekend is often associated with newly released movies, and one that has received some positive reviews is Megamind, the animated story of a super villain and superhero featuring the voices of Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt and Tina Fey. One excellent place to see Megamind is at the historical Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge. The architecture and ambiance of a theater with so much history makes the experience special. Showtimes for Megamind on Friday are 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

Pickwick Theatre, 5 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge,  847-825-5800.