Cranberry Jam Not From a Can

There are people who love the holidays, love the cooking, the gift wrapping, and the time spent in the warm bosom of kith and kin. Those are them. And they're probably not looking to get blitzed the night before Thanksgiving. But you are. Before you drudge off to a self-imposed...

By Rebecca McBane

November 17, 2011

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There are people who love the holidays, love the cooking, the gift wrapping, and the time spent in the warm bosom of kith and kin. Those are them. And they're probably not looking to get blitzed the night before Thanksgiving. But you are. Before you drudge off to a self-imposed exile in Ohio or wherever you hail from, the Covenant House Young Professionals invite you to spend your last night in town at the 18th Annual Cranberry Jam Restaurant Showdown in the YOLO Plaza (333 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale). Enjoy live music by Audio Heist, win cool stuff in the raffle, listen to the musical stylings of special guest DJ -- all while some of the top restaurants in South Florida compete to win over your taste buds. Young Professionals raises awareness and money for Covenant House Florida, which in turn helps homeless, runaway, and at-risk kids and teens through outreach programs and crisis shelters. (Kind of makes you feel like a jerk for complaining about spending the holidays with your family, now doesn't it?) Advance admission is $20 for nonmembers, $15 for members, and if you'd like to attend and join this worthy social organization, you can do both for $25. At the door, add $5 to each level of admission. The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit the Facebook event page or youngpros.net.
Wed., Nov. 23, 6 p.m., 2011

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Rebecca McBane is the arts and culture/food editor for New Times Broward-Palm Beach. She began her journalism career at the Sun Sentinel's community newspaper offshoot, Forum Publishing Group, where she worked as the editorial assistant and wrote monthly features as well as the weekly library and literature column, "Shelf Life." After a brief stint bumming around London's East End (for no conceivable reason, according to her poor mother), she returned to real life and South Florida to start at New Times as the editorial assistant in 2009. A native Floridian, Rebecca avoids the sun and beach at all costs and can most often be found in a well-air-conditioned space with the glow of a laptop on her face.

Contact: Rebecca McBane

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