Dream Friendsgiving Guest Lists
Friends of Graza share would make the cut for their ultimate Friendsgiving guest list... from dreams of passing candied yams to Zora Neale Hurston and Dolly Parton behind the bar to Beverly Glenn Copeland on DJ duty!
Kia Damon, chef behind the Florida Water Tour (and author of the upcoming Cooking with Florida Water): In my wildest Friendsgiving dreams, I’d be passing candied yams to Zora Neale Hurston and gossiping over cornbread with Prince. Although as a Jehovah's Witness, Prince didn’t celebrate holidays so I’m unsure what I’d say to finesse him into attending.
Stacey Mei Yan Fong, author of 50 Pies, 50 States: My dream friendsgiving list has a little bit of song, a little bit of food and a lot of heart. I would love first of all for my best friend Lauren to be there, I don't really do much life without her. Then my dream list in no particular order: Dolly Parton, John Prine, Julia Child, Padma Laksmi, Martin Yan from Yan can cook and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. I want it to be potluck style, drinks flowing, tunes blaring and the clothes we are wearing very soft.
Jesse & Javier Zuñiga, founders of Bad Habit and Caleta: Our dream Friendsgiving’s guest list would include, first and foremost, our puppy Slayer, and a mix of artists and creators we would 1. love to sit down with and 2. think would be down for a good time (which really is key for a Friendsgiving guest list, isn’t it?!): Robin Williams, Vivienne Westwood, Henry Rollins, Jane Birkin, Rachel Sennott, Paul Mescal, Dion Agius.
Angela Dimayuga, chef and activist: I don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but I'd love to invite my fantasy friendsgiving guests over to mine to make care packages for Lenape Native kids. I'll light a fire in my wood burning oven to make grill-to-order skewers and roasted chestnuts to fuel us while we work. Dolly Parton would be bartending with her own warm custom cocktails (or just pouring tequila shots--whatever she wants!), Lucy Lui would be painting custom wrapping paper for the gifts, and the backdrop music would be supplied by Beverly Glenn Copeland playing records from his personal collection. We'd all be cozy in matching custom slippers I'd prepare for us and would obviously go in the care packages too!
Kate Glavan, co-founder of Sea Moss Girlies: My dream list for a Friendsgiving gathering would be my favorites in the world. I’d have Andrew Huberman for all of the health information, Lana Del Rey for musical needs, my mom for planning the antics, Dorothy Gale for some magic, and whoever invented cottage cheese can also have a seat at the table.
Caitlin Hubner, founder of CAIT'S KEY LIME: 1. Lucille Ball - the funniest woman to have ever lived. My mom grew up on I Love Lucy then raised us on it -- her timing, physical comedy, all immaculate. She paved the way for so many other favorites; namely Fran Drescher as Fran Fine (she's invited too). 2. James Gandolfini - Feel like he would give the most incredible hug of all time, he's seated at one of the heads of the table for maximum storytelling positioning. 3, Joan Rivers - another comedy icon. She would be there to comment on how everyone (including the turkey) is dressed. 4. Whitney Houston - the greatest voice of all time. She's there to just relax but then after dinner she sings some Christmas songs by a fire because everyone knows that after the last bite of Thanksgiving dessert... it's Christmas.