I am not in the mood to cook this year and noone has invited us. We would like to go out with another family, spend some time in the city, have dinner and get back home (we live in the suburb). Most shows have no performance on Thanksgiving day, all museums are closed. Is there anything fun we could do besides walking in the city? We are four adults and three kids, ages 7-11. Thanks for your suggestions.

Visit Central Park.

Top of the Rock is open.

Look at all the windows on Fifth Ave, St Pats and skaters at Rock Center.

The Staten Island ferry is free - and has great views.

I hope you have reservations for dinner - or plan on something basic and ethnic. (Many places are closes and many that are open have reserved only set meals at specific hours.)

There are some shows with performances but they're at night at 8 pm (it Phantom). Ice skating, walking around to see the Xmas windows, Radio City Xmas Spectacular (!), Top of the Rock, a Circle Line cruise are some ideas. Here's a fuller list. http://www.newyorkology.com/archives..._open_than.php
If the kids haven't seen the Xmas Spectacular, that would be a top pick. The Big Apple Circus is also on.

You should book some place for your meal. Have a look on opentable.com or post back with budget.

Well, don't plan on something "ethnic". Alot of Chinese and other "ethnic" restaurants traditionally close on Thanksgiving Day. Given the economy, I'm not quite sure what to expect this year, but this is the holiday that non-native Americans have taken to with great relish and the one holiday they take off to be with their own families. Greek diners, however, are traditionally open, and there are plenty of those to choose from.

It's still quite possible to get a reservation for Thanksgiving. I just made one a couple of days ago and had no problem at all, though some upscale places (Blue Hill, for example) were filled weeks ago.

Here's a pretty good compendium of things to do in NYC and what's open on Thanksgiving - everything from the above mentioned SI Ferry and Top of the Rock to the Big Apple Circus and the Jewish Children's Museum.
http://www.newyorkology.com/archives..._open_than.php

Great information! I am so thankful to all of you.