There are a lot of components that go into planning the perfect Turkey Day. Besides testing recipes and organizing oven schedules at home, you have to consider what to bring to Friendsgiving potlucks, where to make reservations if you’re dining out, and the best ways to give back to the community in honor of the festive feast. Whether it’s placing a pie order or volunteering your time, here are a few suggestions.

Potluck Picks

Alma Cocina Latina: This Canton dining destination is offering unique takeaway items including chocolate fruit cake, house-bottled egg nog, and Venezuelan holiday ham bread rolled with olives, bacon, and raisins. 2400 Boston St., 667-212-4273

Atwater’s: From soup and sides to desserts and house-baked breads, this local cafe has all of the essentials. Standouts include maple-glazed sweet potatoes, sausage and cornbread stuffing, housemade apple butter, and pumpkin cheesecake. Multiple locations including 3601 Boston St., 667-309-7146

Center Cut Doughnuts: Owner Josh Kowitz has dreamed up some creative flavors at his Hampden shop in honor of the holiday. This weekend through Thanksgiving Eve, Center Cut will be offering packs of four or six doughnuts in festive flavors including brown butter pecan, cranberry-orange, glazed-honey carrot, and the “Yam I Am” stuffed with marshmallow fluff and topped with a yam glaze. 3528 Chestnut Ave., 667-303-3604

Chap’s Pit Beef: You can’t go wrong with the smoked turkey from this local barbecue institution. Customize your family’s platter with sides like baked beans or warm rolls. Multiple locations including 5801 Pulaski Highway, 410-483-2379

The Corner Pantry: Chef Neill Howell’s holiday catering menu features roasted butternut squash soup, turkey gravy, scallion and nutmeg mashed potatoes, cheddar biscuits, and brown butter pecan pie. 6080 Falls Road, 667-308-2331.

Eddie’s: This neighborhood bodega boasts something for every palate. Pre-order eats like roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed root vegetables, stuffed mushrooms, honey-glazed Cornish hens, and a pumpkin-spice bundt cake. Multiple locations including 6213 N. Charles St., 410-877-8040

Parts & Labor: If you’re planning a farm-to-fork feast, order an Albright Farms turkey from this Remington hotspot. The catering menu also includes smoked ham, bone-in leg of lamb, and buttermilk cornbread. 2600 N. Howard St., 443-873-8887

Sobo Cafe: Allow this Federal Hill dining den to lend a hand this year with gourmet takeaway items like crispy Brussels sprouts, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach. The house-baked apple, pecan, and pumpkin pies are also definite crowd pleasers. 6 W. Cross St., 410-752-1518

Stone Mill Bakery: Swing by this Greenspring Station staple to order artisan rolls, soups, sides, and pies. In addition to the classics (think sauerkraut, cranberry sauce, and roasted turkey) Stone Mill also offers goat cheese quiche, fingerling potatoes, and chocolate-dipped marshmallows. 10751 Falls Road, 410-821-1358

Dining-Out Destinations

Charleston: Chef Cindy Wolf has whipped up a special two-course prix-fixe menu with family-style sides. Dishes to look out for include She Crab soup with Manzanilla sherry, fried green tomatoes, braised beef short ribs, pan-roasted monkfish, and, of course, roasted turkey with pecan stuffing. 1000 Lancaster St., 410-332-7373, 3-7 p.m., $85.

The Elephant: Recently appointed chef Orlando Amaro has a special feast planned for his first holiday at this Mt. Vernon gem. The three-course menu with optional wine pairings will spotlight dishes including acorn squash bisque, pumpkin ravioli, and traditional turkey roulade with stuffing and haricot verts. Save room for desserts like pecan pumpkin pie and apple strudel. 924 N. Charles St., 443-447-7878, $55-70

Mt. Washington Tavern: Diners can opt for either a traditional sit-down dinner, or a full Thanksgiving buffet at this neighborhood haunt. Serve-yourself options will include turkey, honey-glazed ham, and all of the fixins’. 5700 Newbury St., 410-367-6903, $12-26

The Rowhouse Grille: Head to this Federal Hill neighborhood spot to indulge in a holiday special featuring herbed turkey breast, cranberry sauce, and your choice of two sides. End the meal on a sweet note with house-made pumpkin pie or bread pudding. 1400 Light St., 443-438-7289, $18

Rye Street Tavern: Take in the waterfront views at this new Port Covington spot on the Sagamore Spirit distillery campus. The family-style prix-fixe menu features wood-roasted turkey, confit turkey leg stuffing, sweet yams, crispy Brussels sprouts, and Sagamore Rye-spiked gravy. 225 E. Cromwell St., 443-662-8000, $35-60

Wit & Wisdom: Chef Zack Mills’ special Turkey Day menu consists of dishes like split pea soup, red wine-braised short ribs, pumpkin cornbread, and, herb-roasted turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce. 200 International Drive, 410-576-5800,  $40-85

Thanks-Giving Back

11/18: Stone Soup with Families Living United
Bring the entire family and join United Way of Central Maryland to assemble meals for people in need. Inspired by the old folk story Stone Soup—which tells the tale of villagers who each share their favorite ingredients to make one communal meal—organizers are asking each family to donate one grocery list item to contribute to the overall recipes. Our Daily Bread, 725 Fallsway, 3-5 p.m., 443-986-9000

11/18: Feeding the Homeless: Free Community Thanksgiving Feast
Now in its fourth year, this community gathering feeds more than 1,000 veterans, senior citizens, and families experiencing homelessness throughout the city. Organizers will be collecting food and drink donations, as well as supplies such as coats, blankets, winter clothing, and personal hygiene items. 420 Fallsway, 2 p.m.

11/22: 62nd Annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Resource Fair
Head to the Baltimore Convention Center to join local volunteer organization Cityfam at this annual event, which serves a Thanksgiving feast to more than 3,000 people with disabilities and special needs. Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St., 10:45 a.m.- 3 p.m.

11/23: The Annual Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K
Even if you don’t plan to participate in the actual race this year, there are still plenty of ways to get involved with this annual 5K fundraiser for The Y in Central Maryland. Rise early this Thanksgiving morning to help with things like set-up, race registration, packet pick-up, and water distribution. Multiple locations including 810 Wyman Park Drive., 8:30 a.m.

There’s no better way to cure a hangover than with an abundance of stuffing and sweet potatoes. Reunite with your hometown crew and start the holiday off right at these Thanksgiving Eve bashes.

Friendsgiving at Black Flag Brewing Company: Head to this Columbia taproom to start the party early if you have off on Thanksgiving Eve. Opening at noon, the brewery will be offering crowler deals, mini pumpkin pies for sale (with an all-you-can-squeeze whipped cream bar), and special jugs of its barrel-aged maple syrup. Plus, Black Flag is using the occasion to release a special fruited sour and its next Garage Banger IPA. 9315 Snowden River Parkway, Ste. C., Columbia, 443-864-5439

Bond Street Social Thanksgiving Eve Bash: Grab a group and reminisce about old times at this Fells Point favorite. The $10 price of admission includes one free drink, live DJ entertainment, and passed hors d’oeuvres from 9 p.m.-12 a.m. 901 S. Bond St., 443-449-6234

The Cornucopia: A Union Pre-Thanksgiving Hangout
Get down to live music by The Cheeky Binders while sipping new beers like the Older Pro red raspberry gose and Summer Somewhere IPA at this Union Craft Brewing bash. Fan-favorite food pop-ups Smoking Bowls and Big Softy will also be on-site to sling ramen and soft-shell crabs. Union Craft Brewing, 5-10 p.m., 410-467-0290

Friendsgiving Fête at The Chasseur: Enjoy discounted drinks and jam to acoustic tunes at this Canton neighborhood spot. All attendees who donate canned goods will be entered into the bar’s special holiday raffle. 3328 Foster Ave., 410-327-6984

F-anksgiving Eve at Metro Gallery: Local soul-punk trio F-City is headlining this special show at Metro Gallery to pregame the holiday. Sip Union Craft beers while bobbing your head to other local rockers including Lazlo Lee & The Motherless Children, The Expotentials, and Distinguished Gentlemen. 1700 N. Charles St., 410-244-0899, 8 p.m., $10.

Seeing Sounds: A Pharrell and The Neptunes Dance Party at Ottobar: Get nostalgic and drop it like it’s hot at this dance party featuring early-2000s tunes (think Snoop, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Nelly, and Daft Punk) spun by DJ Mills. 2549 N. Howard St., 410-662-0069

Karaoke Party at West Madison Craft Beer and Wine Bar: Down some liquid courage and step up to the mic to belt aloud to familiar jams at this Mt. Vernon wine bar’s holiday karaoke bash. 311 W. Madison St., 443-938-9109

Wet City Sour Hours: This Mt. Vernon beer bar is discounting all of its sours by $2 on Thanksgiving Eve. Enjoy sipping from Wet City’s largest-ever sour selection—including picks like Sang Noir by Cascade Brewing and the strawberry gose by Adriot Theory—while chowing down on dishes off of a special food pairing menu. 223 W. Chase St., 443-873-6699

Psycho Killers Annual Black Friday Show: Though it’s technically happening the day after Thanksgiving, we’d be remiss without mentioning Psycho Killers’ annual Black Friday show that doubles as a Toys for Tots fundraiser. This year, the local Talking Heads tribute will share the stage with Richmond-based David Bowie band Life on Mars. Bring an unwrapped gift to be entered into a raffle to win free tickets to all Baltimore Soundstage shows in 2018. Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Place, 410-254-0057, 8 p.m., $15