Turkey Day is finally here. Time to prepare the feast, but this year could be different. Fake it, fry it, freeze it ? drink it? Brace yourself, this ain't your grandma's bird.

Go fried

It's not a spaceship or a bass drum - those funky-looking metal tubs filling aisles at local grocery and hardware stores are giant turkey fryers.

Bill Kester, a fifth-year fryer from Williamston, says frying is always his choice of cooking methods - even with the eight gallons of 350-degree oil sitting just inches above a flame.

"Keep the fryer outside, and you better watch it close to be safe," he said. "And do it early so you don't miss the game."

The fryers sell at Meijer in Okemos for $29 to $50, and require 2 to 5 gallons of peanut or vegetable oil to fry the bird. Frying takes about five minutes per pound, compared with about 20 minutes per pound in the oven.

Family community services senior Kristi Burd said she'd rather not dunk the bird in boiling oils this year.

"Eww, fried turkey looks gross - and that thing's just another gimmick for people to buy," she said.

Be sure to be careful if you choose the frying option. Lower the bird into the oil extremely slowly and always watch the metal drum to make sure it doesn't tip and turn your backyard into a forest fire.

Go veggie

Not keen on eating Tommy Turkey? Vegetarian and vegan alternatives are becoming more popular every year, said John Snyder, owner of Foods for Living, 2655 W. Grand River Ave.

The store sells UnTurkey as well as Tofurky.

"Ten years ago, half these foods tasted like cardboard, but now they come seasoned and marinated and taste a whole lot better," Snyder said.

Tofurky, priced at $23.99 to serve eight, is made from soy products and looks like thick slices of turkey. It also comes with cranberry-apple dumplings, "giblet" gravy and Tofurky Jurky Wishstix.

UnTurkey, which costs $30.15, is made from soy, rice and vegetables and even has a "skin" made from a soy milk product. The five-pound, all-vegan, turkey-shaped meal serves eight and comes with stuffing and gravy.

Snyder says while the imitations might look like turkey, they don't taste like meat.

"That's not really the idea - bottom line is the flavors are different; they're supposed to be," he said.

Go liquid

Dave Julander, bar manager at Michigan Brewing Company, suggests a few choice brews to pair with Thanksgiving dinner. MBC's Pumpkin Ale is spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and "tastes like pumpkin pie in a bottle."

Fans of cranberry sauce might enjoy the tart Celis White, seasoned with orange peel. For folks craving a heavier beer, Julander suggests Michigan Nut Brown, an ale that's popular in chilly temps and complements turkey.

"Most people like the malty, heavier beers in the winter," he said. "They're a little more stick-to-your-ribs-style beers."

Want stick-to-your-ribs soda? How 'bout Turkey & Gravy, a drink, made by Jones Soda Co. The company sold the meat-flavored drink online and in Detroit, but sold out in hours.

"It really smelled like turkey and gravy and it tasted like it, too, with a sweet finish," Jones spokesman Matt Marini said. "It wasn't like root beer, oh no. It really wasn't good."

Bottles of the beverage are being sold on the online auction Web site eBay for upward of $10 a pop.

Guzzle all the turkey soda you want on Thursday; just be sure to lay off the brewskis if you're gonna dunk the turkey in the flaming hot oil.

Go out

So, instead of trudging back home in holiday traffic, you're thinking about chilling in E.L. and spending Thanksgiving without Uncle Ted and Auntie Estelle. No problem. Plenty of local restaurant spots will be open to fill massive appetites. Here are a few:

· McDonald's, 1024 E. Grand River Ave., open 'til 5 p.m. Thursday

· Denny's, 2701 E. Grand River Ave., open 24 hours

· Old Country Buffet, 2301 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos, open 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

· Boston Market, 1881 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

· International House of Pancakes, 2771 E. Grand River Ave., open until 2 p.m. Thursday.

· Peking Express, 603 E. Grand River Ave., open noon-8 p.m.

· India Palace, 340 Albert Ave., open 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.-10p.m.