Now that we've provided you with Turkey 101 (you have ordered your bird, right?), it's time for our  Pie Primer. Because, really, when you think about it, if you have a great finale to the meal, your guests will forgive any transgressions that occur before dessert (for some holiday "horror" stories, click here).

Tartine Bakery has a full compliment of holiday pies and breads. Maybe you want a classic pumpkin, an apple nougatine, or a frangipane tart with cranberries and orange zest (all $38)? Yeah, we didn't think you were planning to make that one at home. You can also preorder bread (country, walnut and olive with herbes de provence), cornbread, gougeres and a host of other delights.

Here’s one way to build up an appetite and whip yourself into shape this Thanksgiving—sign up for the eighth annual Turkey Trail Trot, the city’s one and only T-day race. Head over to Golden Gate Park’s polo fields bright and early (start time is 8:30 a.m.), and you’ll find yourself among a few hundred holiday enthusiasts decked out as pilgrims, Native Americans, and giant turkeys. The perks? Expect a commemorative T-shirt, refreshments, prizes, and the satisfaction of knowing that your entry fee benefits Lowell High School’s track and field team. If the sheer good of it isn’t enough to entice you, perhaps the numbers will—the five-mile run burns 600 calories; the three-mile walk burns 300.