Even if you love Thanksgiving, you might be happy to forgo the dinner theater. Like clockwork, the family gathers around the table to feast on the turkey and trimmings, and act one begins.

First, it's a simple meal, next thing you know, Uncle Marv is defending his latest conspiracy theory to cousin Mike's new girlfriend, while Aunt Sue publicly dissects your personal life choices, and Timmy and Tommy fight for the wishbone, which inevitably makes someone spill the cranberries all over Grandma's nice table linens. Confusion, crying, yelling ensues. Something burns. It's a regular comedy of errors.

Forget the pumpkin pie. What you need is a drink.

Thanksgiving Eve, or as it's often called in these parts, Black Wednesday, is the night out before the familial fracas begins. It is a tradition as old as sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top. 

Here are a handful of places waiting for you with open arms.

Buckhead Saloon
1044 N. Old World 3rd St., (414) 390-0233
buckheadmilwaukee.com
It's Wishbone Wednesday and you have two options: pay the $5 cover and receive $1 drinks from 8 to 9 p.m. and $2 drinks from 9 to 10 p.m. Or, you can buy $10 advance tickets (call or stop in) or buy them for $15 at the door and get $2 beers, $3 drinks and $3 shots all night long. Music by Man Down.

Fitzgibbons Pub
1127 N. Water St., (414) 278-8847
fitzgibbonspub.com
Enjoy $2 taps of PBR and Schlitz, and $6 pitchers.

Harp Irish Pub
113 E. Juneau Ave., (414) 289-0700
theharpirishpub.com
Every Wednesday it's $2 Three Olives Vodka bombs at the Harp.

Kelly's Bleachers
5218 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 258-9837
kellysbleachers.net
Kelly's whets your pre-Thanksgiving appetite with $3.95 baskets of wings on Black Wednesday.

Leff's Lucky Town
7208 W. State St., (414) 258-9886
leffs.com
It's another Mexcellent Wednesday at Leff's: $2.75 margaritas, Mexican imports, tacos. Turkey who?

Maxie's Southern Comfort
6732 W. Fairview Ave., (414) 292-3969
maxies.com
Maxie's hosts a pre-Thanksgiving party Wednesday night with food and drink specials ($10 off every bottle of wine) and the Andy Gelles Band plays 8 p.m.-midnight.

McGillicuddy's
1135 N. Water St., (414) 278-8888
mcgillycuddysmilwaukee.com
No drink specials to speak of here, but the bar is open (and is also open on Thanksgiving night beginning at 7 p.m.).

Milwaukee Ale House
233 N. Water St., (414) 226-2337
ale-house.com
The Rocky Mountain Beaver Band hits the stage at 7:30 p.m. Be there.

Nomad World Pub
1401 E. Brady St., (414) 224-8111
nomadworldpub.com
According to The Nomad, it's going to be a good time over on Brady Street. You'll find beer specials, booze specials and a DJ.

Palomino
2491 S. Superior St., (414) 747-1007
Down in Bay View, the 'mino offers $2.50 Lakefront taps and $1 Pabst cans.

Steny's Tavern & Grill
800 S. 2nd St., (414) 672-7139
stenystavern.com
Hungry? From 7 p.m. to midnight, get a free 12-inch cheese pizza with every pitcher of beer. And of course, there's the regular happy hour fro 3 to 7 p.m.

Vitucci's Cocktail Lounge
1832 E. North Ave., (414) 273-6477
vituccis.com
Here's the deal: $2 short rails for ladies and $5 all Captain Morgan, 44 Degrees North and Seagram's Seven drinks for the guys.

Whiskey Bar
788 N. Jackson St., (414) 312-8566
whiskeybarmilwaukee.com
The bar opens at 4 p.m. but the free Jameson sampling doesn't start unil 10 p.m. The pre-Thanksgiving party is rounded out by the Gingerette Girls and Jameson drink specials all night.