Leigh Rastivo | Writer, Adjunct Assistant Professor and Grant Writer at Old Dominion University

I’m thankful for sarcasm and irony, and other forms of subversion. The best reads, writes, romances and laughs originate in the razing of some established order, some expected outcome. Nothing today is how I was warned it should be or how I planned it. It’s much grittier and more authentic than my arrogant intentions.

Christine Dore | Senior online marketing coordinator for PETA and AltDaily’s resident veg

1. The plethora of faux meats in Yorgo’s endless list of vegan sandwiches.
2. Living in a community that supports my animal-friendly choices on a daily basis.
3. Garlic tofu. Drunken noodles. And every other Thai infused vegan entrée I can get my hands on.

BC Wilson | Internet strategist, freelance writer, AltDaily contributor, and grad student in ODU’s Creative Non-fiction Program

1. The Norfolk State Spartan Legion Marching Band. These guys are the best in the area and they rocked the Illumination parade: sola.nsu.edu/music/spartanlegion
2. Cullipher Farm in Virginia Beach, offers the best CSA in the HR region. www.cullipherfarm.com
3. The Norfolk Forum, for bringing the big names to Norfolk so we can listen to them for an hour, and then pepper them with obnoxious questions: thenorfolkforum.org

Lorrie Saunders | Owner of ArtGallery in Ghent

In my personal life, first and foremost, I am so very thankful for family, especially my loving and supportive husband Burrell. In my professional life as a gallerist, I often think about how thankful I am that I live in a country where there is freedom of expression and that more often than not it is valued and respected by most of us even when our sensibilities may be shocked or offended. How blessed we are to live in this great country of ours!

Greg Epps | writer, AltDaily contributor and film critic, currently broadcasting on WHRV Norfolk Public Radio

Kathleen Fogarty | freelance writer, AltDaily contributor and music educator who lives with her husband John Wilson on a five-acre organic farm in Virginia Beach

Plus, all these fabulously talented people and a place where they can send their writing!

Michael Jon Khandelwal | Freelance writer, Director of The Muse Writing Center

I’m thankful for my friends and my family and the abundance of love and joy I’ve received in my life. I try not to take this grace for granted.

Amy Boudreaux | Military veteran, 12-year Navy wife and AltDaily contributor

I am thankful to be raising children who do not take freedom for granted. They know firsthand the cost of freedom. Being a Navy Brat has many downfalls but the military lifestyle makes our children very civically aware and compassionate individuals.  Watching them take on the world, not allowing their age to interfere, is such an amazing privilege. If we all leave footsteps upon the Earth, I am honored for my mark to be the small steps of my children and the military life that shapes the way they grow up and the people they become.

Frankie Hardin | Owner and managing director of the recently-closed (and beloved) 40th Street Stage

As more and more of the glitz and glam and extraneous is pared away from my life–some of it not of my choosing, but most, yes–I’m finally at the stage of my life that a much beloved and very wise older woman once warned me about. She handed me a couple of her cherished family heirlooms and said, “You don’t understand it now, but one day you’ll come to the place where you’ll be getting rid of stuff instead of acquiring it…because in the end, it’s just stuff, and in the end, it’s only the things we’ve done that matter, and the people in our lives.” …I find myself appreciating…indoor plumbing. Hot running water, on command. What a blessing. The animals that follow me from room to room, even when they leave presents. The good health of everyone in my life. Do-overs–a chance to try again, and maybe, just maybe, get it right this time.

Mira Boykin | The Queen of the Vibe at aloft Hotel and AltDaily’s “Single in the 757″ writer

I’m thankful for The Organic Food Depot on Granby Street in Norfolk. Norfolk is, bless its heart, not the greatest place to shop for local, organic and fresh fare. It’s kind of limited when it comes to variance and “new.” The O Depot, as I like to call it, is the bomb, the best, my boo. I love to pop in for kombucha or some macro-sushi, on the run. They carry fabulous muffins, wheat and dairy free, made by some woman named Pasqualina that I imagine bakes out of the oven in her shoe! There’s a fabulous frozen food selection, fresh veggies from local farmers and a sassy, edgy staff that always says something weird and funny, but wrong. I love the vibe, love the deals and love the spot. I’m buying all of my nibbles and vittles for Thanksgiving prep from them and I’m going to carry all my goodies to my fam’s house in my bright green Organic Food Depot bag.

Kim Wadsworth | founder and editor of Vow Bride Magazine, former market editor of the now-closed skirt! Magazine in Hampton Roads, owner of Wadsworth Style and BridesMade

I am most thankful for… The memory of family gatherings. Now that my parents are gone, I cherish those special holidays shared with their traditions and rituals. I’ve created my own rhythm of holiday celebration and cherish the time shared with loved ones, as dear friends become family. I am grateful for the bounty that I continue to receive throughout the holiday season.

Carla Peay Hesseltine | Owner of Just Cupcakes

I’m thankful for all of the great folks that have supported our shop, my wonderful family….and butter

Wes Cheney | Bicycling advocate, Photographer

After a close brush with the flu (strain unknown), I’m thankful for good health. I appreciate the vigor of our national healthcare debate, sometimes spiteful, presently vital.

I’m grateful for the new Ghent bike racks, the public art bike racks announced by the Downtown Norfolk Council, and the steady proliferation of new bike racks everywhere.  There are times when I grumble about cheap racks that can be compromised with just a crow bar or a socket wrench, but then I remember the words of Garrison Keillor’s Norwegian Bachelor Farmer; “‘Takk fur alle,’ it could be worse.”

Thanks for everything, it could be worse!

We may not have the best cycling infrastructure in Hampton Roads, but it could be worse. I can drive to work, or I can bike.  My favorite schools, libraries, coffee houses, grocery stores, comic book shops and pubs all have dedicated parking for both cars and bikes.

Maybe we don’t have light rail or marked bike routes, but ‘takk fur alle,’ it could be worse.

Hannah Serrano | AltDaily editor and publisher

Some random things I really appreciate: the Naro, 5 Points Farm Market, hulu.com, free admission to the Chrysler, Mad Men, Top Chef, local thrift stores and Facebook.

As I am every day and every year, I’m thankful to have my amazing family near me. They take care of me and let me be who I really am.

This year in particular I am so grateful to work at something that I love so much. My job is my life, and that’s not something that I say with any self-pity but with pride and passion and joy. And the cherry on top of that is being able to work with someone that I love and admire, who has helped me make this work my livelihood. Most importantly, I am thankful to all the people that read this website and care about what we do. I’ve taken some heavy hits in recent years, but every so often some supportive stranger lets me know that what we do matters, and I cannot say enough just how much that means to me.