Giving Thanks: Thanksgiving is about the least...

Giving Thanks: Thanksgiving is about the least commercial of American holidays, says the national Greeting Card Assn. It ranks seventh among the card industry’s Big 8, including Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and graduation. Eighth-ranked Halloween is expected to soon overtake turkey day. . . . Why? “Thanksgiving is a time when families are physically together,” says the association’s Marianne McDermott.

Space Jam: To get to that get-together, a record 13.5 million air passengers are expected to clog U.S. airports beginning Wednesday for the long holiday weekend. . . At Burbank Airport, officials expect a slight drop in the number of Thanksgiving passengers after six years of steady growth. Demand is still high, but fewer flights are being offered.

Fast Food: While many still spend hours in the kitchen to feed their kin, growing numbers of folks are opting for a takeout Thanksgiving. Demand for prepared meals from Gelson’s, for example, jumped 50% between 1994 and 1995. “People really look forward to sitting down with their families without having to do the work,” says Executive Vice President John Vitale. . . . Turkey, ham or prime rib for eight: $69.99. Goose, 10 bucks more.

Not Haute: Even at many restaurants, the menu doesn’t vary. At Studio City’s posh Bistro Garden, Thursday’s fare will be pure tradition: turkey. Other than the pumpkin souffle, “we try to keep it as classic as possible,” says the bistro’s Christopher Niklas.