London Calling

What do you do when you want to celebrate Thanksgiving but live in a land where the holiday is not recognized? For longtime Houstonians Kelly and Larry Labanowski that was never an issue … until their daughter Caroline moved to London four years ago. What’s happened since has changed their annual family’s holiday into a most treasured and highly anticipated annual expat Thanksgiving. 

It all started with a phone call. In the “it’s a small world” category, high school friends and 2014 graduates of St. John’s School Parker Donaldson and Caroline Labanowski had just moved to London in 2022. At the time, Parker, a graduate of the University of Texas, was getting his graduate degree in filmmaking from the London Film School, and Caroline, a graduate of Harvard University, had taken a job with Global Infrastructure Partners. Although they had been friends in high school, London became the perfect place to reconnect after many years away from Houston. “Living in the UK was a wonderful experience,” says Parker, who moved to Los Angeles earlier this year post-graduation. “There are several SJS graduates in London, who made me feel welcome when I moved.”

While they were across the pond, their respective parents back in Houston were all trying to solve their Thanksgiving logistics.

Paul, Caroline, Kelly, Jane, and Larry Labanowski (pictured, from left) have enjoyed creating new traditions for Thanksgiving.

Julie and husband Michael decided to take their other kids, Andrew, now 25, and Kate, now 20, to London so they could join Parker and be all together over Thanksgiving. Once they had made that decision, Julie thought it would be nice to connect with the Labanowskis so there would be no homesick Houstonians.

“Julie called me and asked, ‘Are you planning to go to London for Thanksgiving because we want to go,” recalls Kelly, a real estate agent, noting she is grateful to Julie for getting the ball rolling. Julie did some research and came up with a game plan for their family of five and the Labanowskis’ five, which also included daughter Jane, now 30, and son Paul, now 27. While many Houstonians do a Turkey Trot before they feast on turkey, in London, turkeys for trotting or eating are nil – yet Julie was undeterred. 

Instead of starting their day running, Julie found a fulfilling alternative: attending an American Thanksgiving Service at London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral. The service is “organized by the Cathedral in conjunction with the American International Church and the United States Embassy,” says Julie. “And recognizes the importance of gratitude and serves as public tribute to the enduring friendship and connection between the United Kingdom and the United States. It’s a wonderful tradition started by Queen Elizabeth post World War II.” Kelly says both families were moved by the service, which also includes a speech given by the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. “Watching our United States Marine Honor Guard march up the center aisle of St. Paul’s makes me feel very proud to be a United States citizen,” adds Larry Labanowski, an attorney. 

With goodwill aplenty, the party of 10 went on to eat an English non-Thanksgiving feast, courtesy of Julie. “Since we were not going to have a traditional ‘American Thanksgiving’ in the United Kingdom, I sought out where we might at least get some type of pie!” says Julie. “I learned of a restaurant called the Pie Room, which is in the Rosewood Hotel. The Pie Room is not a place where American pies are served, but rather ‘savory pies’ – no turkey, but we enjoyed chicken and leek, pork, and vegetarian made with root vegetables to name a few.”

She notes that not only were the English pies a fun alternative to usual Thanksgiving fare, the Pie Room was equally fun. “The Pie Room is a kitchen by day where you can watch them making pies from the street side-hatch window and a private dining room for 10 by night,” she recalls. “You literally have this delicious dinner on the rectangular granite table that fit our two families exactly, and where all the pies are eloquently prepared by their team of pastry experts surrounded by handmade copper pots and pans. This unique atmosphere was the perfect spot to have our expat gathering of friends and family. Just like in the States, we enjoyed the food and libations by going around the table and sharing what we are all grateful for in our lives. We learned that it doesn’t matter where in the world you celebrate Thanksgiving, as long as you’re surrounded by the people you love.”

The Donaldson family in 2022, pictured in front of St. Paul’s Cathedral, which hosts an annual American Thanksgiving service. From left: Parker, Julie, Michael, Kate, and Andrew Donaldson in front of the iconic cathedral.

In 2023, the following year, Kelly and Larry decided to take the reins on planning the day. In the time between the two Thanksgivings, their daughter Jane joined sister Caroline by moving to London. Also a graduate of Harvard University, Jane took a job with an AI company. “That second year, along with Parker, Caroline, and Jane, we hosted a bunch of kids,” recalls Kelly. “We rented a private room in a pub and had 24 kids. Jane and Caroline invited their London friends and all of a sudden there were people from France, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and South America invited to this Thanksgiving feast; it was wonderful.”  Parker agrees, noting that he was so grateful to be included in the Labanowskis’ Thanksgiving dinner in London the following year in London, as he was unable to join his family in the States due to work on a film school project.

Kelly adds that no turkey that year was still no problem. “It was a very special night, mostly because we were with all of these international people, and we all shared this whole theme of thankfulness. It was a very festive environment.” 

So festive in fact, Jane and Caroline wanted to move the location for the third annual London Thanksgiving to their London flat in 2024. “It was really nice, because throughout the year, their friends really wanted another invitation to Thanksgiving,” recalls Kelly.  “When they wanted to host it at their apartment, Larry and the girls took it on.” Meanwhile, determined to finally add turkey to their menu, Kelly went the distance. “I researched where to find them, realizing we did not have enough space to cook those,” she says. “So, we ordered a cooked turkey and ham from Harrods. Then, we reconfigured the living room, put lights up, and then we hustled and cooked. Everyone rolled up their sleeves, it was DIY Day.” Working in London fare was also part of the menu. "We try to find ways to incorporate in-season, local vegetables,” says Jane. “We’ll typically roast leeks and Brussels sprouts, for example, as well as purple sprouting broccoli – a veggie we discovered when we moved to the UK!”

ACROSS THE POND Sisters Caroline and Jane Labanowski moved to London for work and now their family comes to them every November where they host an expat Thanksgiving meal for friends.

Paul, who lives and works in New York City, says that he loves going to London to celebrate the holiday with his sisters and parents. “Hosting Thanksgiving abroad is incredibly special for our family because it allows us to bring a piece of American tradition to our family members currently living in London,” he notes. “It does not look like a traditional Thanksgiving (typically not eating turkey, stuffing, or any of the other classic dishes) but it certainly feels like it. Having the chance to share our family’s traditions with the girls’ friends, who tend to be an international crowd, and show them what the holiday means to us (time to spend with family and friends and reflect on all of the gifts we’ve been given in life) is a magical experience.” With lots of fairy lights, candles, and foliage taken from the garden to decorate, last year’s holiday hit all the right notes. “It was another fantastic Thanksgiving that ended in the garden,” says Kelly. “The guest list had some people who had attended for two or three years, and everyone was very thoughtful, and it was a very special night.”

This year, for 2025, the tradition continues at Caroline’s apartment. “Sharing Thanksgiving with my London community has been an unexpected pleasure. My friends begin asking mid-summer if my family will be hosting and more importantly – will they be invited,” says Caroline. “This year, I have found a new spot to procure a turkey as locating anything other than a dried-out bird is impossible. Hosting Thanksgiving in London over the past few years has been such a special tradition. Tracking down a turkey isn’t always easy, but we’ve managed to keep many of the rituals that matter most to us while opening our table to new friends from our community here. From fellow American expats to friends from all over the world who are simply up for good food, plenty of drinks, and a lot of laughs.”

The Labanowskis still start their day at St. Paul’s Cathedral, add in a short stroll to enjoy the city, and they still end it around a thankful table. “It’s become a highlight of the year,” says Caroline. “Hopefully, it’s a tradition we’ll carry on for many more to come.”