Times are tough, so the chance to win free electronics or Sony Open tickets may draw a bigger-than-usual crowd to this year's Sony Expo.

The event will be at the Ala Moana Hotel, from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Getting the big promotional push this year are the 40-inch, LCD Bravia HDTV flat screen. It is 9.9 millimeters flat.

The press announcement also talks up its Bravia KDL-52XBR7 LCD TV and its DSLR camera with 24.6-megapixel resolution.

The tech toys will not be on sale. Rather, the event allows consumers to check out the products that will be sold by Sony's Hawaii retailers.

The first 100 attendees each day will get free Sony Open tickets.

As usual, the company will give away some electronics, including one of those 40-inch Bravia flat panels, a high-definition DVD Handycam, a Cyber-shot digital still camera and more.

As part of Sony's e-waste efforts reported in this space in May, you are encouraged to bring old or unused rechargeable batteries and cell phones for free and safe disposal.

Donors will get either a water bottle or tote bag made of recycled materials in exchange. Working cell phones will be donated to a charitable organization, to be announced during the expo.

Eating out on Turkey Day

If everyone were a Ferran Adria, it would not be impossible to obtain reservations at El Bulli, his tri-starred Michelin-approved restaurant in Spain.

Not everyone is an Alan Wong or Bev Gannon either, and most people don't have an oven that goes up to 1,800 degrees for saliva-inducing sizzling steak cookery.

Not everyone eats turkey on Thanksgiving either, so now your columnist can finally get to the buried lead of this item.

Gayot.com has chosen 10 local restaurants as tops in Hawaii for Thanksgiving, but it's more, if you count the four Ruth's Chris Steak House locations.

The restaurants are, alphabetically: Alan Wong's Restaurant; Beachhouse at the Moana Surfrider; Haliimaile General Store on Maui; Hoku's at the Kahala Hotel & Resort; Lana'i City Grille; Orchids at Halekulani; Ruth's Chris Steak House; 3660 On The Rise; Tiki's Grill & Bar at ResortQuest Waikiki Beach; and 12th Avenue Grill in Kaimuki.

Restaurants don't get chosen because they advertise with Gayot.

“;Any restaurant featured on the site is editorial,”; said Sophie Gayot. Restaurant advertising is not accepted.

Selections are made by Gayot's local writers, who “;know what's going on,”; she said.