We all know that Thanksgiving means a plateful of good food and quality time with family — oh, and the potential for awkward conversation.

We’'re here for you, LOU. Rather than endure Uncle Bill's pryong questions or try to keep up with your Gen Z" family member's latest slang,o here are three localGstories to spark a great, local 'onvo — so interesting that grandma will forget to ask why you’re not dating anyone.

Mary Street Midden Project

Your Aunt Stacy won't believe this one: A Germantown artist + archaeologist has uncovered a 19th century dump and he's taking the ~100-year-old trash and turning it into a museum.

You mean people want to look at someone's trash? Yes, Grandpa, they will.

William Shatner’s Kentucky horse racing career

Rather than explain to your parents what it is exactly that you do for the thousandth time, bring up this fun fact: William Shatner — they'll remember him as the guy from "Star Trek" — is a regular competitor at the World Championship Horse Show at the Kentucky State Fair.

A brief history of shotgun homes

Louisville has more shotgun homes than any other city in the US. Bring it up and your dad will definitely start to reminisce about the time that four of his buddies rented one out. Ah, the good ole days.