Harry Potter--nothing's hotter. If you're reading these books by J. K. Rowlings aloud to your children, you know about Harry's adventures at the Hogwarts School, World Quidditch matches, and all the magic in the stores. Bring some of the magic into your own home with a Harry Potter party--a perfect way to bring the books to life.
The Connecticut mom said that her kids were too young to read the books, so they created a magic party instead. "We made 'magic' outfits and Mom the magician did some tricks," she explained.
Costumes can be as simple as a face-painted lightning bolt--use a cold cream, disheveled hair or braids, and a cape (the Invisibility Cloak) made from a large bath towel. During the rainy-day party, mom had to be creative with material she had on hand so the kids each made their own 'magic hat' and chose a 'magic wand' from plastic straws. In upstate New York, "Rachel (9) was at our friends' house and she found some capes and hats. Then she printed a sign about the party on the computer."
Create the Great Hall by draping a tablecloth over your kitchen or picnic table. Top it with candles, a Hogwarts' "Sorting Hat" (a big hat from a consignment shop or novelty hat stand) and your favorite snacks (We have it on good authority that chips and sandwiches count as wizard food.) For dessert, make up a batch of fudge as the "rejuvenating chocolate" found in the third book. How about a bowl of jellybeans and some licorice ropes just like the Every Flavor Beans and Licorice Wands introduced in the first book? Serve root beer to mimic Harry's "butterbeer."
Peggy L. said, "I set the table with a lace tablecloth, used real gobblets, and had a lot of candles. We baked a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting instead of fudge."
Once your characters are assembled, let them create their own wands using a dowel stick cut to length and decorated with feathers, floral tape, glitter, glue, leaves, etc. Provide a table full of stuff and let them at it. And then watch as they try to make the dog or cat disappear! One mom reported, "Instead of using dowel sticks I bought squiggle straws and we attached ribbons to them to make them into magic wands."
Another hands-on activity is broom decorating. Whether it is an individual broom for each participant or one for a team or the whole group, they can choose just the right gadget or gizmo to make their broom the fiercest and fastest. The upsate New Yorkers improvised on the activities. "We played hot potato. We also made rain sticks to go along with the magic theme."
Although Harry's Quidditch matches have him zooming around at altitudes too high for your guests, Potter fans will love to play Seeker-in-the Middle. This variation of the keep-away game, Pickle, uses a medium-sized superball, handball, or tennis ball. The object is for those players in the middle to snatch the ball from the two players throwing the ball back and forth. When a player catches the ball, he or she changes places with the one who threw the ball.
Make sure you have plenty of film at hand. If you've got a real devotee with artistic impulses, have him draw a large character on a cardboard stand-up with a hole for the guest to put his head in and pose. It can be as much fun as Halloween when everyone gets to pretend and experience the make-believe world of favorite book characters, in this case, Harry and his friends.
Web sources: There are a bazillion or so Harry Potter sites on the Web, and not all are worth spending time on. But one worth checking out is the publisher's site, Scholastic. Harry Potter sites can be busy so be forewarned. One mom said, "I tried to get some pictures printed off of a web site, but I kept getting bumped so I gave up."
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
How to throw a neighborhood block party
Summer will soon be here, and one of life's better moments is to meet the people you wave to as you drive through your neighborhood. Back in the 50's you didn't need to have these parties because everyone in a 10 square mile radius knew each other from school and church. Not so today, soooo here's our tips for throwing the ultimate block party.
1.
Step 1
Put a flyer in neighbors' mailboxes inviting them to meet to discuss a block party. At the meeting, discuss possible dates and who will do what. See 373 Plan an Organizational Meeting.
2.
Step 2
Distribute sign-up sheets for tables, chairs, glasses, plates, napkins, utensils, barbecue grills, side dishes and other party essentials. Have plenty of trash cans and bins for recycling bottles and cans. Rent a portable toilet if necessary.
3.
Step 3
Plan the food and drinks. Call it international night and have each family make a dish that is unique to its heritage. Or have everyone bring their own food to grill. This is a surprisingly effective way to get strangers to mingle easily--they feel less awkward with something to do. Have everyone prepare his or her favorite cocktails and munchies for a happy hour. Don't forget nonalcoholic punches for those who don't drink alcohol and for kids.
4.
Step 4
Dress up the block with colorful decorations. Buy lots of balloons and have everyone tie them to trees and fences on their property. You might consider a block theme color and decorate accordingly. Ask each family to make a family banner to display on its front lawn. Hang pin~atas for the kids. Tiki torches and lots of twinkling lights are festive when the sun sets.
5.
Step 5
Organize entertainment. Bring in pony rides or a mobile petting zoo or rent an inflatable jumping structure for the kids. Ask the neighborhood fire station to send an engine by if it's available. Plan party games for kids and adults alike, such as a water balloon toss and an egg race.
6.
Step 6
Rock the street with music everyone will enjoy. Hook up a CD player outside or splurge on live music (see 335 Hire a Band).
7.
Step 7
Contact town officials to see about getting the road barricaded if it's a large enough group. You'll need to supply a map of the area where you'll be holding the event, including cross streets for barricades.
8.
Step 8
Send invitations to everyone on the block. Get the kids involved and have them stuff the invites in everyone's mailbox (check first to see if this is legal in your area).
1.
Step 1
Put a flyer in neighbors' mailboxes inviting them to meet to discuss a block party. At the meeting, discuss possible dates and who will do what. See 373 Plan an Organizational Meeting.
2.
Step 2
Distribute sign-up sheets for tables, chairs, glasses, plates, napkins, utensils, barbecue grills, side dishes and other party essentials. Have plenty of trash cans and bins for recycling bottles and cans. Rent a portable toilet if necessary.
3.
Step 3
Plan the food and drinks. Call it international night and have each family make a dish that is unique to its heritage. Or have everyone bring their own food to grill. This is a surprisingly effective way to get strangers to mingle easily--they feel less awkward with something to do. Have everyone prepare his or her favorite cocktails and munchies for a happy hour. Don't forget nonalcoholic punches for those who don't drink alcohol and for kids.
4.
Step 4
Dress up the block with colorful decorations. Buy lots of balloons and have everyone tie them to trees and fences on their property. You might consider a block theme color and decorate accordingly. Ask each family to make a family banner to display on its front lawn. Hang pin~atas for the kids. Tiki torches and lots of twinkling lights are festive when the sun sets.
5.
Step 5
Organize entertainment. Bring in pony rides or a mobile petting zoo or rent an inflatable jumping structure for the kids. Ask the neighborhood fire station to send an engine by if it's available. Plan party games for kids and adults alike, such as a water balloon toss and an egg race.
6.
Step 6
Rock the street with music everyone will enjoy. Hook up a CD player outside or splurge on live music (see 335 Hire a Band).
7.
Step 7
Contact town officials to see about getting the road barricaded if it's a large enough group. You'll need to supply a map of the area where you'll be holding the event, including cross streets for barricades.
8.
Step 8
Send invitations to everyone on the block. Get the kids involved and have them stuff the invites in everyone's mailbox (check first to see if this is legal in your area).
Saturday, January 16, 2010
How to throw a "Oscars" party!
How to throw a "Oscars" Party
1.
Step 1
Make sure that you have plenty of comfortable seating and that everyone will have a clear view of the television.
2.
Step 2
Make a 90-minute mix tape of recognizable movie themes to play in the background before and after the ceremony. Put the tape deck on repeat.
3.
Step 3
Dress for the Oscars. Wear tuxes and evening gowns with rhinestone necklaces.
4.
Step 4
Announce guests over a microphone as they arrive. For example, "And now please welcome last year's winner of the best supporting soccer coach, Stan Murphy."
5.
Step 5
Provide appetizers and both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
6.
Step 6
Pass out pens and ballots listing all the nominees and have everyone vote on who they think is going to win before the ceremony starts.
7.
Step 7
Tally results after the ceremony ends.
8.
Step 8
Present a fake plastic Oscar to the person who got the most right. Encourage the winner to make an acceptance speech.
1.
Step 1
Make sure that you have plenty of comfortable seating and that everyone will have a clear view of the television.
2.
Step 2
Make a 90-minute mix tape of recognizable movie themes to play in the background before and after the ceremony. Put the tape deck on repeat.
3.
Step 3
Dress for the Oscars. Wear tuxes and evening gowns with rhinestone necklaces.
4.
Step 4
Announce guests over a microphone as they arrive. For example, "And now please welcome last year's winner of the best supporting soccer coach, Stan Murphy."
5.
Step 5
Provide appetizers and both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
6.
Step 6
Pass out pens and ballots listing all the nominees and have everyone vote on who they think is going to win before the ceremony starts.
7.
Step 7
Tally results after the ceremony ends.
8.
Step 8
Present a fake plastic Oscar to the person who got the most right. Encourage the winner to make an acceptance speech.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
GREAT New Years Eve Party Ideas
New Years Eve Party Ideas
You don't need Times Square to have a great New Years Eve party Make your New Years Eve party something special this year
It's hard to believe, but the New Year is just around the corner again. Have you started planning your New Years Eve party yet? If not, here are some ideas for your celebration to make this New Years Eve something special.
Make a family event
If you have kids at home, why not make this New Year's Eve party a family celebration? Kids love to celebrate with their parents and the magic of a midnight holiday makes it even more special. Add New Year's party decorations and some fun treats and you have the recipe for a family tradition in the making.
Consider a midnight super sundae celebration. Let each person choose their favorite ice cream flavors and toppings. As the magic moment approaches, begin assembling your sundaes. Save the whipped cream or the cherry on top for the last second of the old year, and the dig in as the ball falls. Top it off with a Shirley Temple toast.
Make it just for your family, or invite neighbors and friends with kids to join in. If your children are too young to make it to midnight, schedule a mock-midnight earlier in the evening, complete with a countdown and the celebratory sundaes.
Find a community celebration
From the giant M & M drop in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania to the Orange in Miami, more and more communities are creating their own special spin on the New Years Eve party in Times Square. Find out if your city or one nearby has their own midnight party and join in. It's a great way to celebrate the new year and have fun with the things that make your community special.
And since your neighbors are likely to be there, it's also a great place to make new friends in your area, as you ring in the New Year together.
Make it a team party
Whether your favorite sports team made it to the top or never made it onto the scoreboard this past year, why not have a New Years Eve party to celebrate their hard work, commiserate over their losses, relive their glory moments and wish for an even better year to come? Have guests dress in their favorite sports team jerseys or colors. Have videos of games on TV's in different rooms and serve game day foods like nachos, chili dogs and pizza.
At the stroke of midnight, have everyone scream out their team name along with their Happy New Year.
Have a romantic New Years Eve party for two
Who says a party has to be about a lot of guests? Make this New Years Eve all about the two of you. Book a fabulous hotel room in an out of the way location. Arrange for a midnight sleigh ride, moonlit hike or midnight sail, depending upon where you live. Stock up on fine champagne and luscious treats like chocolate covered strawberries, rich pates or an elegant dinner for two.
Make it about sharing dreams and reconnecting. Ban all discussion about what didn't happen in the last year or fears for the new one. Make it a night for romance and a New Years Eve party the two of you will never forget.
You don't need Times Square to have a great New Years Eve party Make your New Years Eve party something special this year
It's hard to believe, but the New Year is just around the corner again. Have you started planning your New Years Eve party yet? If not, here are some ideas for your celebration to make this New Years Eve something special.
Make a family event
If you have kids at home, why not make this New Year's Eve party a family celebration? Kids love to celebrate with their parents and the magic of a midnight holiday makes it even more special. Add New Year's party decorations and some fun treats and you have the recipe for a family tradition in the making.
Consider a midnight super sundae celebration. Let each person choose their favorite ice cream flavors and toppings. As the magic moment approaches, begin assembling your sundaes. Save the whipped cream or the cherry on top for the last second of the old year, and the dig in as the ball falls. Top it off with a Shirley Temple toast.
Make it just for your family, or invite neighbors and friends with kids to join in. If your children are too young to make it to midnight, schedule a mock-midnight earlier in the evening, complete with a countdown and the celebratory sundaes.
Find a community celebration
From the giant M & M drop in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania to the Orange in Miami, more and more communities are creating their own special spin on the New Years Eve party in Times Square. Find out if your city or one nearby has their own midnight party and join in. It's a great way to celebrate the new year and have fun with the things that make your community special.
And since your neighbors are likely to be there, it's also a great place to make new friends in your area, as you ring in the New Year together.
Make it a team party
Whether your favorite sports team made it to the top or never made it onto the scoreboard this past year, why not have a New Years Eve party to celebrate their hard work, commiserate over their losses, relive their glory moments and wish for an even better year to come? Have guests dress in their favorite sports team jerseys or colors. Have videos of games on TV's in different rooms and serve game day foods like nachos, chili dogs and pizza.
At the stroke of midnight, have everyone scream out their team name along with their Happy New Year.
Have a romantic New Years Eve party for two
Who says a party has to be about a lot of guests? Make this New Years Eve all about the two of you. Book a fabulous hotel room in an out of the way location. Arrange for a midnight sleigh ride, moonlit hike or midnight sail, depending upon where you live. Stock up on fine champagne and luscious treats like chocolate covered strawberries, rich pates or an elegant dinner for two.
Make it about sharing dreams and reconnecting. Ban all discussion about what didn't happen in the last year or fears for the new one. Make it a night for romance and a New Years Eve party the two of you will never forget.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
How to Throw a GREAT BBQ Party!
How to Throw a Great Barbeque Party
Summer season is the best time to throw a great BBQ party, especially at night on the beach when it is warm outside and staying indoors is just plain too boring to even think about. Many people throw BBQ parties for different occasions such as birthdays, year-end parties, wedding receptions, or other special events and holidays. It is very easy to throw this kind of party. But if you really want it to be the best and the most perfect gas barbeque party in town that people will talk about, you have to plan it carefully. Here are some tips that should not be overlooked when throwing a weber bbq party.
• Make a guest list and make sure that you will call them a couple of weeks in advance so that they will not make other commitments on the same date as your party. if you have the time, try to call each of your guest to Make sure that they will be able to make it to your party and it will also make them feel that you really want them to attend your party.
• You can throw a barbeque party any time as long as the weather will be fine. This is the reason why most barbeque parties are held in summer. But just to be really sure, double check the weather on the day of your party to avoid cancellation or postponing of plans. Also, you should have a Plan B if ever the weather turns bad. You can hold a party in a place where there is a covered area like a gazebo so that you can move the party if it suddenly rains.
• Of course, the most important part of any parties is the food. Plan your menu carefully. Since it is a gas barbeque party, there should be a barbeque on your menu. Have meats or vegetables that you can cook on the barbeque and have different types for each of them. People prefer different types of foods. So if you want to make sure that everybody will have a great time, your menu should include a wide variety of foods.
• Meat is usually the main dish of a barbeque party menu. But it does not mean that you should just prepare any kinds of side dish. You have several choices for your side dish that will complement all types of meat such as chips and dips, salads, baked beans, vegetable platters, and coleslaw. You should also prepare barbeque extras like ketchup, relish, onions, pickles, or mustard.
• Do not forget the barbeque sauce. Sometimes, the barbeque sauce is the one that makes a barbeque dish successful—or not. Prepare different types of sauce and make sure that they are rich and full of flavour.
Summer season is the best time to throw a great BBQ party, especially at night on the beach when it is warm outside and staying indoors is just plain too boring to even think about. Many people throw BBQ parties for different occasions such as birthdays, year-end parties, wedding receptions, or other special events and holidays. It is very easy to throw this kind of party. But if you really want it to be the best and the most perfect gas barbeque party in town that people will talk about, you have to plan it carefully. Here are some tips that should not be overlooked when throwing a weber bbq party.
• Make a guest list and make sure that you will call them a couple of weeks in advance so that they will not make other commitments on the same date as your party. if you have the time, try to call each of your guest to Make sure that they will be able to make it to your party and it will also make them feel that you really want them to attend your party.
• You can throw a barbeque party any time as long as the weather will be fine. This is the reason why most barbeque parties are held in summer. But just to be really sure, double check the weather on the day of your party to avoid cancellation or postponing of plans. Also, you should have a Plan B if ever the weather turns bad. You can hold a party in a place where there is a covered area like a gazebo so that you can move the party if it suddenly rains.
• Of course, the most important part of any parties is the food. Plan your menu carefully. Since it is a gas barbeque party, there should be a barbeque on your menu. Have meats or vegetables that you can cook on the barbeque and have different types for each of them. People prefer different types of foods. So if you want to make sure that everybody will have a great time, your menu should include a wide variety of foods.
• Meat is usually the main dish of a barbeque party menu. But it does not mean that you should just prepare any kinds of side dish. You have several choices for your side dish that will complement all types of meat such as chips and dips, salads, baked beans, vegetable platters, and coleslaw. You should also prepare barbeque extras like ketchup, relish, onions, pickles, or mustard.
• Do not forget the barbeque sauce. Sometimes, the barbeque sauce is the one that makes a barbeque dish successful—or not. Prepare different types of sauce and make sure that they are rich and full of flavour.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
How To Throw a Wine Tasting Party
People are always asking Vino Joe, “I’d like to have a wine tasting at my home. What wines do I serve? What kind of food? How much wine do I need? What kind of glasses should I use?” etc., etc. So this page will give you some pointers on throwing a kick-ass wine tasting in the comfort of your own home.
Choose a Theme
Simply having a wine tasting is not enough of a theme; there are too many wines to choose from. You wouldn’t simply have a “food party”, would you? Of course not, you’d throw a “Brazilian Barbecue”, or a “Pasta Night”, or a “Spam Sandwich Ideas” party. Same thing with wine. Choose a particular country or region, for example, like “Tuscan Wines” or “California Cabernets”. Or if your guests aren’t quite that advanced, at the very least you should have a “White Wine” or “Red Wine” party. This way, not only will your party have some semblance of organization, but you’ll have some clue as to what kinds of foods to serve.
Who Brings the Wine?
There are two ways you can do a wine tasting; either YOU can buy all the wine, or all of your guests bring a bottle or two each. Being something of a skinflint, and not the heir to an oil tycoon’s trust fund, Vino Joe holds tasting parties where the guests bring the wines. Again, adhering to a theme, establish a price range (say, $10-15, for example), and have each person bring a bottle.
What Food to Serve?
Depends on the theme, of course, but for simplicity’s sake, it’s a good idea for the host to provide UNSALTED crackers (i.e., Carr’s Water Crackers, as opposed to Saltines), an array of cheeses, and maybe a simple veggie plate. You don’t need to go crazy with the food, unless it makes sense with your theme (i.e., a party of wines and foods from the Alsace). Keep the finger foods simple, not too spicy or salty, so that the main focus is on comparing the wines. At the same time, you’ll want to pick certain foods and try them with several different wines, to see what goes with what. After all, that’s the whole point of a wine tasting!
How Much Wine?
Depends on the party. If you’re having a tasting party, figure on about one bottle per 10 people—this assuming you’re going to only pour about an ounce or so per wine. When I state “tasting party”, I’m thinking that everyone will have a small taste of each wine, contemplate it, and discuss with each other.
On the other hand, if you’re having a party where people will be DRINKING wine (i.e., a wedding shower, a birthday party, or any bash at the Vino Joe’s place), figure that you will get 4 to 5 healthy glasses out of one bottle of wine. If your crowd is made up of light drinkers, you should get by thinking 2 to 3 glasses per person. If your friends are more like mine, go heavier—figure one bottle per person (and make sure EVERYONE has a SAFE ride home or is staying over). Hopefully, that will be too much — but you’d rather have too much than too little, right? Regardless of which guessing game you do, add an extra bottle or two to the equation, just in case.
What To Talk About?
Follow the theme first. For example, if you’re going to do a Chianti party, learn a little bit about Chianti, and talk about what you’ve learned. You can always check this site or email Vino Joe for some pointers on what subjects to discuss. As you taste through the wines, get everyone to talk about what they’re smelling, tasting, and feeling. If you’re the host, you may have to take charge and ask people specific questions; it’ll be easy if you start people off with suggestive questions, like, “hey, Ray, this wine smells kind of like some citrus fruit mixed in with your old gym socks — what are you getting from it?”. Continue with questions like, “what food would you pair this with?” Before you know it (and definitely after a few wines), everyone will be discussing all kinds of things they smell and taste in the wine. Or, everyone will get hammered and start complaining about their spouses/significant other. Either way, it should be a fun time.
Rating the Wines.
Half the fun of wine is that it is completely subjective. What better way to spice up a wine party than to have everyone judge the wines? This is the ultimate conversation starter, and everyone’s chance to be a wine dictator. All you need is an opinion, a pencil, and the Wine Tasting Score Sheet.
What About Glassware?
The true snobs will have expensive hand-blown, lead crystal glasses, one separate glass for each wine, each shaped specifically for that specific wine. Well, that’s nice if you can afford to do it (and you have an industrial-size dishwasher), but for the most part, just use one or at most two glasses per person (perhaps one for whites and one for reds). The only specific I recommend is that you use clear, glass, large-mouthed wine glasses (leave those horrid blue goblets in the china closet). You can buy fairly decent, all-purpose wine glasses just about anywhere (department stores, supermarkets, or discount stores like Target, Wal-Mart, etc.) for about a buck or two each. If you have the dough, go ahead and spring for the lead-crystal types, but be careful putting them in the dishwasher, especially if they have long stems. You want to get glasses with bowls as large as possible so that you can get a real good swirl and get your honker inside for a whiff.
Water.
Water should be available for rinsing—both the glasses and the palate. Put out water glasses as well, and urge people to drink some between wine tastes. (A good rule of thumb for keeping hydrated—and avoiding hangovers—is one glass of water for each glass of wine.) Your guests will thank you in the morning.
Spitting … Why Would Anyone Spit?
If you’re going to be tasting a dozen wines or more, you may want to have a few dump buckets (beach pails or Champagne buckets will do) around the room and provide everyone with paper cups to spit their wine into. Professional tasters swish the wine in their mouth for a while, then spit it out. You get the same perception of the wine as if you swallow it, except you don’t fall down after the 15th “taste”. Your crowd may not be spitting, but if there are going to be a bunch of wines, it may be a safe idea to consider—especially for those who are driving.
Choose a Theme
Simply having a wine tasting is not enough of a theme; there are too many wines to choose from. You wouldn’t simply have a “food party”, would you? Of course not, you’d throw a “Brazilian Barbecue”, or a “Pasta Night”, or a “Spam Sandwich Ideas” party. Same thing with wine. Choose a particular country or region, for example, like “Tuscan Wines” or “California Cabernets”. Or if your guests aren’t quite that advanced, at the very least you should have a “White Wine” or “Red Wine” party. This way, not only will your party have some semblance of organization, but you’ll have some clue as to what kinds of foods to serve.
Who Brings the Wine?
There are two ways you can do a wine tasting; either YOU can buy all the wine, or all of your guests bring a bottle or two each. Being something of a skinflint, and not the heir to an oil tycoon’s trust fund, Vino Joe holds tasting parties where the guests bring the wines. Again, adhering to a theme, establish a price range (say, $10-15, for example), and have each person bring a bottle.
What Food to Serve?
Depends on the theme, of course, but for simplicity’s sake, it’s a good idea for the host to provide UNSALTED crackers (i.e., Carr’s Water Crackers, as opposed to Saltines), an array of cheeses, and maybe a simple veggie plate. You don’t need to go crazy with the food, unless it makes sense with your theme (i.e., a party of wines and foods from the Alsace). Keep the finger foods simple, not too spicy or salty, so that the main focus is on comparing the wines. At the same time, you’ll want to pick certain foods and try them with several different wines, to see what goes with what. After all, that’s the whole point of a wine tasting!
How Much Wine?
Depends on the party. If you’re having a tasting party, figure on about one bottle per 10 people—this assuming you’re going to only pour about an ounce or so per wine. When I state “tasting party”, I’m thinking that everyone will have a small taste of each wine, contemplate it, and discuss with each other.
On the other hand, if you’re having a party where people will be DRINKING wine (i.e., a wedding shower, a birthday party, or any bash at the Vino Joe’s place), figure that you will get 4 to 5 healthy glasses out of one bottle of wine. If your crowd is made up of light drinkers, you should get by thinking 2 to 3 glasses per person. If your friends are more like mine, go heavier—figure one bottle per person (and make sure EVERYONE has a SAFE ride home or is staying over). Hopefully, that will be too much — but you’d rather have too much than too little, right? Regardless of which guessing game you do, add an extra bottle or two to the equation, just in case.
What To Talk About?
Follow the theme first. For example, if you’re going to do a Chianti party, learn a little bit about Chianti, and talk about what you’ve learned. You can always check this site or email Vino Joe for some pointers on what subjects to discuss. As you taste through the wines, get everyone to talk about what they’re smelling, tasting, and feeling. If you’re the host, you may have to take charge and ask people specific questions; it’ll be easy if you start people off with suggestive questions, like, “hey, Ray, this wine smells kind of like some citrus fruit mixed in with your old gym socks — what are you getting from it?”. Continue with questions like, “what food would you pair this with?” Before you know it (and definitely after a few wines), everyone will be discussing all kinds of things they smell and taste in the wine. Or, everyone will get hammered and start complaining about their spouses/significant other. Either way, it should be a fun time.
Rating the Wines.
Half the fun of wine is that it is completely subjective. What better way to spice up a wine party than to have everyone judge the wines? This is the ultimate conversation starter, and everyone’s chance to be a wine dictator. All you need is an opinion, a pencil, and the Wine Tasting Score Sheet.
What About Glassware?
The true snobs will have expensive hand-blown, lead crystal glasses, one separate glass for each wine, each shaped specifically for that specific wine. Well, that’s nice if you can afford to do it (and you have an industrial-size dishwasher), but for the most part, just use one or at most two glasses per person (perhaps one for whites and one for reds). The only specific I recommend is that you use clear, glass, large-mouthed wine glasses (leave those horrid blue goblets in the china closet). You can buy fairly decent, all-purpose wine glasses just about anywhere (department stores, supermarkets, or discount stores like Target, Wal-Mart, etc.) for about a buck or two each. If you have the dough, go ahead and spring for the lead-crystal types, but be careful putting them in the dishwasher, especially if they have long stems. You want to get glasses with bowls as large as possible so that you can get a real good swirl and get your honker inside for a whiff.
Water.
Water should be available for rinsing—both the glasses and the palate. Put out water glasses as well, and urge people to drink some between wine tastes. (A good rule of thumb for keeping hydrated—and avoiding hangovers—is one glass of water for each glass of wine.) Your guests will thank you in the morning.
Spitting … Why Would Anyone Spit?
If you’re going to be tasting a dozen wines or more, you may want to have a few dump buckets (beach pails or Champagne buckets will do) around the room and provide everyone with paper cups to spit their wine into. Professional tasters swish the wine in their mouth for a while, then spit it out. You get the same perception of the wine as if you swallow it, except you don’t fall down after the 15th “taste”. Your crowd may not be spitting, but if there are going to be a bunch of wines, it may be a safe idea to consider—especially for those who are driving.
Monday, December 7, 2009
25 Do's and Dont's for a GREAT Party!
When planning the perfect party, why not go straight to the experts for advice - the people whose parties everyone loves? Chris and Teri Plazak, former restaurant owners and caterers, have hosted some of the best in their Cary, Illinois, home.
According to Chris and Teri, you don’t need a ton of money or a degree in culinary arts to host a great gathering. Just some pre-planning, a little creativity, and a fun, relaxed attitude. Party on!
Here are their 25 Dos and Don’ts for successful entertaining.
Planning
1. DO make sure people know exactly who is invited. Are their children welcome? Don’t be vague and don’t leave anything up to interpretation.
2.. DO plan wisely for amounts. An hors d’oeuvre party should have 10-15 appetizers per person. At a dinner party, have 3-5 appetizers per person.
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3. If you’re having a large party, DO hire servers or bartenders. It’ll free you up to enjoy yourself.
4. DON’T take on huge house projects just before the party. Don’t schedule your event a week after you’re expected to finish a big remodeling job.
5. DO have a party plan to space out your tasks and stick to it. Two days before your party clean your house (or hire someone to do it), plan your menu, make a detailed shopping list, and shop for everything. The day before the party, make all the food and assemble dishes. The day of the party, run the vacuum and start putting food out.
The House
6. DON’T let your pets get in the way. Put the dog, cat – and if children are not invited – your own children away for the party.
7. DO use everyday items you have around the house for serving. Put breadsticks in a vase, use a basket for crackers, place a glass plate on top of a drinking glass and you have a pedestal serving plate. Stack books under the tablecloth for a tiered effect, placing food at different levels on the table.
8. DON’T use your party to impress your guests with how beautiful your house is. Rather, change it to make it party-friendly, not a showcase.
The Food and Drinks
9. When planning the menu, DON’T try to please every person with every dish. Just because one person is a vegetarian doesn’t mean you can’t include meat in your menu.
10. DO have plenty of beverages. Serve each guest their first drink and then let them know how to help themselves after that.
11 DON’T spend the entire party serving your guests. You’re a host, not a waiter.
12. DON’T use your party guests as guinea pigs: If you’re trying out a new recipe, make it ahead of time to see if it’ll work. Leave nothing to chance.
13. DON’T serve food that is black, brown or muddy, no matter how good it tastes.
14. If possible, DO serve food on a buffet line, as opposed to serving guests at the table. It’s not overly formal and guests appreciate being able to choose their own food.
15. If kids are included in your party, DO plan separate food for them: Have some pizzas delivered or make chicken nuggets or other child-friendly foods.
16. DON’T feel obligated to serve food or wine gifts that are handed to you as a guest walks in the door. It may not fit with your menu and you may not want to take the time to prepare it for serving.
Setting the Mood
17. Unless it’s a Super Bowl party and you’re going to be gathered around the television, DO play music to set the mood. There’s nothing more grim than a silent party.
18. DO create a comfortable, pleasant atmosphere with soft lighting. Dim the lights and use candles.
19. If appropriate, DO have a theme for your party and play games. Don’t make it too structured or organized, but let the tone of the party help you decide how to start a game.
20. DON’T force introductions. They’ll happen naturally, and your party will be more relaxed.
21. DON’T steer conversation toward controversial subjects – religion, politics or the next-door-neighbors that no one likes.
22. DON’T overreact if someone spills food or a drink. So what? Do a quick wipe up and get back to the party. You can tackle it later.
23. If kids are invited to your party, DON’T let them run all over the house and dominate the party. Designate an area for them to play.
24. DON’T answer the phone during the party. You can hear about Grandma’s liver spots later.
And Finally:
25. DON’T let friends drink and drive.
Read more at Suite101: How to Throw the Best Party: 25 Dos and Don’ts for Successful Entertaining | Suite101.com http://partyfood.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_throw_the_best_party#ixzz0Z3XP0iSC
According to Chris and Teri, you don’t need a ton of money or a degree in culinary arts to host a great gathering. Just some pre-planning, a little creativity, and a fun, relaxed attitude. Party on!
Here are their 25 Dos and Don’ts for successful entertaining.
Planning
1. DO make sure people know exactly who is invited. Are their children welcome? Don’t be vague and don’t leave anything up to interpretation.
2.. DO plan wisely for amounts. An hors d’oeuvre party should have 10-15 appetizers per person. At a dinner party, have 3-5 appetizers per person.
Ads by Google
Catering & Event Planning
Since 1998 providing world famous catering that works with any budget
www.bestcateringlosangeles.com
Naples Garden Weddings
Romantic Weddings & Picturesque Events Hosted at Naples Garden.
www.naplesgarden.org
3. If you’re having a large party, DO hire servers or bartenders. It’ll free you up to enjoy yourself.
4. DON’T take on huge house projects just before the party. Don’t schedule your event a week after you’re expected to finish a big remodeling job.
5. DO have a party plan to space out your tasks and stick to it. Two days before your party clean your house (or hire someone to do it), plan your menu, make a detailed shopping list, and shop for everything. The day before the party, make all the food and assemble dishes. The day of the party, run the vacuum and start putting food out.
The House
6. DON’T let your pets get in the way. Put the dog, cat – and if children are not invited – your own children away for the party.
7. DO use everyday items you have around the house for serving. Put breadsticks in a vase, use a basket for crackers, place a glass plate on top of a drinking glass and you have a pedestal serving plate. Stack books under the tablecloth for a tiered effect, placing food at different levels on the table.
8. DON’T use your party to impress your guests with how beautiful your house is. Rather, change it to make it party-friendly, not a showcase.
The Food and Drinks
9. When planning the menu, DON’T try to please every person with every dish. Just because one person is a vegetarian doesn’t mean you can’t include meat in your menu.
10. DO have plenty of beverages. Serve each guest their first drink and then let them know how to help themselves after that.
11 DON’T spend the entire party serving your guests. You’re a host, not a waiter.
12. DON’T use your party guests as guinea pigs: If you’re trying out a new recipe, make it ahead of time to see if it’ll work. Leave nothing to chance.
13. DON’T serve food that is black, brown or muddy, no matter how good it tastes.
14. If possible, DO serve food on a buffet line, as opposed to serving guests at the table. It’s not overly formal and guests appreciate being able to choose their own food.
15. If kids are included in your party, DO plan separate food for them: Have some pizzas delivered or make chicken nuggets or other child-friendly foods.
16. DON’T feel obligated to serve food or wine gifts that are handed to you as a guest walks in the door. It may not fit with your menu and you may not want to take the time to prepare it for serving.
Setting the Mood
17. Unless it’s a Super Bowl party and you’re going to be gathered around the television, DO play music to set the mood. There’s nothing more grim than a silent party.
18. DO create a comfortable, pleasant atmosphere with soft lighting. Dim the lights and use candles.
19. If appropriate, DO have a theme for your party and play games. Don’t make it too structured or organized, but let the tone of the party help you decide how to start a game.
20. DON’T force introductions. They’ll happen naturally, and your party will be more relaxed.
21. DON’T steer conversation toward controversial subjects – religion, politics or the next-door-neighbors that no one likes.
22. DON’T overreact if someone spills food or a drink. So what? Do a quick wipe up and get back to the party. You can tackle it later.
23. If kids are invited to your party, DON’T let them run all over the house and dominate the party. Designate an area for them to play.
24. DON’T answer the phone during the party. You can hear about Grandma’s liver spots later.
And Finally:
25. DON’T let friends drink and drive.
Read more at Suite101: How to Throw the Best Party: 25 Dos and Don’ts for Successful Entertaining | Suite101.com http://partyfood.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_throw_the_best_party#ixzz0Z3XP0iSC
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