Party like a star
by Constance Droganes
Winning style makes any Oscar party paparazzi worthy. All it takes is some smooth pre-production moves to turn your next Academy Awards event into a little bit of film history.
Think champagne cocktails in shimmering crystal flutes. Silver buckets loaded with bags of gourmet popcorn. Whatever you choose, guests will toast your taste as they enjoy the best seat in the house.
The Envelope Please
Make this year’s Oscar party invitations something guests will love to receive.
Keep it simple, but elegant
Go for fine white paper stock, tuck golden stars inside envelopes and seal with a gold wax monogram.
A fun film twist
Buy miniature movie scene clappers and use them as invitations outlining the party’s date, time and dress code.
Ballot power
A party without an Oscar ballot is like Fred Astaire without Ginger Rogers. Include a printed ballot in each invitation and have guests bring them to the party.
Mail call
Mail invites at least 2-3 weeks before your Oscar party night begins.
The right RSVP
List it
Keep a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ list for replies, making note of daytime and evening telephone numbers for contacting guests.
Last-ditch details
If you don’t have time to retrieve RSVP cards, leave a recorded message on your answering machine outlining party details such as time, date, place, parking, etc.
Call of the wild
Call Oscar night partyers 24 hours before the big event to confirm their attendance.
Ready for my Closeup!
Red carpet glam
Set up your own red carpet walkway outside your home. String tea lights around the front corridor and usher guests into the party in style.
Clothes call
Ask guests to arrive in tuxedos, evening gowns and fabulous fake jewelry. Announce each arrival and his or her “designer” outfit for the evening.
Velvet touch
For an added touch of glam place a velvet rope along your red carpet walkway. Or use it as a fun novelty to control bathroom lineups.
Colour story
Use strong colours in different hues to divide the party area into sections. Use gold for the Oscar show viewing area, purple for the food section, red for drinks, etc.
The decorating challenge
Add themed décor touches from this year’s Best Picture Oscar picks. Go naturally rustic for western themes, urban chic for city dramas and purely romantic for British period pieces.
Seat of power
Make sure to have plenty of comfortable chairs so that everyone will have a clear view of the TV.
Fine dining
Whether you’re hosting an Oscar dinner, a chic cocktail affair or a pizza and popcorn blitz, plan your menu, buy ingredients and choose recipes that can be prepared in advance.
V.I.P treatment
Hire a foot and neck masseuse for your party. Let them work their magic on guests while everyone sips champagne and watches the Oscar show.
Organize your music library
Walk this way
Get the soundtracks to this year's nominated films and play them as guests arrive.
Tune in. Whether it’s the theme from the 1973 hit, “The Way We Were” or “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” 1961 winner “Moon River,” get guests to sing along throughout the evening to pump up the party mood.
And the award goes to…
Eyes on the prize
Tally ballot votes before the telecast begins. At the end of the evening surprise the biggest winner with a mini Oscar, Oscar-shaped chocolates or a DVD of one of the nominated films.
Guest appreciation
Make every guest feel like a Hollywood winner with a parting gift bag. Fill bags with candies, perfume, gift certificates and note cards.
Thanks for the memories
Commemorate your Oscar bash. Emboss gold paper with the party’s date and put that on a ribbon or card for guests to take home.
Scene stealing drinks
Bar Basics
Keep the bar near the television so guests won’t miss any Oscar wins. Fill ice buckets or unusual bowls with gourmet sodas, exotic fruit juices, beer and water. Also, one or two magnum-sized bottles will generously serve 10 to 15 guests.
Paradise Martini
1 fluid ounce coconut rum
¾ fluid ounce vodka
1 fluid ounce pineapple juice
1 dash grenadine syrup
Combine rum, vodka and pineapple juice in a drink shaker. Shake firmly until frothy. Pour into a martini glass; add a touch of grenadine in the middle. Garnish with an orange slice. Serves one.
Frozen Mock Margaritas
6 fluid ounces lemonade, frozen concentrate, partially thawed
6 fluid ounces limeade, frozen concentrate, partially thawed
½ cup powdered sugar
2 cups club soda, or to taste
2-3 cups crushed ice, to taste
6 lime slices
Coarse salt
Blend top three ingredients until frothy. Add ice gradually. Add soda to taste, then pour into chilled glasses rimmed with lime and salt. Serves six.
Glam grub
Go for homemade treats full of mouthwatering Oscar luxury.
Truffles
1 lb. bittersweet chocolate
4 pasteurized egg yolks
Dash kirsch
Pinch of salt
½ lb. unsalted butter, softened
Cocoa powder
Melt chocolate in double boiler. Do not overheat. Whisk in egg yolks, one at a time. Add kirsch and salt. Work in butter. Let stand at room temperature for 4-5 hours. Shape into truffles. Roll in cocoa powder. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Makes 24 truffles.
Sweet and Spicy Popcorn Bags
6 small decorative paper bags
Nonstick cooking spray
6 cups freshly popped, oil-free popcorn
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. water
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground ginger
Using a 13" x 9" x 2" pan, grease the dish and add popcorn. In a small mixing bowl blend sugar, water, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Add spice mixture to popcorn and toss until well coated.
Bake on a baking sheet at 350°F for 15 minutes. Tansfer popcorn from baking pan to a large sheet of aluminum foil. Cool popcorn and store for up to three days in airtight containers. Place ¾ cup of popcorn into each party bag. Makes six servings.
