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Your name is chanted as the crowd around you applauds your arrival. The paparazzi swarm around as you step out of your prisstine limo and flaunt your long, egret-like legs, peaking out of your slinky, slit-up-to-your-thigh dress. You approach the red carpet with bodyguards flanking your sides, stop, and smile for the camera. You've finally arrived. Everyone wants to be you...
 You are the darling of tinsel-town. Your name
is on the lips of everybody and anybody who is somebody! You are the
crowd-favorite to win in your category. And, then your eyes flutter and
your quick trip to fantasy land is over.
Now that the holidays are over and the winter season has set in, we find ourselves longing for our next high to fight off the doldrums as we wait anxiously for the first signs of spring. What better way to ward off any boredom than with a full-fledged, elegant and festive Oscar Party?
On Sunday, March 7, the Kodak Theater will present the Oscars and it will be televised live by ABC Television network in more than two hundrred countries. Actors Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will co-host the event. When you send out your invitations to all your special friends, you may want to include a ballot for those nominated for the year's top awards, including; Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Movie of the year. Encourage your guest to complete their ballots and present them at the door when they arrive for the Oscar party.
Set the scene for your party and let your guests know to dress to the hilt. You could even pick an era and have everyone dress up as his or her favorite movie star. There is no such word as overdressed at this party. Long gowns, lots of jewelry-the bigger the better-will guarantee you feel like a star. Remember it is all about glitz and glamour tonight. Have your men friends at end the party in their dark suits and ties. After all, Cary Grant would do no less. Let your guests know from the start that this party is all about living large and that they are the stars.
Before the Hollywood magic begins, don't forget to roll out the Red Carpet. Whether it is a red carpet runner you already have, or red fabric you pick up, roll it out so your guests will be caught up from the moment they arrive. You could even light the way with luminaries. Do have someone keep an eye on them for safety reasons and make sure the pathway is wide enough so those lovely dresses do not go up in flames. Ask one of your guests, maybe a budding photographer, to arrive early and as soon as guests disembark from their vehicles, have the photographer start flashing that camera. The party's decor should sparkle, sparkle, and sparkle. Lots of candles and gold are on tap for tonight. So bring out the good stuff. Gold fabric clustered on the table with your buffet items at different heights would be dramatic. Candles,
whether votives or tapers, clustered around the table will set a dramatic mood.
As host, you should be well prepared and have all the decorating and cuisine ready. Your guests should find you by the entrance to welcome each of them. This evening should not find you wasting away in the kitchen, fretting about last minute details. Take time to introduce your guests to each other and help start the conversation by sharing little tidbits about your guests movie preferences.
No one will remember the dip that was too runny, but they will remember whether they felt snubbed. That is the first thing all of the gossip columnists talk about after the big show.
If you plan on watching the Oscars while carousing, be sure to have your flat screen on and make sure everyone can get a glimpse of the screen from time to time. To ensure this, keep the party moving. Serve the appetizers in the sunroom, the buffet or dinner in the dining room and desert in the living or family room. This also provides your guest with a reason to move about, mingle on his or her own and meet new people.
If you are saying to yourself, "Right, that is just how I want to spend the evening. I want to celebrate people who are paid excessively, are sometimes shallow, spoiled and too self-centered to know what goes on in the real world. My response
would be, well, why not have a party for the truly glamorous good friends you have. Order up some pizza, serve up some wings and have some ice-cold beer on hand to toast each other. Give an award to the best cook, the best athlete, the busiest mom, the most tired dad. Dress in your 'easies' (comfy clothes) and provide warm, fuzzy socks for everyone's tootsies. Have your own discussions on the best and worst dressed stars. Mr. Blackwell has nothing on you. Watch the Oscars or not and call it a night! That would bring 'snubbing' to a completely new level.
A native of North Carolina, Claudette lives with her husband John in Wilmington. She is the proud mother of two children and one beautiful grandson. A passion for cooking, reading, family and travel, she refuels her spirit on the beach as often as possible. |
