Wednesday, December 14, 2011

jesGORDON's Perfect New Years Eve Party

jesGORDON’s Perfect New Years Eve Party:


New Years Eve is right around the corner and I’ve compiled a list of essential items and ideas of how to make your New Years Eve party one for the books….

Invitations:

Invitations are necessary to provide all the details and they give the receiver exactly what to expect from your party. If you want the party to have a running theme, this is the place to express that. If you just want to set a fun, quirky tone, try something different like making an origami invitation that you can mail.


Lighting:

Fun lighting is essential to set the tone for ANY party, however New Years Eve to me has a thirst for sparkle that I quench with rope lights. Rope lights are a fun way to light a room and are available in various colors so you can really express yourself - stay classic with White lighting, or change it up and use Blue, or Green! Jamali Garden in NYC sells 18’ of rope light for about $12 bucks. Not bad. (www.jamaligarden.com)


Food:

Serve Mexican food at your New Years Eve party. I love Mexican, it’s spicy, fun, and easy to cook! Trust me, I know what it’s like to have a hard time with cooking, but if you take the time to plan ahead and try out the recipe a few days before, you’ll know what works and what doesn’t so that you are not spending all day laboring in the kitchen. Mexican food is always a hit with guests and it is cheap too so you can put your money toward other provisions like the alcohol!


The Bubbly:

New Years Eve is not the same without something bubbly. Here’s a list of some of my fizzy favorites ranging from around $75 per bottle down to $10 per bottle:

Vilmart Grand Cellier d’Or Brut, 2001

Veuve Clicquot Brut

Prosecco Frozza

Cordorniu Napa Brut Cava Classico

As for the rest of the bar, keep it simple. Unless you go all out in providing a full bar, but frankly I find that to be a complete pain. Stick with lots of bubbly and one hard alcohol like vodka. Provide a bunch of unique mixers like Lorina’s soda and some fresh juices and guests will have a blast mixing up something festive.


Music:

Finally, you want your guests to relax and just have fun. As a lover of music, I know that a great playlist can make the party. If you are fortunate enough to know your guests well, you have the edge and can provide a mix of upbeat music that strikes a cord with most everyone at some point in the night. If you do not know your guests, keep it safe but most importantly upbeat. Here are some of my favorite songs that I know will be playing at my New Years Eve party:

1999 – Prince

Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones

Stayin’ Alive – The Bee Gees

Rock and Roll All Nite – Kiss

Like a G6 – Far East Movement

Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen

All of the Lights – Kanye West

Tubthumping – Chumbawamba

I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas

Feeling Good – Michael Buble

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