Simply . . . Entertaining: Oscar party will win awards for fun, snacks

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Simply . . . Entertaining: Oscar party will win awards for fun, snacks

Thursday, March 22, 2001

By Mary Miller

Since attendance is by invitation only, I assume that once again I didn't make the list.

If you're like me (and millions of others worldwide), this Sunday evening you'll be sitting in front of your television instead of perched in the front row of the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium to watch the 73rd annual Academy Awards.

In the past, I have spent this evening at home on my sofa, phoning friends to groan over some celebrities' tacky outfits and rave over other fabulous choices. Sometimes we would actually even discuss whom we thought deserved to win the prized golden statue (it's really metal-coated pewter).

Instead of staying home alone, why not invite your fellow Joan Rivers wannabes and movie buffs over for a casual Oscar party? Since the awards are on a Sunday night, an informal party works well unless your guests don't have to work on Monday. Too much fuss often means too much cleanup, and that can ruin your fun.

Depending on your time and resources, your party can range from a wear-your-jammies get-together to a dress-as-your-favorite-movie-star event.

Consider these ideas:

Make a red carpet out of fabric or carpet remnants to welcome guests at the door.

Purchase inexpensive, glamorous sunglasses for all partygoers to wear as they step onto your red carpet (or front walk).

Announce guests over a microphone as they arrive. Most homes with children have a microphone or a karaoke machine. Think of goofy announcements, such as "And now, winner of last year's Best Supporting Soccer Coach, the one and only Sarah Jones."

Be ready to snap a Polaroid photo of invitees so that they can feel hounded by those annoying paparazzi just like the big stars.

For pre-show excitement, play the soundtrack from your favorite Oscar-winning movie in the background or purchase a mix of memorable Academy Award winners to play as guests arrive or during the many commercial breaks.

Have everyone vote on who they think will win in each category. Tally the results after the show. Have a prize for the winner and the loser.

Prepare an Academy Awards trivia game with details from the information-loaded www.oscar.com Web site.

Decorate your table with star confetti and your walls with cut-out gold stars with your guests' names on them.

What to serve? My recommendation is to keep it simple. Theater food is the best bet. Find popcorn boxes (local Papermart stores and the Schorin Co. in the Strip have these) and fill them with freshly popped corn. Boxes of movie theater candy, such as Jujubes, nonpareils, Swedish fish -- all the goodies that pull out 40-year-old dental fillings, are also fun to serve.

Another food option is to prepare items related to the nominated movies. For example, serve egg rolls in honor of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or Italian food for "Gladiator."

And just think what you can do to remind your guests of "Chocolat"! Try a tray with samples of many different kinds of delicious chocolates.

To make things easy and ensure that you're not in the kitchen when this year's version of the 1974 streaker runs past the podium, call the pizza delivery man or order some takeout Chinese or Thai food.

But if you are really feeling up to award-winning munchies, again check out the www.oscar.com Web site for chef Wolfgang Puck's creative recipe ideas. You might not be at the Academy's party at Spago, but your stomach won't know the difference.

Avoid serving too many alcoholic beverages on a Sunday evening. How about making the classic beverage with a Hollywood theme -- the Shirley Temple? Everyone at the party can enjoy this drink. The flavors can be varied -- switching the ginger ale for lemon-lime carbonated beverages, and the drink can be made low in calories by substituting diet ginger ale.

Related Beverage Recipe:

Shirley Temple