Graduation

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Party Primer

"1 he ABCs of throwing a grade-A graduation celebration.

STYLED AND WRITTEN BY ANNABEL COHEN I PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANGIE BAAN

Whether your high-school grad is going on to college or it's commencement time for your university student, there's cause for celebration.
Graduation parties are especially exuberant because they are inherently optimistic. Aimed toward the future, these events focus on possibilities
and aspirations. And because the theme is built-in, they're easy to organize. Here, a step-by-step guide to throwing the best bash on the block.

SCHEDULE A DATE

Deciding when to hold a graduation party can be
complicated. While it's tempting to schedule it for
near graduation day, choosing a weeknight or unusual
hour — say, Sunday morning — helps ensure higher
attendance. If you can wait a couple of weeks or
more, do so. A high-school graduation party held just
before leaving for college is certainly appropriate. But
if your heart is set on a particular and popular date, be
prepared for stop-overs and no-shows, or consider an
open house.

SCHOOL PRIDE

School colors — those of the graduating school or of
the prospective institute of higher education — are
a natural for decoration. Include flowers, disposable
dinnerware, ribbons or balloons in your scheme.
Many local party shops offer specific branded school
merchandise, such as pennants or disposable serve-
ware, as well as high-school items with logos. Or,
for college- and university-branded merchandise,
check out the school's online store. Here, some festive
and functional suggestions: A fork rolled in a white
napkin and tied with ribbon in school colors mimics
a diploma. • Make an easy centerpiece out of a cup
in school colors or with the school's logo filled with
retty flowers. • Colorful cocktail napkins and dispos-
able dinnerware in school colors are an easy way to
add splashes of celebration.

HE MENU

Let the time of day help determine the menu. A
morning brunch can be anything from a dairy deli
tray to omelettes made to order. If you host an open
house from 2-5 p.m., you can serve munchies and
desserts. Piles of cookies and brownies, fresh-cut fruit
and frozen treats served from a cooler are easy, as are
baskets or bowls of chips, pretzels and nuts. For a
casual lunch or dinner, try roll-up sandwiches or a hot
dog or hamburger bar (most Coney Island restaurants
will even sell you a frozen "block" of chili that feeds

about 40 people for less than $20 — just add water,
heat and keep warm in a chafing dish or slow cooker).
Add a simple salad (taboulleh or slaw) and something
sweet, and you're set.

DRINK UP!

If your guest list includes multitudes of underage
drinkers, consider either limiting your drink choices
or hire a professional bartender or server to control
who imbibes what. Some ideas: Fill a large metal or
plastic tub with bottled drinks and top with copious
amounts of ice. • Smoothie bar: Set up a blender
and include bananas, berries, orange or grapefruit
juice, sugar and ice for a self-serve smoothie station
(great for non-alcoholic parties). Or serve a nostalgic
version of the famous "Orange Julius" (see recipe fol-
lowing). • Replace labels on bottled water with your
own — they're available at office-supply stores and
are easy to print on your home printer. • Chips and
salsa bar: Assorted tortilla chips and at least three
bowls of different salsas (homemade or store bought).
• Whole fruits: Don't feel like cutting up fruit? Use
small-sized whole fruits, like bananas, apples, pears,
tangerines, grapes and big strawberries. • Ice-cream
treats: Fill a cooler with dry ice and add your favorite
frozen treats; they're perfect desserts for hot, sunny
weather (to find dry ice in your area, check out
dryicedirectory.com or partypop.com ). • Candy
station: Fill baskets or boxes with assorted candy
— they make for colorful centerpieces and snacks.

BEAUTY IS IN THE DETAILS

Extras or unexpected elements will help make
your event even more successful: Create a display
of school memorabilia, including a t-shirt with a
school emblem or a guest book and provide indel-
ible markers or pens (Sharpies work great) for
guests to offer scholarly advice. Dig out the left-
over stashes of personalized bar/bat mitzvah items
— napkins, name signs, whatever you've still got. >

PARTY CHECKLIST

As soon as possible:

❑ Choose date and time.

❑ Invite guests — anything from a phone call to

e-mail invites.

❑ Arrange rentals with a party-rental company

– tents, tables, chairs, cloths — and confirm

your order several days before your event.

❑ Arrange for wait-staff or helpers, if using.

❑ Buy disposable dinnerware, napkins, silverware

and glasses, if using (wrap

silverware in napkins, if appropriate).

❑ Order balloons or other decorations.

❑ Arrange for any needed coolers, serving dishes

and ice buckets.

❑ Make centerpieces.

❑ Set aside plenty of garbage bags, paper towels,

zipper food bags, plastic wrap and foil.

•

The day before the party:

❑ Buy or make ample amounts of ice.

❑ Pick up purchased food and beverages ahead

of time.

❑ Prepare any ahead-of-time food.

❑ Fill bowls with snacks and cover tightly with

plastic wrap.

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The day of the party:

❑ Set tables and chairs.

❑ Purchase flowers or other "fresh" decorations

❑ Write out instructions for helpers or wait staff

to follow. ,

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❑ Prepare last-minute foods and beverages.

• JUNE 2007 • 3

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