22 | JANUARY 14 • 2021 

J

anice Cherkasky has been 
able to immerse herself in 
parties. Besides hosting 
them for family and friends, she 
plans them for others through 
her business, Gourmet Parties.
Over the past 15 years, she 
and her husband, Richard, have 
invited about 40 guests to their 
Franklin home in celebration 
of New Year’s Eve. Beyond tra-
ditions, annual partygoers have 
found fun activities by going 
along with different themes, 
from Motown to cowboy terri-
tory.
With 2021 on the horizon, the 
Cherkaskys refused to let pan-
demic confinement stop their 
get-togethers. Using the Zoom 
platform to replace at-home 
gatherings, Janice came up with 
ideas that would connect guests 
while keeping them socially dis-
tanced. 
“I just wanted everybody to 
feel a little bit normal, relax and 
have a good time,
” said Janice, 
who, for the very first time, 
hosted a party wearing slippers 
because nobody would see them. 

“It’s been a rough year being 
apart, and we wanted to connect 
with people we enjoy.
”
Of course, food had to be 
part of the planning, and Janice 
picked up on the ideas of variety 
and homemade favorites. Each 
participant or couple was asked 
to prepare something tempting 
with two big bites for everyone. 
The Cherkasky porch, outfitted 
with a table, kept guests dis-
tanced as they dropped off their 
foods and later picked up the 
inclusive packages. 
“We hadn’t seen these peo-
ple for a while, so it was great 
to watch for them and wave 
through our windows,
” said 
Richard, who joined his wife in 
setting up an assembly line in 
their kitchen to sort and divide 
the foods. “The experience made 
me feel very New Age.
” 
Andi Sklar, a longtime 
Cherkasky partygoer, was espe-
cially appreciated for her deci-
sion to bring a Jewish sense to 
the party menu. Because the new 
year began on a Friday, she made 
little challah rolls for everyone. 

“Back in July, I started taking 
Zoom challah classes, and I’ve 
given away hundreds of challahs 
in different shapes,
” said Sklar, 
known for creating tempting 
confections sold through her 
former business, Andi’s Candies. 
“Making challahs is something 
I can do and share with other 
people. For the party, it was fun 
sharing and being together.
”
Mixologist Tammy Coxen of 
Tammy’s Tastings in Ann Arbor 
was asked to demonstrate how 
to prepare three special bever-
ages — one nonalcoholic. In 
advance of the party, each guest 
was emailed a list of the drinks 
and what ingredients would be 
needed so they could learn and 
prep simultaneously.

SCAVENGER HUNT
Ruth and Alvin Kwaselow, who 
have joined in the new year 
parties since the beginning, 
had fun with the home-based 
scavenger hunt thought out 
by their hosts. The Kwaselows 
divided up the list and hurried 
around their house. 
Ruth Kwaselow had entered 
into the party mood earlier by 
preparing seafood phyllo tartlets. 
Her husband drove them to the 
Cherkasky porch, and returned 
to pick up one of the combina-
tion packages. Among the treats 
were tomato basil soup, chicken 
wings, vegetable lasagna, lemon 
squares and brownies.
“We especially loved the 
stuffed mushrooms, and I’m 
going to make them,
” Ruth said. 
“Janice asked that we provide 
recipes, and I thought that was a 
great idea. 
“I’ve attended a Zoom bar 
mitzvah party, but this was very 
different because it was so inter-
active. Janice is always creative 
and thought of a great way of 
bringing people together.
”
 Janice, who does scavenger 
hunts with grandchildren, 

thought an adult version could 
get everyone engaged and laugh-
ing a little bit. 
“I picked silly things normally 
in a home,
” she explained of the 
items that included a bandage, 
candy bar, mother’s picture, 
newspaper and hand sanitizer 
container. The ones who got 
the most items in 10 minutes — 
Wendy and Howard Hertz and 
Suzi and Hal Muskovitz — will 
get prizes to be delivered soon.
Because of the digital plat-
form, the Cherkaskys were able 
to include people out of town, 
who developed their own menus 
but participated in watching the 
mixologist and taking on the 
scavenger hunt. Reunions were 
welcomed with participants 
based in New York, California, 
Illinois, Arizona and Florida. 
As a hosting bonus because of 
Zoom, the larger guest list did 
not mean extra work.
“Richard and I haven’t yet 
decided what the scavenger hunt 
winners will get — maybe a gift 
card, maybe something else,
” the 
party planner said.
“Whatever it is, I hope it keeps 
a party feeling for them and for 
us as we leave 2020 behind.
” 

IN 
THED
JEWS

Pandemic doesn’t stop epic 
Zoom New Year’s party.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A New 
Year’s Eve to 
Remember

Janice and Richard 

Cherkasky with a 

food package.

Ruth and Alvin Kwaselow 

go over their scavenger 

hunt list.

COURTESY OF CHERKASKY FAMILY

