Americans love the movies. We love the stars. We love the stories. We love the surround sound. We love the movies so much in fact we spent over $10 billion at the box office in 2009, and that doesn’t include the popcorn.
On Sunday March 7, 2010, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosts the 82nd annual Academy Awards®, or the Oscars as it’s nicknamed after the golden statuette winners receive. The event promises lots of celebrities, lots of high fashion and more than a few surprises. Click here to see the list of nominees.
Those of us not lucky enough to score a ticket to the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles have the perfect opportunity to throw a cocktail party at home. Here are some tips for hosting your own Oscar Night:
Wear: Cocktail attire. It’s fun to get dressed up every now and then, and it totally works with the theme of the Oscars.
Eat: Fancy appetizers like these “10 Elegant Appetizer” ideas from The Food Network. They all look delicious, but the Shrimp with Chile-Cilantro Rub looks out of this world.
Watch: Alex Baldwin & Steve Martin co-host the awards on ABC at 5pm PT / 8pm ET. Catch the stars arriving a couple of hours before on The Red Carpet pre-show.
Play: The new Oscars Games on the official show website. Registering takes a minute, but the games look fun from Trivia to predicting the winners.
We’re right in the dead of winter, with temperatures below freezing in much of the United States. On Tuesday, Punxsutawney Phil takes center stage for his Groundhog Day prediction. Should we expect an early spring or six more weeks of subarctic weather? If the groundhog sees his shadow, that’s a sure sign of a long winter. If not, an early spring is on the way!
Brandon and I will be celebrating with our usual tradition of watching the movie "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray. We’re going to eat sausages and sauerkraut since the Germans introduced Groundhog Day to the US; I’m quite excited about that after being homesick for Germany last week! Unfortunately, we were too late to order Punxsutawney Phil’s beer. Next year, that’s definitely on the menu.
Note: Punxsutawney Phil is a very popular groundhog right now, resulting in his website being down. I’m putting the link here anyway in hopes that his IT people will have it back up and running soon.
I’m starting my day with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s "I Have a Dream" speech. The entire thing runs just over 17 minutes; I highly recommend investing the time to hear one of the most admirable leaders in US history share his vision for our country.
After nursing hangovers, Americans continue the celebration on New Year’s Day, though usually with less alcohol. New Year’s Day is a time to sort through the past and dream of a bright future.
To celebrate New Year’s Day in the US: Read the rest of this entry »
People around the world celebrate New Year’s Eve with traditions documented as far back as 2500 BC. Here in the USA, December 31st hosts many of the largest parties of the year. Americans gather with friends, family, or even strangers to welcome the coming of a new year and all its shiny promises.
To celebrate New Year’s Eve in the US:
Watch Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2010 on ABC. Dick Clark has been broadcasting live from NYC Times Square for 38 years. For many Americans, it wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve without it. The show begins at 10pm EST, and the ball drop highlight begins at 11:59pm EST.
It’s not unusual for the Dick Clark special to be on in the background of a party, sometimes even muted, and for everyone to turn their attention to the show just before midnight.
Drink
Champagne at midnight to toast in the New Year. Click here for examples of catchy toasts.
Recent Comments