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Show Page? ThelltahStatesmm Monday, Oct. 20, 2008 te for an election night get-together that transcends politics BY BECKY SIIER McC latch) - Tribune The future of the nation hangs in the balance — what better excuse for a party? On Nov. 4, Americans will be glued to the TV, waiting to find out who will be the next leader of the free world. And whether you'll be drowning your sorrows or toasting your victory, it's always more fun to do it with friends. So invite your most politically inclined pals, put out some snacks and drinks, and turn on the television. That's really all it takes for a decent election night celebration.Tailor your event to the interests of your social ^ circle — are they more "Meet the Press" or "The Daily Show"? Either way, we've got some tips to make your presidential party ^ one that your ^T? guests will remember until 2012. INVITATIONS AND COSTUME DECOR AND TABLEWARE Parly experts always say the invitations set the mood for ihe party. And while that makes lolal sense, these days, it's all about convenience. Send an e-mail, set up an event on Facebook or use Evite. (We won't tell.) Evile has eleetion-themed designs ready for you —just fill in the template and hit "send." (Look for "Election 2008" under the "invitations" lab on evlte.com.) Of course, this election is all about change, so if you've never sent out a real, honest-lo-goodncss paper invitation, maybe this is a good chance to start. Paper Source (paper-source.com) has everything you need to create invitations without a degree in graphic design. The Sans Serif Black & White A7 Flat Invitations ($8.50 for 10) are preprinted with spots for you to fill in (he what, when, where and other details. Then use markers. stickers or rubber stamps to spruce up the cards. Paper Source has two "vote" ; -.'. :: • rubber stamps (S7 and S8.50), as well as ., ;• '. -^ donkey and elephant stamps ($6 each). .' : Pair your invites with envelopes from the '- s} .. • site's endless color palette (red and blue l_ might make sense, no?). If you think your guests will go for it, ask them to come in costume. Obama and McCain masks are available on Amazon.com (about $12 each). Or throw on a pair of rimless eyeglasses and an "1 Love Alaska11 T-shirt ($15-517 on Amazon) and call yourself Sarah Palin. . Go patriotic with a red, while and blue theme, and throw in a few donkeys and elephants for good measure. If you're feeling minimalist, blow up a few balloons and call it a day. Or get fancier with old-fashioned bunting, crepe-paper streamers and flags in ever)' shape and size you can find. (Note to self: In 2012, stock up on patriotic party supplies at the July 5 sales.) PlumParty.com has donkey and elephant paper plates ($5 for 8) and cocktail napkins (S4 for !6). And the site has lots of other accoutrements, if you're so inclined — check www.plumparty.com/ electlon.html. Plus, let guests throw their hat in the ring with campaign-style buttons, right, that double as name lags ($12.99 for 72. oriental tradlng.com). ' FOOD AND DRINKS Chances are you'll be at work all day Tuesday, so do yourself a favor and keep the refreshments simple. If most of your guests are slopping by later in the evening, you don't need to serve a full dinner. (Put another way: TELL your guests to stop by later in the evening so you don't need to serve a full dinner.) Or better yel, ask guests to bring somcihing to share. Here arc a few suggestions for keeping your snacks simple, but interesting: if Go ail-American. And what's more American than dessert? Serve apple pie, along with toppings so guesis can customize their slice. Vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel sauce and walnuts arc a good start. Or go for another aJIAmcrican treat: ice cream sundaes. Set out several flavors of icecream and all the toppings you can think of — sprinkles, sauces, bananas, nuts, candy. And don't forget to fill a bowl with M&Ms, a classic American candy. Go to mymms.com to order red and blue candies, or even personalize them with el eel ion-related phrases (starling at S5.99 for 7 oz). if Pile on the puns. Serve what- •&>>:-. •-V*i:l-^. ever you like, but label everything with an election- or candidatctheined name. Biden Brownies, McCain Macaroni and Cheese. Or make it a contest, and ask each .~,: - ' •. guest to bring a dish with a creiv • .. ; '• ; . alive name. Vote (because isn't that t .••-"•••—u»wMw;t ihe night's theme?) on the most original name. if Get geographic. Fill your buffet with foods inspired by ihe candidates' home cilies or stales. Thai's deep-dish pizza for Chicago's Barack Obama and Tex-Mcx fare for Arizona's John McCain. Look for microbrcwed beer from Illinois and Arizona (www. brewpubzone.com/ Mlcrobrews.html lists microbreweries and brewpubs in every slate). And for dessert, serve Baked Alaska, in honor of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin (visit epicurious.com for several versions of the ice cream dessert). Or try to think of a dish from Delaware. Where do you buy blue hen? ACTIVITIES Watching the returns roll in is the poini, but for lulls in the action, plan a few games and activities to keep the crowd busy. if When guests arrive, hand out blank U.S. maps. (Print one at www.50states.com/tools/usamap.htm and make copies.) Ask them to use colored pencils or markers to designate each state as Democratic (blue) or Republican (red). The guest whose map most closely matches the final returns wins a prize. (These may need to be tallied the next day. Or in a case like the 2000 election, several weeks later.) ir Or try this twist on a baby-shower game: Give every guest a safety pin, sticker, coin, liny Hag or other small loken. Then announce a forbidden word, maybe "president" or "vole." (Or you can forbid the use of the candidates' names, and see what interesting euphemisms your guests invent.) If one guest catches another saying the word in conversation, he can confiscate the offender's token. If he accidentally says it to someone else, he gives up whatever tokens he's collected. The guest with the most tokens at the end of the night wins. if Pay homage to Tim Russert by displaying a large dry-erase board near the television. (The late NBC newsman used a low-tech white board to explain the many ins and outs of the 2000 election.) Lei guesis write predictions, keep track of favorite inane quotes from TV talking heads or draw caricatures of the candidates. -4 if Create a variation on bingo: Print blank bingo cards (www.blngocard printer.com/blngo_blank.php) and fill in the spaces with people or events that viewers are likely to see during the evening. (A few to try: A broadcast network calling a state too early; a fistfighl between guests; Tom Brokaw.) Be sure to mix up (he phrases in different squares on each card. Hand out cards and markers or stickers, and let guests fill in their cards during the evening. First one to B-I-N-G-0 wins. if And of course, what are games without prizes? Depending on your crowd, here are items to have on hand: if "Pardon My President: Ready-ToMail Apologies for 8 Years of George W. Bush," by Seth Grahame-Smith (www.bn.com) if "'Pat the Politician #2" (www.imaglneeringstore.com) if Survival Chocolate Bar (www.plumparty.com) if "Off-Color Coloring Book; The Political Circus" (www.lmagineeringstore.com) if McCain and Obama lapel pins or stickers (shop.barackobama.com, johnmccain08store.com) PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JENNIFER PHITCHARD'MCT MASK PHOTOS COURTESY OF AUAZ0N.COM/HALL0WEEN POLITICAL PLAYLIST Tired of the TV talking heads? Mute the idiot box and pump up the volume on your iPod instead. Create your own playlist of patriotic favorites, or take a cue from the iTunes Music Store, which has already created one of its TRines Essentials lists (search "election songs"). Here arc some highlights: if "Campaigner," Neii Young if "Elected," Alice Cooper if "President," Wylccf Jean if "America," Neil Diamond if "High Hopes," Frank Sinatra if "Don't Stop," Flcctwood Mac if "Only in America," Brooks & Dunn |