Today's Journal

Host an Oscar Party at Home!

The 83rd Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, February 27, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time, 5:00 pm on the West Coast.  The Red Carpet coverage begins at 7:00 pm Eastern Time, 4:00 pm on the West Coast. What better way to enjoy this grand event that to host a party?  It can be formal, informal, planned well in advance or impromtu.  Guests can arrive in evening gowns and tuxedos or just in jeans ready for great discussions about film!       

The Academy Awards were first presented at a private event on May 16 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.  Two hundred seventy guests attended, paying $5.00 per ticket, to listen to lots of speeches ....and to watch Academy President present the awards.  There were no surpises here as to who would win...the winners were publicly announced three months earlier!  The next year a Los Angeles radio station produced a one hour special on the event...and history continues!  

Read more about the history of these Awards at  the Oscar website.

Now...on to the party!  Great ideas at ABC News - How to Throw a Trophy Worthy Oscar Party!  And the menus offered by USA Today to match nominated films are fabulous - Oscar Party Foods Give a Nod to Movie Nominees... The King's Speech -fish and chips and mini Guiness.  The Social Network -Sushi, Sean Parker Apple Martinis, Pizza Bites and Doritos!  

For more suggestions on matching your menu to the Oscar nominees, see  Allrecipes Oscar. 

I don't think I can resist the  fabulous Black Swan dessert idea from the Birmingham News!

To add to the fun...pass out pens and Oscar ballots to guests as they arrive,  which should be filled out before the show starts. An Oscar prize for the person with the most right answers!

Enjoy bringing some Hollywood glamour into your home!