| Celebrate the Year of the Dog with | | | | grocers and supermarkets in major cities. Log |
| Chinese-American Flair - | | | | on to for specific vendors. Always have soda |
| | | | on hand for those who do not drink alcohol. |
| Easy Tips for Hosting A Fire Cracking | | | | Tea is another nonalcoholic beverage that |
| Chinese New Year PartyAs if you needed | | | | suits the mood.Decorations: Red, a color |
| another excuse to party, January 29, 2006 | | | | believed to scare away evil spirits, should |
| marks the beginning of the lunar year 4074, | | | | dominate the palette of your decor and be |
| better known as the Chinese New Year. Much | | | | complimented with accents of gold, a lucky |
| like its Western counterpart, this holiday is | | | | color. Paper lanterns should be hung and |
| traditionally seen as a time to gather | | | | candles spread around to create atmosphere. |
| friends and family together to celebrate new | | | | Plenty of stores offer these goods and they |
| beginnings.Throwing your own Chinese-American | | | | can also be found online. Google "party |
| themed party is a wonderful way to bring your | | | | decorations" for an abundance of options. |
| loved ones together, warm up from the frigid | | | | "Foo," the character for fortune and luck, |
| winter, and renew those barely remembered | | | | highly displayed in China during the New |
| resolutions. Below are some easy tips | | | | Year, should be visible and can be placed on |
| courtesy of Vroom Media, consultant for | | | | various surfaces, like napkins and door |
| leading Asian brands, for throwing your own | | | | hangers, with magic marker. Oranges and |
| Chinese-American party for the Year of the | | | | tangerines, symbolic of luck and wealth, can |
| Dog.Invitations: Head down to Chinatown to | | | | be placed in bowels to make a beautiful and |
| pick up some pretty party invites. If you | | | | interesting conversation piece.Dress code: |
| have no time to make it, order some online or | | | | Have everyone arrive in red, the color |
| send an e-greeting. Plenty of internet | | | | traditionally worn on this holiday. For a |
| companies now offer cards specific to Chinese | | | | more unconventional scene have everyone come |
| New Year. Not only will you save yourself a | | | | costumed as one of the twelve animals of the |
| trip, but also the cost of postage.Entree: | | | | zodiac.Gifts: Lai-See Envelopes filled with |
| There is always the option of ordering from | | | | money are given to children, young adults, |
| your preferred take-out place, but there are | | | | and newlyweds during this time of year. Find |
| plenty of simple dishes if you would like to | | | | them at the above listed stores and fill them |
| cook your own. Noodles, a staple favorite, | | | | with fake bills or coupons for small prizes. |
| should be left uncut to represent a long | | | | Another idea is to go down to Chinatown and |
| life. Several brands found at your local | | | | have an artist illustrate the names of those |
| grocer offer oven-ready egg rolls, spring | | | | on your guest list. These can be used as |
| rolls, and won-tons. Of course, you can never | | | | seating place cards and taken home at the end |
| go wrong with chicken and soy sauce. Food can | | | | of the night.Entertainment: For some |
| be placed in take-out boxes, available | | | | authentic fun set out mahjong tiles for |
| on-line and at local restaurants. Be sure to | | | | guests to play. Scatter sheets of origami |
| get lots of chopsticks.Desert: A traditional | | | | paper along with instructions for a fun, |
| Chinese "Tray of Togetherness," makes a | | | | artsy activity. Rent a bunch of Kung Fu |
| wonderful desert. The tray is comprised of | | | | movies to play softly in the background and |
| eight different dried fruit candies. Have fun | | | | if things get rowdy have your own Jackie-Chan |
| and make your own combination using American | | | | style competition. Download some current |
| favorites like jelly beans and M & M's. | | | | Chinese music from and intersperse it with |
| Fortune Cookies are always a hit. Make your | | | | some Chinese-American influences like Yo Yo |
| own fortune and wrap it around the | | | | Ma, Wu-Tang Clan, and Michelle Branch. Dance |
| cookie.Drinks: What is an Asian party without | | | | the night away and give each other fake |
| an authentic Asian beer? TIGER BEER, a | | | | tattoos with Chinese characters.The best |
| premium import from Singapore and brand | | | | part: Chinese Lunar New year lasts 15 days, |
| synonymous with Chinese New Year celebrations | | | | giving you plenty of time to prepare. |
| in Southeast Asia, enhances the flavor of the | | | | Remember to have fun and keep a smile on your |
| food and is available at in New York and at | | | | face. |