Cap it off the right way

Mon., May 29, 2006

Nicole Tsong Seattle Times

Party tips

Here are some other décor, food and drink suggestions from Melcher, Kinkaid and www.eHow.com:

“ Use stacks of old textbooks as pedestals for food platters to add height and visual interest to the buffet table.

“ Set aside a corner of the room for memorabilia for the family portion of the party. Make a collage of pictures or set out awards. Tack some poster board on the walls for friends to sign, and add lots of pictures of his or her friends.

“ For a quick, summery appetizer, slice cucumbers, spread with cream cheese and top with capers and salmon or lox.

“ Add a simple, popular treat by heating up caramel-flavored topping and serving it with Granny Smith apple slices.

“ Try dipping pretzel rods in melted white almond bark. Top with decorative sprinkles.

“ Grill mini hamburgers and serve on rolls.

“ Make frozen fruit drinks. Try combining strawberries, bananas, orange juice and ice in a blender for a tropical drink. Or buy ready-made daiquiri or pina-colada mix (sans alcohol, of course) and mix it up with ice. Use nice glassware and garnish with fresh fruit and umbrellas.

A high-school graduation bash is one of the last parties parents will throw for their kids. The only trouble is, the grads might have an entirely different idea about what kind of party they want than what their parents plan to host.

But it is possible to throw an original, fun party that includes family and friends, satisfying both sides.

First, no matter how much parents may want to reminisce as their child prepares to leave for college, parents should remember that the party is for the teenager, and the time they have left with their classmates is disappearing.

So instead of throwing an adults-only or friends-only party, consider throwing a two-parter, said Kris Melcher, the Kansas-based author of “Chick Living: Frugal and Fabulous” (Conari Press, 2005). Invite close family and family friends over first to celebrate the graduate, then have his or her friends over later.

Before you start planning the party, however, sit down with your child and decide the budget and how the party will work, said Ana Kinkaid, a Seattle-based event designer.

Graduation is like a wedding, she said. It happens only once.

“You start always with the student and their style and work from there, and if you do that, you’re going to have a good day,” Kinkaid said.

Be sure to give grads space during the party, though adults can supervise from a distance.

“They’re seniors now and going out into the world, and hopefully you’ve given them the tools to navigate the world,” Melcher said.

Here are some party theme suggestions from Melcher:

Dessert

“ Buy or rent a chocolate fountain and provide cut-up angel food cake, marshmallows and fruit, like bananas and strawberries, for dipping. Use toothpicks.

“ Set up an ice cream sundae bar with crumbled candy bars, sprinkles and condiments like caramel and chocolate syrup.

“ Add a graduate touch by frosting cupcakes with school colors.

“ Remember, you can give parents of graduates champagne. Throw in a raspberry at the bottom for a splashy touch.

Time capsule

Ask guests to bring a token to represent the year, assigning them a category such as a movie poster, Top-40 list, fashion magazine, a television guide, a newspaper and so on. Put everything in a cardboard box or plastic container. Write a message and your name on the outside or decorate it. Have a ceremony as you put it away in the attic or basement to open in a specified number of years.

Picnic

Head to a nearby park for the graduation bash. Bring a grill or pick up fried chicken or sandwiches, snacks, fruit and soda for the party. Bring gear for outdoor games, like a Frisbee, Hacky Sack or a football. Don’t forget the music.