TAICHUNG > ARTICLES > Bring the Party Home!

COMPASS MAGAZINE, January 2006.

Bring the Party Home! --By Julia Koprak and Shanzi Chen Translated by Cara Steenstra & Jean Huang After a relaxing New Year holiday, everyone's back in town...broke, bored and grudgingly heading back to the office. What better idea than to throw a party? Your friends will love you, you won't have to drop heaps of cash, and the walk home is oh so short. So, party on party people!
	Party Snacks: During the festive season, there is bound to be a selection of tasty treats on the market. You can either some snack foods for your party, or turn some of your leftover New Year dinner ingredients into creative little dishes. < Dip-ables > Partygoers love to nosh: chips and salsa or guacamole, pita and hummus, or crudite (also known as veggies and dip). You can also head to Taipei's upscale supermarkets for some tasty (yet pricey) treats. < Chinese New Year dinner ingredients leftovers > Ingredients like shrimp, fish or meat can be turned into simple salads; or combine them with crackers or small pieces of toast as finger foods.

< Chinese-style snacks > Chinese-style snacks are not often seen during the year, but they come out in droves during Chinese New Year. Some options include sesame candy, Dong Gua candy, sweet osmanthus and water chestnut cake, walnut cookies, fried dough twist and green bean jelly cake. < Chinese-style stir-fries > Examples include Cured Pork Stir-Fried with Garlic, Little Dried Fish Stir-Fried with Peanuts and Deep-Fried River Shrimps. Spicy and tasty stir-fries are always popular at parties and go down well with any kind of drinks served.
		< Booze > Aside from clearing your fridge to stock it with beer, you might want to whip up a cocktail or two to welcome your guests. If you have time to squeeze limes and crush mint, mojitos are fabulously hip nowadays. < Easy Option > If you're not up to supplying everyone with food and beverages, I have two things to say. Potluck and BYOB. TIP: Neighbors: You may be keeping them up til the wee hours. Let them know in advance that you're having a party and, remember, a little gift goes a long way.
Special costumes for the party: If you want to organize a truly special Chinese-style party, you can ask your guests to come dressed in Chinese-style outfits (Qi Pao, Chang Pao, or any creative Chinese-style clothing). If you plan to create a much stronger Chinese atmosphere, you can consider renting some Chinese opera outfits and putting on a little performance (especially if you have a few different generations present) for a good laugh. On HanZhong Street and NeiJiang Street area behind Red House Theatre in XiMenDing are several shops that rent out costumes and props. Their names are Qing Long, Hui Gu Niang, Tian Er, Ting Ting and Zhong Xing. If you are looking for more special make-up or costumes, you can go to Hua Li at 50, HanKou Street, Sec. 2 for a look. TIP: Music: The music = the mood. For a mellow feel, go with jazz or trip hop. For a bumpin' groove, throw on the hip hop or rock classics. A few cheesy pop hits will get everyone laughing and singing along. Party decorations: Some say that Chinese New Year has lost its traditional flavor, but many people still make an effort to buy some lucky charms and new year decorations in red and gold to jazz up the atmosphere. These items can be located very conveniently around Chinese New Year time at traditional markets, temporary street side vendors, Chinese New Year Markets and other vendors. The biggest collection can be found at the commercial district at the back of the Taipei Railway Station (from the North Entrance of the Railway Station to the Roundabout area). Most of these decorations are more or less the same, but with a bit of creativity, you can create rather interesting results. For example, try hanging a huge bunch of big red fire crackers or suspend some little red lanterns from the ceiling. And if you are feeling extra arty, why not draw or make your own lucky charms and display them on your walls?
	TIP: Lighting: No one looks good in flourescent lights. Turn off the overheads, and flip on some halogen lamps, christmas lights, and candles. TIP: Conversation pieces: Silence is evil. Challenge this by overstimulating your guests. Place some trinkets around your apartment, like funky magazines or pictures from your last getaway, so there's always something to look at and chat about. Party games: What is the best indoor activity during Chinese New Year? Many would answer: Mahjong. The Chinese affinity for gambling can often be witnessed during the Chinese New Year. Apart from gambling, many traditional children's games often come up at parties. As long as these games are not too difficult or troublesome, they are well-liked by many. A little magic show is often welcome, and magic show props can be found at the WanHua Night Market, where they even teach you how to perform a trick or two. TIP: Avoid turning your house into a pigsty: have guests take off their shoes and bring the garbage downstairs before you go to bed. Nothing is worse on a recovery day than a house that reeks of booze. Trying to organize some big activity at a party is impossible. Keep a few board games, some dice, and a deck of cards around and we guarantee they will be used. Nothing goes better together than a few tipsy grown-ups and a Twister board. Drinking games are another a way to spice it up a bit. One of my favorites is The Question Game, where you shoot questions at other people in a circle, and rather than replying to the question, he/she must immediately ask another question to someone else. Any hesitation is penalized with a big healthy gulp of beer. For more kooky ideas, check out www.drinkinggamerules.com. TIP: Escape: Keep one part of your house off limits. There should be a quiet place/private bathroom where you, as the fabulous host, can get away and catch your breath for a few moments.