The New Year's Eve Compendium: Toasts, Tips, Trivia and Tidbits for Bringing in the New Year [Hardcover]

Todd Lyon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 1998

What are you going to be doing on the world's greatest party night? Playing gin rummy with Mother?  Or hobnobbing at a swingin' soiree where the sparkling wine flows like champagne?
        
Whether you love big bashes or prefer silk pajamas and mood music, Todd Lyon shows you how to make the most of New Year's Eve.  With humor and only the slenderest thread of dignity, she offers up a passel of foolproof theme parties, shares recipes for potables like the Soul Kiss and Fuzzy Party Punch, circulates an assortment of clever hors d'oeuvres, and uncorks a complete guide to buying, pouring, and serving bubbly.
        
For guests and hosts alike, there's New Year's Eve trivia (did you know that it's possible to shoot a champagne cork 177 feet?) and a time line of memorable moments in New Year's Eve history (in 1899, extra police were posted on the streets of San Francisco to keep strangers from making out), as well as selected toasts, great party games, predictions for the year 2000, and time-honored cures for hangovers--even millennium-sized ones.
        
New Year's Eve should be anything but dull. Forget auld acquaintances--here's how to make your party sparkle.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What turns an interesting compilation of trivia into a genuine reference item? The index. Without an index you're condemned to browse and peruse your way through random, fascinating tidbits of New Year's data, learning as you skim: where the icon of the diapered baby in New Year sash originated, when the Roman senate declared January 1st to be the official start of the new year, and why parties are so much easier for 7-year-olds to enjoy than they are for adults. But the index really expands the usefulness of the book. The table of contents promises information on party prep and theme entertainment, a history of champagne, and an overview on hangover cures, but flip to the back and you can find the page citations for apocalypse predictions, Black Nazarene Fiesta, and cocktail party foods, guest lists, Hoppin' John, and the Mummer's Day Parade, resolutions, party punches, and cheers in 31 languages. A New Year's Eve compendium is a fine idea for a party book, and Lyon executes it exceedingly well, with unusual facts, useful recipes, interesting historical details, and practical suggestions for how to set up, prepare for, and throw the bash of the century. --Stephanie Gold

From the Inside Flap

What are you going to be doing on the world's greatest party night? Playing gin rummy with Mother?  Or hobnobbing at a swingin' soiree where the sparkling wine flows like champagne?
        
Whether you love big bashes or prefer silk pajamas and mood music, Todd Lyon shows you how to make the most of New Year's Eve.  With humor and only the slenderest thread of dignity, she offers up a passel of foolproof theme parties, shares recipes for potables like the Soul Kiss and Fuzzy Party Punch, circulates an assortment of clever hors d'oeuvres, and uncorks a complete guide to buying, pouring, and serving bubbly.
        
For guests and hosts alike, there's New Year's Eve trivia (did you know that it's possible to shoot a champagne cork 177 feet?) and a time line of memorable moments in New Year's Eve history (in 1899, extra police were posted on the streets of San Francisco to keep strangers from making out), as well as selected toasts, great party games, predictions for the year 2000, and time-honored cures for hangovers--even millennium-sized ones.
        
New Year's Eve should be anything but dull. Forget auld acquaintances--here's how to make your party sparkle.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; 1st edition (October 6, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609603744
• ISBN-13: 978-0609603741
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,982,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quirky, Fun and Useful!, October 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Year's Eve Compendium: Toasts, Tips, Trivia and Tidbits for Bringing in the New Year (Hardcover)

This book is a hip and happening little treasure. It's truly useful if you're looking to make your New Year's Eve party memorable... it's also full of fun and entertaining facts. A great read, and a great guide!

1.0 out of 5 stars The New Year's Eve Compendium, December 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Year's Eve Compendium: Toasts, Tips, Trivia and Tidbits for Bringing in the New Year (Hardcover)

This book was not very helpful in trying to plan a New Year's Eve party. Rather than compiling useful information about the holiday (histories and traditions), this book is mostly poorly written personal opinion.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paris is burning, June 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Year's Eve Compendium: Toasts, Tips, Trivia and Tidbits for Bringing in the New Year (Hardcover)

Hmmm. Is there something burning? I seem to be smelling flames here. I found this book after reading the author's "Domain" book, and found both to be charming. Reader criticisms of books are extremely useful; personal vendettas against authors aren't.