parties

Entertaining always requires a certain amount of planning. Hosts have to ask themselves what to serve, how to serve it, and who to serve it to. When it comes to wine, choosing the right varietals is only the start of the discussion. Whether it be white, red, or something in between, serving temperature is always an important facet to consider. A bucket of ice doesn't always cut it.

The Cavanova Open-Top Four-Bottle Wine Chiller is a convenient solution for wine-serving needs. Featuring an adjustable temperature range from 44 degrees to 64 degrees, the thermoelectric wine chiller keeps four standard-size … Read more

IncrediBooth lets you relive those moments at the amusement park or carnival, when you and your friends would cram yourselves into a little photo booth to create a strip of funny shots to save your fun memories. This app will work on the iPhone 4 only, so users of older iPhones should NOT download this app. The app uses the iPhone 4's front-facing camera to take three pictures in a row, letting you get creative with how you pose between shots. The end result is a strip of retro-looking photos, much like what you would pull from those aforementioned … Read more

What would you have said if someone told you pre-E3 that Microsoft would do its best to mimic Nintendo, whereas Nintendo would act like Microsoft? It certainly seemed like the companies flip-flopped at their respective E3 press conferences. Though the 360 spent a great deal of focus on motion control and the Kinect, Nintendo didn't breathe a word about health, motion, or the Wii Fit at its E3 briefing on Tuesday.

Instead, the company's games were the real focus, especially retro franchises: those folks hoping for years for a taste of old Nintendo games certainly had a field day. StarFox, F-Zero, and Pikmin remain undisclosed (Update: Though not discussed at the press briefing, StarFox 64 3D was announced for the 3DS), but Nintendo did unveil new Kirby, Donkey Kong, and Kid Icarus titles, along with detailed gameplay from the next Wii Zelda.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: Demonstrated for nearly half an hour, the Nintendo flagship sequel will feature Wii MotionPlus support for more-accurate weapon and item actions. The rest of the story remains a mystery, but the game has a more cel-shaded look than Twilight Princess. It arrives in 2011.

Wii Sports Mix: In a very smart move, Nintendo is creating a Mario compilation sports game with what appear to be soccer, hockey, dodgeball, basketball, and volleyball. This could be a real surprise hit, and it's a nicer idea than infinite "Mario X" sports games.

Wii Party: Nintendo's "bridge" game, the next in the "Wii" series, features Miis in a game that looks a lot like an updated Mario Party. Board games, minigames, and group casual play seem like the focus. … Read more

NEW YORK--"But I'm not famous!" one woman protested as she walked past the bouncer of the massive Chelsea nightclub Marquee on Tuesday night, only to be asked by ubiquitous party photographer Nick McGlynn if she might pose for a photograph on the step-and-repeat--the entertainment-industry term for that red-carpet setup with a backdrop featuring the logos of party sponsors.

"You don't have to be famous!" the ebullient McGlynn, a former Gawker Media video staffer who now runs a photography business called Random Night Out, responded. "Everyone's famous!"

Yes, everyone's famous. … Read more

There never seems to be enough ice. Whether it is a party atmosphere, and somebody has to go on an ice run, or if it is simple everyday use that continually depletes the ice trays, ice is a commodity worth more than its weight in gold water. The perfect solution for cooling down drinks on a hot day, ice is always in demand. Either on the rocks or in the rocks, the transient nature of ice makes it a party favor that is difficult to keep in stock. Luckily, there is a back up plan for easily making more.

Placating … Read more

Hosting a gathering is never easy. There's the menu to be considered, eating preferences to be anticipated, and last but certainly not least, the drink selection to be determined. After all the preparation is over and it's time to greet the guests, it's not uncommon for hosts to run through a mental checklist: hors d'oeuvres? Check. Music? Check. Appropriate lighting? Check. Cold drinks? Che--uh-oh.

Faced with the unpleasant proposition of facing off with a thirsty crowd, party hosts in need of rapidly chilled beverages have little recourse. They can toss drinks in the freezer for a … Read more

Everybody appreciates a home-cooked meal. Oddly enough, often that home-cooked meal is had away from home. At parties, the standout on the spread is always, without exception, the homemade food. People gather around the food, tasting it, asking questions about what's in it, or simply saying how delicious it is--hopefully. Naturally, some food will travel better than others, but no matter if you are making chili or dip, you are going to need a way to get it to the party.

Doubling as a serving dish and a cooker, Proctor Silex's Citrus Colors 1.5 Quart Slow Cookers … Read more

Hosting a party is never easy, and anyone who has ever done so would agree that the details can certainly pile up. One minor detail that has the potential to blow up into a major catastrophe if left unchecked is a seemingly simple one. Food of course, is something to consider but perhaps even more important are the drinks. However, no matter what type of wine or how many bottles are procured, they aren't going to do anybody any good if there isn't an opener hanging around.

The Metrokane Rabbit Electric Corkscrew makes it easy to uncork a … Read more

There's nothing that quite compares to the experience of sharing a meal. Perhaps it is some ancient human characteristic of safety in numbers that is triggered by communal eating. Or, maybe it's that we simply get hungry around the same time of the day. Whether it's due to our caveman ancestry or to our modern idiosyncrasies, we as humans like to eat together. Also, it's a great excuse for a party.

A variety of foods can be cooked at one time with the Eware 3K076 Electric Indoor Raclette Barbeque Grill with Fondue Pot, opening up the … Read more