The best seat to watch the 88th Oscars this Sunday might not be at the Dolby Theatre, but rather at a fun, movie-inspired viewing party. From a pool-shooting bear to fiery post-apocalyptic cocktails, here are some ideas for hosting an award-winning affair based on the nominees.
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In the film, a warrior (played by Charlize Theron) rebels against a tyrannical ruler in post-apocalyptic Australia with the help of a group of female prisoners and a drifter named Max. To capture the fiery nature of the flick, Minibar's libation mixes 1/2 ounces of agave nectar, 2 ounces of Espolon tequila, 3/4 ounce of lime juice, and 1/2 ounce of Grand Marnier in a cocktail shaker with ice, then the drink is sprinkled with a pinch of cayenne pepper and garnished with a chile.
The Minibar app, which lets party hosts stock up by ordering beer, wine, spirits, mixers, and bar supplies for delivery, concocted some cocktails inspired by this year's Oscar nominees, along with ceremony host Chris Rock. The "Chris Rocktail" is made by pouring chilled Cristal champagne into a flute and garnishing it with rock candy for a elegant yet fun drink.
The Best Picture nominee tells the tale of frontiersman Hugh Glass (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) who sustains injuries from a brutal bear attack and must use his survival skills to find his way home. Minibar's hard-liquor homage to the grizzly movie includes 1/2 cup of Rogue Dead Guy Ale, 2 tablespoons of bourbon, 1 teaspoon of Southern Comfort, and 1 teaspoon of maple syrup. The ingredients are mixed in a cocktail shaker, poured into a frosted old-fashioned glass, and garnished with blackberries.
For tongue-in-cheek entertainment and an activity, hosts can incorporate a bear like Redmoon did at its "Spectacle Lunatique” gala in March 2014. Held at its Pilsen warehouse space in Chicago, guests could bid $50 to play pool with a bear. Those who beat the bear won a six-pack of beer.
To capture the wilderness experienced by DiCaprio's character in The Revenant, hosts can serve camp-style fare. Luxury wedding summit Engage did this in June 2014, offering local cheeses and charcuterie and assorted local jerky presented in rustic Mason jars for attendees gathered at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch.
In the film, astronaut Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon) is stranded on Mars and must learn how to survive on the desolate red planet with limited supplies. The Minibar's “Martian Sunset” contains 1 1/2 ounces of Malibu Coconut Rum, 1 ounce of Anejo Tequila, 4 ounces of pineapple juice, a splash of lime juice, and a dash of grenadine. The rum, tequila, and juices are mixed in a cocktail shaker and poured into a martini glass; the grenadine is then poured in until the drink changes color. Once the cocktail separates, it can be served.
In The Martian, Damon survives on rations, but organizers don't have to be limited to freeze-dried astronaut food. Love Catering crafted unique dishes, including wild salmon tartare, quail egg, horseradish emulsion, dill, and potato gaufrette in an anchovy tin, for the launch party of Just One Eye's Ulysses Tier 1 disaster relief kit in December 2014 in Los Angeles. Guests were given a stainless steel mini tool and told it was "essential to their survival" so they could eat different appetizers with it.
Space-theme video games are one way to get guests into the mood. At a March 2015 reception for clients and partners at Washington's Carnegie Library, space technology firm SpaceX invited guests to play Space Invaders and projected the screen onto the walls of the venue.
The historical thriller is about the efforts of lawyer James B. Donovan (played by Tom Hanks) to negotiate the release of a pilot whose spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union during the Cold War. To capture the Russian setting, Minibar created the “Bridge of Spies Double Crosser” with 3 ounces of Double Cross Vodka, oranges, 1 ounce of blueberry syrup, and thyme. The thyme, oranges, and blueberry syrup are muddled in a cocktail shaker, then the Double Cross Vodka and ice are added. The ingredients are shaken and strained into a martini glass; the cocktail is garnished with three blue-cheese-stuffed blueberries and oranges.
Event hosts can hint at Russia with classic dishes such as borscht. When the National Symphony Orchestra celebrated its 2009 season opening, the ball channeled old and new Russia, including main course of deconstructed borscht.
To promote the premiere of Covert Affairs in July 2010, USA Network deployed a crop of identically dressed women to march through the streets of New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago. XA, the Experiential Agency cast 40 models, who were dressed as spies in the white and red colors of the show.
The Best Picture nominee recounts the subprime home loan crisis and economic collapse. Minibar calls its cocktail "a big drink in a short glass" with 1 ounce of Fireball Whiskey, 1 ounce of Bacardi Rum, and 3 drops of Tabasco hot sauce. The rum and whiskey are mixed in a low-ball glass, then the drops of hot sauce are added.
As Wall Street is the central focus of the movie, money is a simple way to represent The Big Short in decor. For instance, the Chicago launch party for Absolut Mango vodka in 2009 was inspired by the fruit itself (it's a Hindi symbol of love, prosperity, and fertility) and a money tree draped with real and fake dollar bills was designed to represent prosperity.
Another way to incorporate money as a visual is to use throw pillows designed to look like stuffed money bags, which is what Cash Money Records did for its 2011 pre-Grammy party in Los Angeles.
Burnt-out cars and trucks with plants spilling out of them fit the post-apocalyptic vibe of the opening party for Toronto's Luminato Festival, which took place at the Hearn Generating Station in June 2015.
If burnt-out vehicles aren't at hand, the juxtaposition of live foliage and industrial architecture can create a post-apocalyptic feels, just as it did for the Luminato Festival's opening party.
At Piora in Manhattan’s West Village, Oscar fans can sip on the "Steve Jobs," $16, which was inspired by the film starring Best Actor nominee Michael Fassbender and Best Supporting Actress nominee Kate Winslet. Head bartender Shinya Yamao mixes Calvados apple brandy and fresh-pressed apple juice with Earl Grey-infused gin, maple syrup, and lemon juice. The ingredients are shaken and strained and served over ice in a rocks glass.
Sylvester Stallone is nominated for Best Supporting Actor in Creed, which tells the story of Adonis Johnson (played by Michael B. Jordan) as he follows in his famous father's footsteps with the help of Rocky Balboa (played by Stallone). The "Creed Punch" by Minibar is made with 1 bottle of Brut Champagne, 6 ounces of brandy, 6 ounces of Cointreau, 2 cups of sparkling cider, and slices of oranges and pineapple. The ingredients are mixed together in a punch bowl with ice, allowing the fruit to marinate. The punch is garnished with fruit and served with straws.
In the Best Picture nominee, Boston Globe reporters try to provide proof of a cover-up of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church. At The Newsroom Season 2 premiere party at Paramount in Los Angeles in July 2013, newsprint wallpaper covered a 480-foot-long, 8-foot-high perimeter wall.
Newspaper boys interacted with guests and attracted attention to the silent auction at the Scarlett Ball, held at the Allstream Centre in Toronto in November 2009.
