16 THE QUEENS COURIER • HOLIDAY • DECEMBER 14, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
holiday
Spiked Mug Fest & Holiday Market is fi nally here this weekend!
Th e beautiful Ravel Hotel is the location
for this weekend’s Spiked Mug Festival,
LIC Flea and Food’s holiday market featuring
5 ways to keep your holiday spirit at your next party
Many of us are already looking forward
to hosting holiday gatherings this year -
decorating our homes, whipping up festive
foods, planning fun activities and surrounding
ourselves with the warmth of
family and friends.
In fact, one recent survey found 67 percent
of U.S. consumers host and prepare
food for holiday events, while another
predicts we’ll be spending an average
$172 on such entertaining this season.
As enjoyable as hosting is, however, the
preparations can be time consuming. In
a survey by Wakefi eld Research for BJ’s
Wholesale Club this year, 26 percent of
U.S. respondents reported needing at least
24 hours to prepare for a holiday party.
And trying to pull everything together can
add pressure when we have copious other
demands on our time.
“Our routines are interrupted by travel,
guests, parties and the holidays themselves,”
notes physician Dr. Spencer
Blackman in Entrepreneur. “If you’re
entertaining friends and family or organizing
a work party, it takes upstream
work to ensure a smooth event. Engage
your support system and make a plan
before things get crazy.”
Consider these host-with-the-most suggestions
for keeping the joy of the season
no matter how large your impending
event - and for making sure it’s more fun
than frantic.
• Santa knows who’s on the nice list. You
may be head elf, but there’s no reason to
take on every bit of the cooking, cleaning
and entertaining yourself. Recruit
a secondary elf squad ahead of time,
assigning specifi c tasks so the work is
parceled out evenly. Note: Youngsters
needing gift -buying money may be
motivated to take on the more grueling
chores.
• Visions of sugarplums. Plan your menu
ahead. When you know way ahead of
time what you’ll be serving, most food
items and utensils can be purchased in
advance - and in volume - so you’ll have
plenty to off er even if your guest list
spikes unexpectedly. Th e last thing you
want is to run out; of the 65 percent of
Americans who told Wakefi eld they’ve
been at parties that went awry, 28 percent
pointed to a shortage of eating
utensils and 27 percent were disappointed
the food ran out early. BJ’s Wholesale
Club has everything you need to stock
up for your party - at incredible value.
• Reindeer games? Check. Do the parents
(and everyone else) at your gathering a
favor by anticipating how your youngest
party attendees will spend their time.
Can you put together a kid-friendly
craft , Lego, board game or cookie decorating
table? Build a blanket fort? Set
up age-appropriate video games? Rent
movies? Stage a snowman-building
contest? Put up port-a-cribs and baby
swings for the nappers?
• Haul out the holly. Fift y-six percent of
Americans see decor as more impactful
on holiday spirit than food, according
to Wakefi eld. You can always go all
out on decorations if that’s your thing,
but the most striking ones are oft en the
simplest. Hang multiple strands of sparkling
lights, add a fi re to the fi replace,
light sweet-smelling candles and generously
place fresh red-ribboned pine
boughs on mantles, around doorways
and banisters and in containers. Nearly
instant magic.
• Mix and a-mingle. All too oft en, we’re
so busy making everything perfect for
our guests we don’t have time to join
in the fun ourselves. Th e more you plan
ahead to have your food, drinks and
entertainment all planned out before
guests arrive, the greater your chances
of being able to relax and enjoy your
own festivities.
Th e key to being a great host is to prepare
enough so you’re not hopelessly frazzled
by the time guests arrive. Plan ahead
this year so you can appreciate the joy
of entertaining and create stellar holiday
memories for all who attend. It may be
the perfect ending of a perfect day.
Courtesy BPT
unlimited tastings of winter craft
cocktails and one-of-a-kind gift buying.
Grab your souvenir tasting mug while
you fi nd the perfect gift for everyone on
your list.
Shop handcraft ed Bohemian style jewelry
with diverse and universal cultural
infl uence by Jennifer Tamar. Her infl uences
lends itself anywhere from Native
American jewelry to Western Jewelry to
higher end precious gems. Jennifer’s pieces
are unique and stunning.
Mister Fift h brings Artwork from the
mind of a New York infl uenced creative
but following modern popular cultural
trends. Grab one of his pieces for yourself
or as a gift .
Want to rep your borough? Th e Local
Wit has Queens centric tees that shout
Queens pride for you and your family.
If you work up an appetite with all
that shopping, try one of the many
international food vendors showcased
at the Spiked Mug Festival. Empanada
Papa has delicious empanadas for every
taste. Don Ceviche off ers up Peruvian
ceviche, papa a la huancaina and causa
rellena. For a sweet bite, head on over
to Syrian Sweet Refuge for their amazing
Baklava.
Th e creative minds at Th e Ravel have
come up with an incredible list of holiday
craft cocktails with wines and beers to
match. Th ink about sipping a “Everything
Nice” with vodka, bianco vermouth, basil
& Lemon or a hot “Fireplace” with bourbon,
cinnamon clove and apple cider.
Yum!
Th ere will be tunes & Santa will be making
an appearance too! Th is is the party of
the season so don’t miss it!
Th e Spiked Mug Fest is a ticketed event
where participants can sample unlimited
winter cocktails, including spiked hot
chocolate, hot whiskey toddy, beer and
wine.
VIP tickets include a $25 Gift Card to
Penthouse 808, free parking and free coat
check. Th e Full Spread includes VIP elements
and includes Buy a Bottle, Get a
Bottle at Penthouse 808. Ravel Hotel is
located at 8-08 Queens Plaza South in
Long Island City.
Grab a ticket and use code COURIER
for 10% off . Tickets start at only $39
and are available at www.licfl ea.com/special
events.