Archive for the ‘New Year’ Category
A Toast to 2009
December 30, 2009
It’s difficult to avoid the cliché of how each of life’s conclusions – be it a graduation, a retirement, or even death – is also a beginning, so we’ll just surrender and reference it right off the bat. Now more than ever, as we stand on the edge of 2009, we are forced to examine the notion of finality and the fact that life is a stream of one era collapsing into the next.
As mortal human beings, there seems to be a fascination with endings hard-wired into each one of us – look no further than the swarm of online lists, articles, and retrospectives commemorating the end of the year and decade for evidence. Ask anyone about his or her most life-changing moments, and it’s guaranteed to involve an ending of some sort, followed by a disorienting period, and a need to rebuild. A common denominator across all cultures is the celebration of endings and their consequent beginnings – be it through rites of passage, like quinceañeras, bar mitvahs marking the end of childhood, or the more recent divorce parties commemorating the end of a marriage.
It seems every one of life’s endings, no matter how minuscule requires recognition. We try to ensure that every death ends with a funeral or memorial, every film with credits, every sentence with a punctuation mark, and every meal with dessert (or, if you’re more cynically inclined, a check). Consider each of these a reference point, a guide post indicating that it’s time to move on to something new.
As you face the termination of 2009, there are many ways you can commemorate. Perhaps after this particularly difficult year you’re in need of cathartic release. You might opt for a late-night celebration with overflowing cocktails, as is expected in many Western countries (For suggestions on where to eat during your early hours merrymaking, see our recent tweets).
Of course, there are healthy alternatives to libation-fueled festivities. You can take the Japanese route and start celebrating on New Year’s Day at a more reasonable hour (after all, it’s a bit literal-minded to start the new year at midnight). In the land of the rising sun, it’s customary to get a full night of sleep, give an optimistic nod to the rising sun itself, and to forget the hardships of the previous twelve months with a big feast and gift exchanging.
We at UBI UBI are inclined to celebrate the year’s end with a sophisticated meal. After a year of culinary breakthroughs, it’s only appropriate to mark your hope for another delicious year with an evening of fine dining. After dinner, you can always reminisce over your favorite memories of the year with a thoughtfully selected bottle of sparkling wine shared with loved ones, or your urban tribe.
Every ending is laced with uncertainty over what’s to follow, but, as this year has demonstrated, even life’s most uncertain times are illuminated by instances of brilliance and creativity, be it through food, art, fashion, or technology. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for the coming decade.
Now, let us end this post with warm wishes for an invigorating New Year’s celebration and with special thanks to our readers and followers, who have been our inspiration for 2009.
Sources:
“The Case Against the New Year,” > wsj.com;
Photo courtesy of:
i.ehow.com.
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Making Your New Year’s Eve Fizz
December 29, 2009
Far be it for us to complain about the tradition of drinking champagne on New Year’s Eve. We’ll cease just about any opportunity to pop open a bottle of bubbly and celebrate life’s good fortune - even if that good fortune is just the chance to drink champagne. Still, with tradition comes the danger of repetitiveness. As you plan your festivities for the approaching holiday, you may find your creative juices corked when it comes to selecting the right sparkling wine to punctuate your 2009.
Though it’s likely your fellow celebrators won’t be picky as they wait expectantly for the countdown with empty glasses in hand, a little attention to detail can make for a more memorable night.
If we’ve learned anything this past year, it’s that creativity flourishes in the face of challenges. We suggest that you use that lesson to plant a motif into your champagne selection this year. Make a statement about 2009 by taking a particular angle with the fizzy wines you serve. 2010-themed eyeglasses can only go so far at keeping your soiree timely. But don’t take our word for it - let the bubbles speak for themselves. Here’s some suggestions to help you pick the perfect sparkling wine to celebrate the decade, the year, or just the current moment:
Choose a green champagne:
Sustainable, environmentally-conscious living is a full-time commitment. Luckily, your green responsibilities needn’t get in the way of your night of carefree carousal. Pommery’s trendy line of POP champagnes just released a green variety called Earth that’s just as eco-friendly as it is party-ready. The champagne’s grapes were raised using reduced amounts of water and pesticides, the glass bottles are lightweight, there’s no external packaging, and the labels use water-soluble ink. And the flavor? “Warm brioche…tropical flavors and a lovely roundness,” according to Pommery’s cellar master, Thierry Gasco. Retailing at $55 a bottle, Earth is priced at an appropriate level for a special occasion, without completely breaking the bank.
Choose an affordable sparkling wine:
If you plan to party on a budget, fear not. There’s no need to make sacrifices this year. A standard rule for wine is that low price doesn’t necessarily equate to low-quality. By doing a bit of research, you can pick the winners from the weaklings when it comes to cheaper labels. Guests who inquire about your selection will be pleasantly surprised at the low prices, and will have a renewed respect for your resourcefulness. Try the crisp, citrus-y non vintage Freixenet “Carta Nevada” cava from Spain, the bubbly, peachy Nonvintage Domaine Ste. Michelle Extra Dry sparkling wine from Washington state, or the frothy, green-apple-flavored Nonvintage Piper Sonoma Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine from Sonoma. Each wine retails for under $15 and comes packed with zesty taste.
Make Champagne cocktails:
If you want to get more out of a limited supply of sparkling wine, take the cocktail route. Champagne is remarkably forgiving, so even inexperienced mixologists will find this to be a viable approach. Sweet dessert wines, brandy, and fruity-flavored liqueurs are some standard mixers, but, really, your imagination is the only limit when it comes to these bubbly concoctions. To rid yourself of all-night bar-tending duties, just provide your guests with champagne and a variety of mixing options and make the cocktails a DIY activity. Creative mixes will serve as perfect conversation starters and will get your party fizzing.
Or, splurge on an expensive label
We call this the “What recession?” approach. Be a rebel and make a statement with a famously top shelf champagne. Cristal, once drunk only by the Russian Tsar Alexander II or the equally luxurious Dom Pérignon will undoubtedly impress (or shock) and leave a sufficiently large hole in your bank account. If your going to use this approach, we recommend you downsize your party to two, to maximize your personal enjoyment. Share one of the above top notch champagnes with one special individual and make it a romantic, low-key evening at home.
No matter what kind of champagne or sparkling wine you decide to pop open, remember that you selection should complement - and not define - your celebration. Wine is only as good as the party at which it’s drunk. The joy of celebrating your relationships - romantic or otherwise, your accomplishments, and your goals is what ultimately makes the champagne delicious. As wine columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher recently posited in the Wall Street Journal, wine is a subjective art and, as they stated: “Your enjoyment of any wine is an extension of yourself, your emotions, your experiences and your circumstances when you drink it.” With that advice, make every bubble count this New Year’s Eve.
Sources:
“For holidays, let bubbly flow” miamiherald.com;
“Champagne Holiday Cocktails” blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites;
“Pop Hit | Pommery Green Champagnes” tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com;
“The Mysterious Heart of Deliciousness”wsj.com.
Photo courtesy of:
freechristmaswallpapers.net.
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Ending the Year on a Fashionable Note
December 26, 2009
New Year’s Eve is a last chance to make an impression on 2009. It was a challenging year to be sure, but it was also one that exhibited flashes of brilliance within the realms of food, fashion, and technology. Rarely has human love and ingenuity for culture been so apparent. As you look back on the past twelve months, remember it for its many pleasant surprises, and not just its bleak economy.
Use the final night of 2009 to make your own contribution to the celebration. Since this was the year that fashion became a spectacle—with its many over-the-top fashion shows and rising pop fashion icons—it’s only appropriate that you attend your New Year’s Eve with a fashion statement of your own.
New Year’s happens to be a perfect time to take some style risks since the carefree environment tends to be more forgiving (or forgetful) towards adventurous outfits. Plus, any faux pas can be left behind in the passing year as you start fresh in 2010.
Below we’ve gathered a few “statement pieces” that should appeal to various Dining DNA strands. Any one of these will sufficiently spruce up an otherwise typical cocktail dress or blazer and jeans ensemble:
A Bow Tie
Since it’s a time of the year meant for retrospection, Suave Sophisticates can cease the opportunity to make their outfits a throwback to New Years of yesteryear. A bow tie, topped off with a fedora or a blazer is always a sophisticated combination. Agile Improvisers, on the other hand, can combine a bow tie with an otherwise more casual outfit to make for a classic and quirky ensemble. Those who strive for hipsterism can also go the extra step and select a flashy tie like a colorful, velvet bow tie, or a jewel-studded one.
A Feathered Cocktail Hat
If your date happens to be a Suave Sophisticate wearing a bow tie, try being a formidable Protagonista and one-up him with an eye-catching cocktail hat that maintains the throwback theme. This pre-war chic feathered hat from Urban Outfitters is perfect for the occasion. It’s a classic beauty that tops off an outfit without sending it over the top. Consider the white feathers a blank canvas for specks of confetti. Lastly: when else will you be able to get away with sequins on a hat?
A Shiny Belt
Shiny is the general theme of New Year’s Eve. It’s one of the few occasions on which we give into our natural attraction to all things that sparkle, glow, and twinkle. If you’re a comfortable American not prone to fashion experimentation, try the simplest statement piece of the bunch—a metallic-hued belt. It’s the cheapest and most subtle options that will literally hold your outfit together. Try it with dark wash jeans.
Metallic Outerwear
Continuing with the theme of shininess, this gold vest by Pyrenex at Opening Ceremony and shimmering jacket from Phillip Lim are strictly for more adventurous protagonistas and agile improvisers. These items are useful for anyone planning to spend a portion of their night out in the cold, plus you’re bound to garner more attention than any dropping ball or fireworks display. As a side note, metallic fabrics have been cited as an upcoming fashion trend, so you may get a surprising amount of mileage out of this ostentatious outerwear.
Frilly Slippers
Women: If there’s any chance walking a straight line will be a challenge by night’s end, why not leave the heels at home? There are plenty of ways to make a statement without the added inches to your height. These Lanvin ballerina slippers are lightweight and comfortable, and still eye-catching thanks to their cool steel blue hue and ruffled trim. If, however, you’re adamant about wearing heels, you could always bring the slippers as back-up—they come with a dust bag for easy traveling. Your feet will thank you.
A Final Note
When selecting a statement piece, remember, this is New Year’s, not Halloween. You’re not aiming for a complete costume. Settling on one standout clothing item or accessory is more practical, stylish, and affordable. Consider each of the above an extra dash of spice that will bring out the flavor of your entire outfit, whether you’re a Suave Sophisticate, a Protagonista, or an Agile Improviser (or, if you just want to dress like one for the night).
Photo courtesy of:
polyvore.com;
urbanoutfitters.com;
topman.com;
openingceremony.com;
aloharag.com;
aloharag.com;
curiouswines.ie.
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