Monday, December 31, 2012
Choosing the appropriate sparkling wine for New Year's Eve can make you dizzy before the first sip. Here's a handy guide to the intoxicating world of bubbles on a budget.
The pop of the Champagne cork is as much a part of the New Year’s Eve soundtrack as "Auld Lang Syne" and fireworks. The tiny, tickling bubbles evoke celebratory moods. With so many sparkling wines to choose from, picking the best bottle can be daunting. Prices for sparkling wine range from less than $10 to more than $500 per bottle. Keep in mind that while you usually get what you pay for, there are some great options for those of us on a budget. Large “negociant” champagne houses that purchase much of their fruit, such as Veuve Clicquot, Bollinger, Roederer, Taittinger, Perrier Jouet and Nicolas Feuillatte, dominate the market. However, in the last decade or so, Champagne from small growers has gained some traction with Champagne …
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Most businesses will be open Monday and Tuesday.
While many local businesses will be open on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, local government offices will not be. Government offices in the Greater West Bloomfield area will be closed on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 2013, as will the 48th District Court. The West Bloomfield Main Library and Westacres branch will be closed those two days as well, re-opening Jan. 2. The West Bloomfield post office branch will both close for the holiday at noon on Dec. 31, but it offers a Automated Postal Centers, where customers can purchase postage, weigh and mail letters or packages. Wondering whether a business is open on the holiday? Find their contact information in our directory.
The start of the new year is among the 10 national holidays on which the state permits fireworks use.
This New Year's Day may be one of the noisiest on record for Michigan, thanks to revisions in state fireworks laws approved in 2012. The start of the new year is included on the list of national holidays for which the use of these colorful explosives is permitted by state law. Under Michigan's controversial fireworks law, citizens can ignite, discharge and use consumer fireworks the day before, day of and day after a national holiday, including New Year's Day. The list of approved fireworks now includes "projectiles," such as bottle rockets and Roman Candles. The penalty for violating this ordinance is a $500 fine and/or 90 days in jail. The 10 national holidays recognized by the law include: Many state residents and city leaders — …
Sort through the myths and remedies before you head out for a night of partying.
Are you thinking ahead about how much you want to have fun New Year's Eve but don't want to get a hangover? Or maybe you partied a little too much this weekend and now you have a whopper of a hangover. What to do? Let's start with how to ward off a hangover in the first place. The best advice, of course, is don't drink any alcohol or stay out late. That's the first thing. But if you do intend to drink and ring in the New Year, Henry Ford also offers tips on preventing a hangover: Beaumont Hospital Emergency Center's Dr. Edward Walton is a big fan of drinking a lot of water and eating hardy foods to keep a nasty hangover away. "You should make sure that you don’t drink on an empty stomach and if you are drinking, try to have a glass of …
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Throwing a party on New Year's Eve or hosting a gathering on New Year's Day? Patch has the recipes you'll need to keep your guests happy.
Here are 5 easy recipes you can make for your New Year's Eve or New Year's Day gatherings. Ingredients: To start, brown the beef in a medium saute pan. Drain the fat. Add the onions and bell pepper, and cook until the onions are translucent (about 5 minutes). In a Crock Pot, combine the diced tomatoes, tomato juice, beans, pumpkin, chili powder, cumin, pumpkin pie spice, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Mix well. Next, add in the cooked beef and stir. Cook on low for six to eight hours, or on high for four hours. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese sprinkled on top and your favorite corn bread. Enjoy! Ingredients: To start, mix the cream cheese, dressing and beer in a large bowl until you reach your desired …
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Here are two dozen dinners, parties and other events happening on the last night of the year.
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Tuesday, December 25, 2012
From dancing and dinners to champagne toasts and late-night coney bars, there's lots happening on the last night of 2012 in southeast Michigan. Here's a roundup of events; add yours to the comments section here. Northville Nite New Year's Eve from 4-7 p.m.; $2-$10. Travel “Through the Decades” this New Years Eve 2012; as you enter the gates you will travel back in time to the Roarin’ 20’s and travel through the decades all the way to the future. Activities include crafts, huge inflatable games, slot car racing, carnival games, entertainment and much more. NorthvilleRotary Club will be selling hot dogs, pizza, and beverages. New Year's countdown at 7 p.m. Call 248-349-0203. A bash with kids in mind at The Memory Room in Clinton Township …
Monday, December 24, 2012
We've hand-picked selections from the likes of the Chipmunks, Muppets, Disney stars and other favorites.
Do you hear what I hear? It's Christmas! The gifts are under the tree, the stocking are filled and the turkey or ham is in the oven. Because we're so wrapped up in the holiday spirit, Patch has been creating playlists of Christmas music each day to help spread the cheer leading up to the big day today. So here's the deal: Each day, from today through Christmas, we've featured a uniquely different, themed Christmas music playlist. Today's theme is Children's Christmas. We've hand-picked selections from the likes of the Chipmunks, Muppets, Disney stars and other favorites. You can listen here, free and legally (via Spotify), without leaving Patch! But we also want your input. Post in the comments what you'd like to see in future …
From a 24-hour 'A Christmas Story' marathon and a trio of 'The Santa Claus' movies, there's plenty to watch this Christmas.
It's Christmas, the coffee has been poured and the presents are unwrapped — now what do you do? While you wait for the inlaws to arrive and Christmas dinner to finish cooking, flip one of these holiday classics to keep the kids, as well as the rest of the family, entertained.
Share the spirit of Christmas by supporting charities and nonprofit groups serving the Metro Detroit area.
Whether it's support for a special concert at the library or help for a family affected by childhood cancer, some of the best Christmas gifts are those that will never fit under a tree. Charitable organizations in the Metro Detroit area and around the world rely on holiday donations to carry them through not only the Christmas season, but sometimes much of the year. Many of us are still struggling to cover our own budgets, but if the spirit of the season moves you to give what you can spare, here are 10 organizations that support the the Metro Detroit area community by providing food, social services and more to residents in need. While canned food donations are always accepted at the food pantries, grocery store gift cards and monetary …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Decorating your home for the holiday? Show us your favorite piece!
When we decorate our home for the holidays I remind my family of the story around each decoration. One of my favorites is the very first ornament I received from a friend who told me how important it is to build your own collection of holiday ornaments. I was single and had just moved into my own apartment at the time. I had a little Charlie Brown tree and not much to put on it. The little crochet dove she gave me has a musical box in in the back that plays a whiney (albeit not so loudly today) 'It's A Small World.' Another good one is the little house ornament that represented the year we bought our first home in Pennsylvania. We had bought a townhouse and the ornament looked like our home. At the time I worked across from the Moravian …
