HOW TO DO A REALLY FUN ZOOM FETE ON NEW YEAR’S DAY
With 2022 just a few days away, (not mention that none of us should really be going out again now, because of Omicron,) I have a really fun idea for your New Year’s festivities.
Some of the fare at one of Heidi’s at-home NYD parties, balancing on the fabulous-footwear-adorned legs of Karen Salkin. Photo by Karen Salkin.
But it actually did not come out of my brain. My friend Heidi Rotbart hosted this fun stay-at-home event last New Year’s Day, but it would be just as entertaining to do for those of you who have a group of friends who don’t like to go out on New Year’s Eve.
First, here’s the background of how the idea came about. Heidi has always thrown the absolute best New Year’s Day parties. Hence, at the beginning of this year, when gatherings were not possible, she didn’t want to disappoint her usual guests. So she hosted a wonderful Zoom fete instead.
But this wasn’t the usual just-sit-around-and-talk Zoom; it had a really fun twist, which I’ll tell you about in a second. But first I have to say that even though I absolutely adore, and greatly missed, the fabulous food and camaraderie at her in-person fetes, it was nice to get to stay in our slept-in pajamas for this Zoom one. We always wear PJs to her soirees, anyway, (or should—that’s what the hostess requests and I hate when people feel that they’re above complying!,) which I love doing, but this time we got to just roll out of bed and not take a shower before donning better nightwear and doing our hair and make-up. That was a plus. (The pajamas thing would work just as well on New Year’s Eve, because you all get to get cozy early in the evening, and stay that way until…next year!*) *(That’s always my dumb joke for New Year’s Eve—I tell people that I won’t be talking to them “until next year,” which is just the next day. I never claimed to not be goony!)
Karen Salkin getting ready to “attend” the New Year’s Day 2021 Zoom party, rocking her new holiday PJs and her official Ringling Bros. Circus clown slippers, and wondering if she’ll win the treasure hunt! Photo by Mr. X.
Now here’s that twist–Heidi made a really fun game for us. It was a treasure hunt…in each of our own abodes! We had to find simple things, like a clock, a pencil, a scarf, etc. (Which means…we all had to wear pajama bottoms because we kept getting up to find the items. That might be a first on a Zoom call!) But to make it even more fun, (and more of a challenge,) the clues were in rhyme form. So not only did we have to see if we had the items on hand, (like a home version of Let’s Make A Deal,) but first we had to figure-out the clues!
Neither Heidi nor I still have the clues on hand to share with you, but they went something like this: “This healthful beauty comes in green or red, you’ll find it in your refrigerator and not in your bed.” And the answer is: An apple! Or this year, a clue can be: “If at your job you don’t want to get axed, you’ll need these two to prove you got vaxxed.” And the answer, of course, is your vaccination card and your ID! [Note: If you don’t have those two items, you lose in life as well as in the game!]
Of course, I won the 2021 treasure hunt. (Did you ever doubt it? My house is like a permanent swap meet over here!) And the prize was…money. Venmo-ed to me! Yay! (But don’t get excited for me—it was only about a fin. Which is still better than nothing. And I love, love, love winning!)
Wouldn’t it be fun if the pajama-clad guys from BTS were on your party zoom? (I’m showing THEM to respect the privacy of the actual people on our call last year.)
I have a feeling the entire event was as fun to plan as it was to participate in. I don’t know if Heidi will do it all again on New Year’s Day 2022, (because in-person gatherings are back to looking iffy,) or if any of you will do it now that you know how to, but no worries if you can’t get it together in time for that date—the “Treasure Hunt Zoom” is one that can be done at any time of year, for any occasion.
So have fun with it, and Happy (Treasure) Hunting!
