Champagne Tips and Tricks for New Year's Eve

Tips from a Matt Prentice restaurants expert on everything picking the right glassware to serving it at just the right temperature.

  Ready for New Year's Eve? Eric Djordjevic, chief operating officer of Matt Prentice Restaurant Group, has a five Champagn tips and tips for party-givers and partygoers: By "clean" I don't mean free of dirt and debris, but instead free of soap residue, as many liquid detergents don't rinse off completely.  Aside from imparting undesired lemon and lavender scents in your wine, they will cause Champagne to go flat faster or prevent your wine from adhering to the glass and releasing aromatic qualities.  Tip: For hard to clean decanters use a nonscented denture cleaner.  After a little soak and good rinse, your crystal is good as new. Each wine has various qualities and aromas; science has proven that these molecular compounds release …

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12 Festive, Fun Drinks for the New Year

Area beverage experts stir up some festive drinks to cap your year or begin a new one.

  Want to make spirits bright this New Year’s Eve? Skip the usual chardonnay or basic martini, say area gourmands. Whether you’re looking to add a dash of holiday to your typical alcoholic offerings or seeking new ways to add oomph to hot drinks from cocoa to coffee, our savvy sippers provide the following inspirational recipes. Oh, and some are even healthy (now there’s a sure way to start your “be healthy” New Year’s resolution, before Jan. 1!) (From Chef Pete Loren, director of culinary development, Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace, Troy) “This is a great way to get rid of that leftover cranberry sauce, which replaces cranberry juice in this recipe and makes it very smooth,” said Loren. (From Morton’s The Steakhouse, Troy) Yield…

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What Gadget Did you Get for Christmas?

Was a new phone or tablet high on your wish list this year?

We know electronic devices were high on many people's wish lists this year, so we want to know: What gadget did you get for Christmas? Was it an iPhone (which version?), an Android smartphone, the latest iPad, an Android tablet, a laptop computer, digital camera or something else?  Maybe you went electronics free this holiday. Tell us about it. If you were lucky enough to score a mobile device as a gift, learn how you can put it to work learning about your community. Patch has apps for iPhones and Android phones, and also makes it easy for you to upload photos, news and comments from anywhere. Here is a look at a few ways you can connect with Patch through your mobile device. 

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Anne Seebaldt

5:16 pm on Wednesday, December 28, 2011

I got a Nook Tablet (thanks Mom and Dad). Still learning how to use it, but except for a frantic call to the Barnes and Noble to find out how to get to the keyboard to register it, I've figured quite a bit out on my own.   more ›

Poll: Which Holiday Sweet Do You Like Best ... and Least?

Not all treats are created equal. Tell us what you love and loathe.

Taste is highly personal, particularly when that taste is literally on the tip of the tongue. So it's no surprise that when it comes to the sugary, colorful indulgences served this week, one person's delight may be another's disgust. Fortunately, abundant choices at office parties, family gatherings and neighborhood visits let us grab what we savor and skip what's out of favor. In these polls, tell what you crave and what makes you cringe. Pick one on each list. Then feel free to tell us in comments what we've missed.

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Alan Stamm

1:27 pm on Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Vienetta makes me smile, Geri, as does panettone from your people. I assume you modestly omitted other skillfully rendered selections in your repertoire such as struffoli, pizzelle, panforte and perhaps -- be still, my stomach -- Zuppa Inglese. Thanks for commenting. Mangia bene and Buon Natale to you and The Commissioner!   more ›

5 Holiday Movies to Catch on TV This Week

Want to get into the holiday spirit? Catch one of these holiday movies, and you will definitely get there!

There are five great movies playing this week — catch them if you can. This classic 1946 film never gets old. Jimmy Stewart stars as George Bailey, whose life is touched by a guardian angel. This film was nominated for five Oscars. — 8 p.m. Saturday on NBC. Don't miss this hilarious and touching movie of an Indiana boy that will have you saying, "You'll shoot your eye out," all day long. — Starts at 8 p.m. Saturday and runs for 24 hours nonstop on TBS. Clark Griswold has big plans for Christmas, which naturally turns into a total disaster. This movie is destined to make you laugh and be thankful that you aren't related to cousin Eddie. — 9 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday and 10 p.m. Sunday on ABC Family. When Maria feels she cannot cut it at …

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Poll: What's Your Favorite Holiday Song?

Certain December music makes us pause, sing along and feel nostalgic.

Holiday voices sing, are you listening? Songs of the season are inescapable this week – whether they bring comfort and joy or lyrics and beats that annoy. Amid the jingling and roasting, most people cherish at least a few Christmas songs – perhaps because they've been sung many times, many ways since we were young. Though it may be tough to single out a favorite, here's a chance to click on one that invariably makes you pause, turn up the volume and feel nostalgic. So come and vote, faithful celebrants, and let's see which is triumphant. Write-in votes for unlisted tunes can go in the comments.

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Marina Cracchiolo

12:28 pm on Thursday, December 22, 2011

Nice to see another Marina. :)   more ›

Photo Gallery: Hundreds Flock to Ann Arbor for 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' Taping

Fans bring gifts for the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots holiday campaign.

ANN ARBOR — Young and old alike flocked to Walgreens on Jackson Avenue in Ann Arbor for a chance to be filmed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Thursday. DeGeneres, who is partnering with Walgreens drugstores across the country through Dec. 17 to raise awareness for the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots campaign, posted on her Twitter account announcing the visit Thursday afternoon. DeGeneres made an appearance via satellite at the event shortly after 7:30 p.m. Thursday to greet fans and give away prizes. Laurel Hunter of Ann Arbor said she heard about the opportunity through a friend, who watches The Ellen DeGeneres Show every day. "I don't have time to watch much television anymore, but I wanted to come out and support Ellen's effort," she …

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Around Town

Tonight's the Night: 5 Things to Know About the Big, Bright Light Show

Here's how you can make Monday's downtown Rochester lighting event fun and stress-free for the whole family.

On Monday night, we flip the switch on the Big, Bright Light Show. It's a Rochester tradition called Lagniappe.  Sure, you know all the facts: the where (downtown Rochester, specifically the corner of Fourth and Main) and the when (6-9 p.m.), and now you even know how to pronounce the word (LAN-yap).  But here are five bits of advice from Lagniappe expert and Downtown Development Authority event coordinator Stacey Keast, all designed to make the night a little easier: And that's the down-low from downtown. See you there?

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Top 10 Shopping Strategies for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Beyond

Bargains to Bounty's Jolyn Felten shares with Patch readers the ins and outs of scoring the best holiday deals.

Bring it on Black Friday. We've got you covered. Patch joined Jolyn Felten of Bargains to Bounty in a live chat Monday to talk coupon codes, doorbusters, online shopping and general Black Friday survival. Using tips from Felten and many of the Patch readers who joined in, we've compiled the top 10 shopping strategies you'll need to make the best holiday buys. 1. Do your homework  2. Crosscheck ads 3. Coupon codes a must 4. Best way to pay? 5. Myth-busting doorbusters 6. Team play 7. Camping out  8. Online shopping loopholes 9. Free shipping 10. Price matching Felten also recommends Black Friday shoppers leave large bags and purses at home, as they can cause problems in the retail rush. Check Black Friday store hours here.

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