GRAD PARTY SPECIAL Need some help with your graduation party menu? The Bellevue Club is now offering delicious catering to go for your at-home or on-the-go events. We’ve got party platters, hors d’oeuvres and entrées available to go—everything you need to make preparations for your graduation party easier. This month, in honor of Bellevue Club graduates, we are offering $15 off any to-go order over $100. Please mention REFLECTIONS when placing your order.

Graduation is a time of transition and growth. Whether it’s graduation from kindergarten, high school, college or grad school, it is a time when families gather to celebrate accomplishments as well as exciting future endeavors. As students all over the country gear up to walk the aisle donning their caps and gowns this month, we’ve got some tips for you to help organize a celebration for the occasion.

The Setting
Honor your graduate by hanging a large congratulatory banner and balloons by the entrance to the party to welcome your graduate and guests upon arrival. Decorate with tablecloths and flowers in school colors for spirit. Sprinkle the table with graduation-themed confetti, mortar boards, tassels and mock-diplomas as well. Or, if your graduate is about to embark on his or her chosen career path, decorate with a few “career-themed” items, such as toy stethoscopes or blood pressure cuffs for med school or gavels and books for law school. Keep in mind, the graduate is the focus of the party so keep decorations personal and fun. Enlarge annual school photos and display in chronological order or make a slideshow.

The Menu
There are many different options for graduation party menus; choose something unique that will suit the time of day and your graduate’s taste.

Take cues from the school where your graduate attended or is about to attend. For example, if he is attending college in the Northeast, serve up regional favorites like Boston baked beans, Manhattan clam chowder, Waldorf salad, Chicago-style deep dish pizza or host a traditional New England clam bake. For schools in the South, try jambalaya, fried chicken, popcorn shrimp, cornbread, hush puppies, red beans and rice. For schools in the Southwest, host a fiesta complete with a taco bar, enchiladas, grilled quesadillas, guacamole and salsas. If your graduate will be staying in Seattle to attend the University of Washington, serve up “Purple and Gold” potato salad, “Hot Dawgs,” Seattle sushi rolls, Dungeness crab cakes or smoked salmon.

Don’t forget dessert. Instead of the traditional sheet cake, serve gourmet cupcakes personalized for your graduate, or set up a strawberry shortcake bar for guests to assemble their own dessert.

The Bar
For an over-21 crowd, set out a nice selection of beer, wine and perhaps a pre-mixed specialty cocktail made in school colors or named after a school mascot. For a younger crowd, have a bucket filled with plenty of non-alcoholic options and set up a delicious root beer float station.

Activities
Organize a few activities for your graduation party that will keep the center of attention on your graduate. Play a round of grad trivia—write questions to ask your guests and award prizes for correct answers. Ask questions such as: who is the graduate’s favorite teacher, worst subject, favorite activity or most-watched film.

For something less interactive, make a time capsule to have on display that your graduate can open at his or her 10-year class reunion. Use items that represent the year 2010 such as a newspaper from graduation day, photos of family and friends, favorite candy, a few personal belongings, sports memorabilia or whatever else comes to mind. Also, prepare a book with places for guests to insert photos and write comments.

To all the Bellevue Club graduates: congratulations!