Easy, Affordable Ways to Throw a Memorable New Year's Eve Party

It’s just about time to make your New Year’s resolutions. If they include being a bit more budget-conscious in 2012, why not start now with your New Year’s Eve celebration?

There’s no need to spend a lot of money to pull off a memorable, treasured New Year’s Eve celebration, said Caroline von Weyher, owner/designer of Von Haus Design, a Birmingham-based interior design firm.

“For example, you don't have to spend much money to create a glamorous silver and gold New Year’s Eve table,” she said.

Here are Von Haus’ tips for taking your table from fine to fabulous:

• Use a roll of silver wrapping paper  to create a glamorous table runner over a plain white tablecloth. “The silver will bounce candle light and create a gorgeous anchor for your tablescape items.”

• Use silver spray paint to glam-up an old topiary urn, fill it with curly silver + gold ribbon (left over from Christmas wrappings) and stick silver and gold noise-makers ($8.99 for a bag of 15 at Party City) in the center.

• Use silver spray paint to recycle your old dried or fake flowers that are collecting dust down the basement. Pop them in a vase filled with silver and gold tinsel.

• Fill glass candle holders with silver and gold tinsel, then secure small flameless (battery-operated) votives inside (, also available at ).

• Pull out your grandmother’s old silver and  brass candlesticks and tie gold and silver ribbon on the bases. Fill with tall white tapers.

• Fill pretty silver bowls with noisemakers.

• Get quirky. Have a statue or sculpture in your home? Throw a Happy New Year! hat atop its head.  

Great prices on champagne, crab legs & more

As for fare, several area stores are offering great deals on a variety of special-occasion grocery items, from sparkling wines to cheeses.

staff reports that shoppers will be able to find New York strip steak for $6.99 per pound, 26 to 30 shrimp for $9.99, Cook’s champagne for $5.99/bottle and crab legs for $14.99 per pound this week (Dec. 27-Jan. 2).

There are Hollywood Market locations in , , and , among others.

At , intriguing cheeses entice. “We will be featuring a ‘build-your-own brie’ offer,” said Whole Foods Market publicist Maggie Bahler. Whole Foods Market locations include , and , among others.

 “There will be brie cheese at a variety of price points,” said Bahler, “and then you can add two toppings for $5.”

At Busch's Fresh Food Market (locations in and ), you’ll find excellent prices on two great wine selections: Chandon Brut sparkling wine ($16.99 per bottle, normally $21.99/bottle), and Francis Coppola Claret red wine ($14.99/bottle; it’s usually $16.99/bottle). Also this week, look for New York strip steak going for $6.99/pound. It normally runs about $12.49/pound. Cooked shrimp in a 16-ounce bag is priced at $7.99; it’s normally around $12.99/bag.  All-natural pork center cut boneless top loin chops are available at a buy-one pound-get-one-pound-free special. And strawberries will be running at $1.99 per pound as compared to the normal $3.49 price.

(Troy) features special offers that are typically published every Wednesday at www.ninosalvaggio.com.