Trends for Nov. 4, 2002

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Nov. 4, 2002 | 8:48 a.m.

Party people

It's nearly that time of year again: when too much fat-laden, heartburn-inducing food and too many annoying, heartburn-inducing relatives join forces in the creation of unforgettable (for better or worse) holiday memories.

With Thanksgiving just weeks away, celebrations of all sorts are already taking shape. Guest lists being tallied and oversized turkey-cicles are nearing the end of their stay in the depths of freezers throughout this great land.

And keeping tabs on it all is spirits maker Crown Royal.

The company, which conducted a telephone poll of 800 adults, estimates that 86 percent of people will be attending at least one party sometime in the next three months. Here's what it learned about our party habits:

Crown Royal also offers some dos and don'ts for partygoers:

Relatively speaking

But how to heal with the aforementioned relatives? That is, besides indulging in a little Crown Royal before Aunt Bessie's arrival. (Calm down we're only kidding.) Maybe the Satellite Sisters can help. The five women the real-life Dolan sisters, Julie, Liz, Sheila, Monica and Lian of National Public Radio fame, also authored "Satellite Sisters' Uncommon Senses" (Riverhead Trade Paperbacks), which hit shelves in paperback this month.

The sisters' tips for keeping kin on an even keel include maintaining a positive attitude throughout a gathering and being in "good humor," even if you have to fake your sincerity. "The Thanksgiving table is not the time or place to air old grievances or create new ones," according to the women.

Befriend the "buffer guest," a cousin, nephew or friend who has been invited to purposely work at "keeping everyone on their best behavior." In other words, they should maintain conversations, sport accolades about the meal and somehow keep pesky relatives out of the kitchen.

Finally, stay neutral. Can't decide between turkey or ham? Then make both. Which grandmother whips the smoothest potatoes? Simply say both are yummy. The sisters encourage readers to "grab any chance to be the diplomat."

Even finer dining

Let's dream for a moment, shall we? Forget about potatoes and buffer guests and toy with this idea: If you could invite anyone in the world to your dinner party, who would it be?

Omni Hotels poses that question in its Ideal World Sweepstakes, which runs through Nov. 11.

In honor of the contest, the hotel chain spent two weeks asking business travelers with whom they'd want to break bread. Among those named were George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey and the late John Wayne.

Want a chance to win your own dream gourmet dinner, or a weekend getaway for you and eight of your friends and/or family members? Enter the sweepstakes by visiting omnihotels.com/idealsweeps.asp.