Planning a successful Oscars party menu from Diane Rusignola on Vimeo.

With only one week left until the Oscars, it’s time for you to start planning your menu. It’ll start with the small touches, like flowing champagne and glitzy plates and silverware, and be finished off with delicious food themed around this year’s best picture nominees. Sound like a chore? It’s really not, and we’re walking you through it step-by-step in this video blog. Once you’ve watched, be sure to check out our links below to some great online resources. Time to start cooking!

Tableware
Hollywood-style party plates, napkins and plasticware
Gold plates and plasticware
Plastic champagne flutes

Alcohol
“Red Carpet Fizz” champagne drink recipe
“The Envelope Please” vodka drink recipe

Food
All Recipes‘ Oscars homepage
Epicurious‘ Oscars homepage

Fun Oscar party decorations, games and SWAG from Diane Rusignola on Vimeo.

You’ve mailed out your Oscar party invitations– good. You still have a long way to go before you’ve planned a successful party though. Today we have a special video for you, chock full of ideas for games and prizes, decorations and, perhaps most importantly, swag for your guests to take home. After you’ve watched the video, check out the links below to some of the party supplies we mention, as well as other great decorations at Windy City Novelties and Hollywood Megastore. And now…go get planning!

• *Red carpet
• *Centerpiece
• *Table fringe
• *Popcorn serving buckets
• *Glitter microphone
• *Popcorn swag bags

How-to create great Oscar party invitations from Diane Rusignola on Vimeo.

The Academy Awards are in two weeks, and that means the time for you to start planning your Oscars party is now. This week we’ll bring you a series of three how-to videos guiding you step-by-step to throwing a fantabulous party; we know you’re up for the challenge. Today’s lesson: Party invitations. Watch and learn!

Flickr/Brisan

Want to know the best way to prepare for the Oscars? Watch all 10 best picture nominees– in 24 hours. For the fourth year in a row, AMC Entertainment is hosting a special viewing of all of the best picture nominees for a discounted price, plus a free large popcorn with unlimited refills. But with 10 movies this year instead of the typical five, it becomes a lot to watch so you have two choices: All 10 films in 24 hours, or five one Saturday and five the next. Pick your poison, and check out AMC’s Best Picture Showcase for all of the details.

24-Hour Marathon (March 6)
(Select cities; $45)
12:01am:  Avatar (in 3D)
3am:  A Serious Man
5am:  Up (in 3D)
7am:  District 9
9:10am:  Inglourious Basterds
12pm:  The Blind Side
2:30pm:  An Education
4:30pm:  Precious
7pm:  Up in the Air
9:30pm:  The Hurt Locker

Two Saturdays; One Unforgettable Experience
($25 for one day; $40 for both)
February 27
10:30am: Avatar (in 3D)
1:45pm: Up in the Air
4pm: Precious
6:45pm: The Blind Side
9:15pm: Inglourious Basterds

March 6
10:30am: Up
12:45pm: A Serious Man
2:45pm: The Hurt Locker
6pm: An Education
8pm: District 9

Flickr/SpreePIX

Big news for Chicago film buffs this morning: You get to meet Quentin Tarantino– so long as you’ve got 200 bucks. Cinema/Chicago, the 45th Chicago International Film Festival and The Weinstein Company/Universal Pictures are teaming up to celebrate the director’s career next month at the AMC River East near Navy Pier. The August 18 event will include red carpet arrivals, a Tarantino film montage, a career achievement award presentation, a screening of Tarantino’s new film “Inglourious Basterds” followed by a Q&A session with the director, and a post-party at theWit Doubletree Hotel just outside of the Loop. All of this can be yours for just $200, but act quickly– tickets go on sale this morning at 10 a.m. and are sure to sell out fast. Visit ChicagoFilmFestival.org to buy your tickets…and hurry!