ZuCkErPaLoOzA 2012 !!!!
(The 14th one)
Saturday, July 21, 2012 1pm-?????
ZuCkErPaLoOza History: ZuCkErPaLoOza really started out around 1992, the summer after I purchased my home in Denville. It's origins were as a housewarming party, then called the "1st Annual Clambake". The following years were "Annual Clambakes" (also known around then as "Zuckerfests"). By the third of fourth year, it was formally going by the name "ZuCkErPaLoOzA", the name inspired by Perry Farrell's "Lollapalooza" festival (a groundbreaking alternative rock festival). Back then, I had the time and youthful energy to do these parties annually, but that soon started to become tiresome. The annual thing got rather stale, and my friends were more apt to blow it off.. By around 2000, I turned it into an "Every-Other-Year" thing, which seemed to be the right frequency to keep myself and my friends motivated.
Why Back to July??: 2 years ago, I tried having ZuCkErPaLoOzA in May to get it out of catering season...but I STILL turned away paying clients. Another downside to the late May date was all the crap from the trees fell in the food and messed up the tent. My catering business is on "hold" until further notice due to Dept of Health issues, so a July ZP has no real negative effect!!! (Please click HERE to see my current catering business status).
General Status: This year's ZP could be considered a "Kitchen-Warming Party!" Yes, I **finally** made the decision to rip out and replace the tired old grandma kitchen. No major layout changes, just a complete teardown and update of the Kitchen/DR and LR. I've been working on that project steadily since New Years, stepping up all efforts in the last few months just to be ready for ZP. As with any project, my schedule estimate was way off...I had hoped it to be a 5 month effort, but it dragged out to 7+ months. I still need some more time to finish up, but at least it's functional. Still left to do: Crown molding, Accessorizing, optimization, normalization, construction cleanup, and the outfitting of the DR with cabinets/shelves. All of which will take the rest of the summer.... Everyone's just gonna have to give me a pass on the boxes of shit in the basement, guest room, and Dining room which I still haven't figured out what to do with. Since all focus has been on the renovation, you're also gonna have to give me a pass on the rest of the property too. LOL. Practically *everything* needs attention, and there may be more eyesores than usual.
ZuCkErPaLoOzA DiArY!: Click Here for the ZuCkErPaLoOzA ProjeKct BLOG. Click Here for some choice ZuCkErPaLoOzA Pics. (Not Updated).
MUSIC: Jeff Rabin will, once again, be the musical director. Jeff and Todd and their band "Lost in Brunswick" will be performing all your favorite rock hits from 3 til 10PM. (Please "Like" Lost in Brunswick" on Facebook) ZP will be topped off with the annual Big Jam-out, where any musical Zuckerpaloozer is invited to come up with their instrument and amp and play in the band (8:30pm-10pm). The band will be playing from the uphill neighbors' driveway. Please note, there WILL NOT be an indoors late night set. Click here to see the ZP 2012 Setlist.
CHILDREN & CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT: I'm trying hard to accommodate children with some sort of kid's zone. But not having toddlers myself, I need all the help I can get with that. Please feel free to bring stuff that kids might like, such as coloring books, arts & crafts, wading pools, etc. (I'll have some candy, drink pouches, and kids junk). But I ask that you do NOT bring stuff that will be an unusual cleanup annoyance, like face painting, glitter, or stuff that will get tracked into the house, wiped off on furniture, things of that nature. Diaper Changing Room will be in the Computer Room. PARENTAL WARNING: My home is NOT at all childproof, nor is the cooking area. There are items in the house that can actually KILL curious children of all ages. So please be on top of your offspring at all times. Kids are welcome during the day, but ya might not want them around for the late-night ugliness. PETS: My home/property is not particularly pet-proof either. I'm not against a well-behaved and attended-to dog being brought though.
RAIN OR SHINE: The 20’ x 20’ Party Canopy will be
deployed, as well as two 10'x10' pop-up canopies over the band in the neighbor's
driveway. Two additional Pop-Up canopies will be
deployed on the deck and in the driveway, as well as various huge tarps. Between that and the rest of the
house.....There will be a
party! Don't be a slave to the
weather.
INVITEES: This invitation is mainly for
my friends, their
immediate family, significant other(s), mistresses, parents, and the people who
just so happen to tagging along with them. Just remember that this is still a private
party.....not open to the world (if you are some random internet surfer
who stumbled on this page, piss off!!)!
SUGGESTION: Try to coordinate amongst yourselves w/respect to
arrival times, so you don't stand there alone all day (It's a long day-this
thing covers lots of hours).
RSVP:
Please
RSVP by July 16th or so.
Inaccurate Headcount=Wa$ted Ca$h!
FOOD: A general “Cook-Your-Own” BBQ (usually Burgers/Dogs/Chicken/Sausage) will be served for the duration (or till it runs out), as usual. A distinct dinner will be served at 6pm (or thereabouts), and will remain served till it runs out. (Most likely featuring large meatfest objects such as Pig Roast/Pork/Chickens/Turkeys/Top Rounds...or whatever inspires me at the time. TBD) I'll provide the main courses. Please bring: finger foods, desserts, appetizers, salads (tall, thin plastic containers work better in the crowded salad bar), snacks, or whatever else you think will "go". If it needs to stay hot, please bring in rectangular pans that fit my steamtables. Tupperware/Utensils: Please remember your empty containers & utensils, which might end up in the Garage Sink…Be forewarned: EDDIE usually has no recollection of who's container is who's...and since he can always find a use for Tupperware, you'll never see it again..
A Note on Party Timing: The grill-your-own food is out by 11am, but in reality, people actually start arriving around 1pm. Also, don't be fooled by the 5pm-7pm "Changing of the guard" timeslot when the party seems to die for a while as the daytime family oriented crowd leaves, and the evening hardcore partier crowd arrives. The food is generally served till about 10pm (when the band stops) but by 11pm, it's pretty much all wrapped up. In actuality, food is continuously served from Friday evening to Sunday evening, to cover all setup and breakdown crew needs. There are no foodservice breaks here. Ever. You already knew that. I don't mind people hanging out a bit later, but we do have to respect the neighbors. So by about Midnight, I try to push the stragglers inside.
HYDRAULICS: I'll have one 1/2 keg of
beer (Yuengling), and when it runs out, it runs out. There will also be a
variety of diet and regular sodas/juices, and a bottomless jug of ice water. You’d be wise
to bring your own BEER, ICE & COOLERS is you want anything higher end! I'll have coolerspace provisions for your warm beers
too. The Interior Bar will be open, but
you’re on your own for anything special, and ya
may have to hunt for mixers.
Coffee/Tea
if somebody feels like making it. The well
marked "Hydraulic Alley"
is where you should dump your cooler (The Side of the house).
SMOKING:
My
house *IS A NON CIGARETTE SMOKING RESIDENCE*. Please smoke OUTSIDE and use the butt
containers. Please remind others to do
the same! Thanks.
BRING: Sleeping bags, lawn chairs, favorite
mugs/drinks, kid support equipment, good appetite, $$ for the tip-jar, etc....
DO NOT BRING:
Fireworks, Firearms, Weapons, Other Random Incendiary Devices, Glitter,
Silly-String, Play-Dough, or generally anything that will leave deep gouges,
marks or
stains on my furniture, walls, countertops, flesh or landscape. Do not bring people who: DWI, Fight, get
annoyingly drunk, hate me the other 364 days of the year, piss off my
neighbors, who unknowingly emit foul odors from improper hygiene, or otherwise
divert my energies unnecessarily with the need for adult babysitting....
ACCOMODATIONS (aka "ED & BREAKFAST"): All available floor and bedspace is available to those who stay! (as long as no drunken singing erupts in my driveway at 3am). Quarters may be tight, but if you don't mind, I don't mind. The early morning cleanup might not make for the most restful night of sleep, but I'd rather you stay than engage in DWI. Camping Permitted, however, there's not one square inch of level property here.
As you can imagine, ZuCkErPaLoOzA is a mammoth effort. I can't do it alone. A couple of people on Friday afternoon are essential, for tent deploying/wiring/lighting, rigging and heavy lifting.....and "all hands on deck" for the Sunday Cleanup (The Sunday Cleanup being typically the toughest one to find people for, and this year's biggest worry). . Of course I appreciate some help during the party too, but that is the least of my worries, because everyone's pretty cool about lending assistance. Dishwashing at any time is always greatly appreciated. Trust me on this though: If I ever find myself alone for the Sunday Cleanup, it's really over!
ZuCkErPaLoOzA
CREDITS: Click
Here
PARKING: Always a Nightmare!! *PLEASE* CARPOOL! Please respect the neighbor's property when you park. Please, no littering.
DRUNKEN DRIVING: "ZERO DWI Tolerance" rule will be in effect. Got it!? There will simply be no impaired driving from my residence. I will go to rather heavy, friendship-terminating extremes to prevent DWI, because it just ain't happening from here. Ever. I hope I'm making myself absolutely crystal clear. Thanks for your understanding.
DIRECTIONS: Use Your GPS to 28 Shawger Road, Denville, NJ 07834. If you're really such a ludite that you don't own a GPS yet, Click Here for printed directions, which you should Print it off NOW so you don't bother me with a phone call in the middle of the party, OK. That really does irk the shit out of me. I'll have my hands full. Thanks.
APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE: Bad idea to come to ZuCkErPaLoOzA expecting a great deal of "face time" with Eddie. Catering/Foodservice/Party organization is in itself, a form of performance. It's non-stop hard work, and by choice, I set the bar very high with this event. If I was a rock star and I invited you to my concert, you wouldn't think of speaking with me during the show. Similar Situation. My reward is that I know I've created magical time and space for a bunch of people, albeit temporarily. It feels good to accomplish such a massive undertaking, and I ride high on the adrenaline buzz for weeks. I do it because "I can!". Yes, I'd love to chat with you for more than 30 seconds, and I really do try to have a few minutes with everyone... but reality is...ZP is just a bad day for that. Rather than focus on whatever psychobabble you can pull out of me that day, I'd rather you just enjoy the event itself. If I were to chat with you, this page contains most of what I'd say anyway, so read THIS! Let's hook up & catch up another time when I'm twiddling my thumbs with boredom. Also apologies are necessary to the people I inevitably bump into or bounce off of with my sweaty, disgusting body as I'm whizzing past, intent on some chore.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, General psychobabble, gimme a ring! Gratefully,
Eddie!
|
Edward S. Zuckerman 28 Shawger Road Denville, NJ 07834 |
(973) 627-2722 H Usually 6:00pm-10:00pm Leave Message Otherwise (973) 724-2814 w 7am-4:30pm 973 634 0897 (Cell) |
http://www.eddiesportablepigout.com/EDDIE/
Updated Last on 07/23/2012