Eclipse Party USA!
21 Monday Aug 2017
Written by S A Young in Drinkies & Snackies (Recipes), General, Musings, Uncategorized

graphic via flightmuseum.com
Happy Total Solar Eclipse Day! No matter where you call home, unless you’ve been living in a cave (or any place else with no wi-fi) for the past couple of weeks, you have no doubt heard that North America will experience its first transcontinental eclipse of the sun in nearly 100 years.
Eclipse-mania has already reached its zenith, and I’m not just talking about the emails from stores using it as an excuse to have a sale. Intrepid sky-watchers have been trekking to remote locales in Nebraska and climbing mountains in Wyoming all weekend, to set up their tents and their telescopes in preparation for the big event. Carbondale, Illinois, home to Southern Illinois University, whose population has probably tripled in the last 48 hours, is where you really need to be today for the very best view of the moon blocking out the sun. They’re holding their viewing party in the football stadium.
We here in Boston are nowhere near the “path of totality” that cuts a swath through the country from Oregon to Georgia, so we will only get a partial version. A partial eclipse is, judging from social media, nonetheless a completely legitimate reason to do some day drinking. On a Monday.
While NBC News is reporting that American companies will lose $700 million in lost productivity due to the 20 minutes people will be away from their desks and outside looking skyward (seriously? Pffft), many people, including here in Boston have just taken the day off.
I wish I’d thought of it. NASA has party planning tips, but what would I serve at an “Eclipse Party”? Sun Chips and Moon Pies, those are a given, but the internet has not been very helpful when it comes to food. I can’t image anyone I know wanting to eat something called “Galaxy Bark”. I could stock the bar with Skyy Vodka and Blue Moon Belgian White (to be garnished with an orange slice). There is, of course, something called a “Solar Eclipse Cocktail”.

photo via abcfws.com
In case you’re interested:
1.5 oz Patron XO Cafe
.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.5 oz Simple Syrup
4 oz Italian Orange Soda
Orange Slice, for garnish
Fill a highball glass with ice and add all liquid ingredients. Garnish with half a slice of orange. (recipe via abcfws.com)
No party can be a success without the perfect musical accompaniment.
and last, but not least:
Oh well, would have been fun. I guess I’ll have to wait for the next one.
However you plan to mark the occasion, be safe. Don’t forget your NASA-approved goggles!
2 Comments
August 21, 2017 at 3:09 pm
I saw, they say, 90% of the eclipse here on the mountain, which meant it got down to a little macaroni shaped spot on the inside of my Glutino cracker box projector. The shadows got dark and longer, but the sunlight didn’t get as dim as one would imagine a 90% eclipse would be … just sayin’.
August 22, 2017 at 5:14 pm
Watched some of the US coverage here on the telly this morning. It was fun to see how excited people got about the whole thing. Although, I have to say, I definitely DO NOT envy all those people the traffic on their drive home!