Celebrating Graduation in Lincoln, NE – 2018

Graduation season is upon us! Bring on the parties!

In all seriousness, it’s such an exciting time, with much celebration and hope for the future. During the ceremonies and at the ensuing festivities, we get to play a part in honoring the accomplishments of our loved ones, friends, their kids or parents, our colleagues, classmates, students, mentees, and in some cases, ourselves.

There are really two parts at play – being in the moment now and taking a break to enjoy it, and then planning for what’s to come, whether it’s on to work towards your professional goals, continuing to further your education, or both.

UNL graduates, if you’re going out on the town to celebrate after the commencement ceremony on May 5, be sure to stop by John J’s Chow Hall at The Graduate in the Haymarket – bring in your graduation cap and receive a free Tiki drink! Speaking of celebratory drinks, it’s a good idea to have your transportation arranged or at least to have a plan. You may just need a Lyft when all is said and done, but if you’re going all out, there’s no better way to party than on a party bus or in a limousine – we highly recommend Leisure Limousine & Sedan. It’s definitely a special occasion that calls for celebration, and you can have a great time with all of your friends and family together, with no one having to worry about driving!

Party planners, there’s still plenty of time to put together a great party for your special graduate. While backyard BBQs, open houses and garage gatherings are pretty common for this type of event, there are also a lot of graduation parties held at our local venues. All of the favorites will get booked up fast, so make your reservations as soon as you can.

For the party supplies, Sam’s Club has you covered. Since this is a situation where it’s best to buy in bulk, with a warehouse full of the essentials, it’s the ideal place to find the food, drinks, table settings, and anything else you could possibly think of throw the greatest graduation party of all time.

If you’re in need of catering, Raising Cane’s has you covered. Delicious and notoriously low maintenance, it’s the perfect party fare.

“Nothing says graduation party like a tailgate from Raising Cane’s,” says Jennifer Jones with Raising Cane’s. “Whether you’re hosting a few people or the entire graduating class, Raising Cane’s is the perfect partner when deciding how you’re going to feed your guests.

Our tailgates are a great option for any size graduation party. You can choose between 25, 50, 75, and 100 chicken finger tailgates, and can add on additional items from there. The good news is that each tailgate comes with Cane’s Sauce, and sides such as our lightly buttered Texas Toast, creamy coleslaw and freshly squeezed lemonade and freshly brewed sweet or unsweet tea can be added to perfect any order.

Many people aren’t aware that we have a mobile food trailer that we can bring and setup on-site. So, if you’re hosting a party with several other families and you’re expecting hundreds of guests, our mobile food trailer may be the perfect option. It’s equipped with a full kitchen and crewmembers, and all your food will be cooked hot and fresh on-site as needed throughout your event. If you’re not quite expecting hundreds, but want to keep food fresh, we can also divide up your order and set up different pick-up times throughout the day.”

She concludes, “Placing your graduation order is simple! Once you figure out the date and time of your party, and the number of guests you’ll be feeding, give us a call at (402) 875-5754 and contact Alisha Parpart at extension 585. She can help you set up and put together the perfect order for your party. Or, if you’re looking for the perfect gift for your graduate, we offer gift cards that can be purchased for any amount at all of our restaurants. Nothing says love like a gift card from Raising Cane’s.”

While we’re on the topic of graduation gifts, that’s another thing to get checked off of your to-do list. Oftentimes a card and with cash or a gift card tucked inside will do the trick, but sometimes a little something more special is in order. A keepsake to commemorate the graduation milestone is an excellent idea, and nothing quite does that as well as a special piece of jewelry. In this instance, a nice watch fits the bill perfectly. A professional attire essential, it’s a thoughtful AND practical gift as it will help the new graduate be dressed to impress all the way down to the accessories when he or she embarks on interviews. You can even engrave a special message that will serve as a fond reminder of your love, pride, and encouragement. Stop by Sartor Hamann Jewelers to check out their selection and you’re sure to find the perfect watch for your graduate.

Speaking of preparing for interviews, as far as planning for what’s next after graduation, if you’re going right from the classroom into a career, you’ll probably need to start building a professional wardrobe. To get you started in the right direction, Gary Novotny with Gary Michaels Clothiers provides the following words of advice: “The classic quote ‘You only have seven seconds to make a great first impression’ is quite true for a person in an interview situation. Even the most intelligent men dress for failure in this setting. They either do not put in the effort in pursuit of the proper dress attire that most likely is required for the specific job or they go by the dress code in the workplace versus the interview. Over my many years in retail, I have visited with numerous employers who felt candidates were totally qualified for the position; however, they believe that a sloppy appearance equated to lack of organizational skills or sloppy work. That may seem very unfair to you but is a reality. I’ve even heard that one major company goes so far as to hire individuals on the presentation of the shoes or footwear. In almost all situations the appropriate interview attire for men is an all-wool suit in charcoal, mid-grey, navy or mid-blue, all to the darker side than the lighter. Black is not an option; it’s too formal A white all-cotton spread-collar dress shirt is a prerequisite, along with an all-silk tie in either red, blue, gold, or navy tones. Avoid the French cuff shirts or pocket squares. The outfit is accessorized with an understated watch or timepiece. Shoes are either black or mahogany in a cap-toe tie or slip-on with no tassel or ornamentation, all leather of course. Hair is nicely groomed and recently cut, including facial hair, and fingernails are properly manicured. Lastly, very little fragrance (do not splash on your hand!) as you want to make an impression, just not the wrong one.

At Gary Michaels Clothiers we have 35 years of experience with proper wardrobe planning for the interview. Most clients we help style not only get a job, but get the job they want! Then we’ve earned their business for life. Any questions about interview apparel can be directed to Gary or Nate at (402) 423-7848 or garymichaels.com. Appointments are always welcome.”

Congratulations graduates! We wish you all much happiness and fond memories as you celebrate and much success in your future. Cheers to your accomplishments!