1. "I get a
cake for every bash I host: The sugar gives everyone a second wind,
jump-starting the rest of the night."
2. "Mood
lighting is a key ingredient in every affair, so string up your Christmas
lights to everything that's not moving!"
3. "Fill a
punch bowl with a jug of inexpensive red wine, toss in a small jar of
maraschino cherries including the juice, and add a half dozen each of lime,
lemon, and orange wedges. Steep the mixture in the fridge for eight hours for
an easy, festive punch to serve."
4. "It is
absolutely worth it to plan your party music ahead of time. Start things out
mellow, but make sure the songs get a little bit faster and more fun through
the night. Burn the songs onto a CD — and don't be surprised if your guests
want a copy at the end of the night!"
5. "I was
pleasantly surprised to walk into a soiree where only desserts were served. The
best part: a banana-split bar including ice cream, hot fudge, and lots of
homemade whipped cream."
6. "I rent a
karaoke machine — you can find one online or in the yellow pages under
'audiovisual.' My husband and I are always prepared to go 'onstage' (which is
just a cleared-out area in the corner of our den) first for a duet in case
everyone else is too shy."
7. "I hire a
real bartender and set up a bar with the ingredients for two unusual drink
options (say, sidecars for old-fashioned glamour and blood-orange martinis for
a trendy feel)."
8. "My best
theme party was called The Prom From Hell. I had the girls dress up in the
worst bridesmaid gowns they've ever worn, and then we danced to the cheesiest
music — Peter Cetera, Richard Marx, and Phil Collins."
9. "Go retro
when it comes to hors d'oeuvres: Serve the things your mother used to put out
when she had parties back in the day, like sour-cream-and-onion-soup dip and
baked pineapple chunks wrapped in bacon."
10. "I placed
a bowl of temporary tattoos (tattoofun.com) for our guests to put on next to a
mirror. It turned out to be the highlight of the night."
11. "Order
pizzas a half hour before your company arrives and cut the pies into smaller,
bite-size pieces."
12. "Get
guests to stay longer: Hire an on-site babysitter (or maybe two, depending on
the number of kids) and let people know it's OK to bring the little ones along
for the night — and tip the sitter for a job well done!"
13. "Play hit
songs decade by decade: Start with the sixties and work up to now."
14. "Huddling
over bubbling cheese or chocolate fondue and digging for lost pieces of food
really gets people to let loose."
15. "A deck
of cards called Party Games: 40 Fun-filled Games to Get the Party in Full Swing
($13,amazon.com) is a great time. Each card explains a game (try Murder in the
Dark for an old-fashioned whodunit) that can easily be set up with everyday
items."
16. "Once, I
hired a dance instructor to give my guests a one-hour group lesson. Everyone
had an outrageous time learning dances like the Macarena and the Electric
Slide. (I even bargained down the instructor's price by pointing out that he'd
probably find some new clients at my bash.)"
17. "Why not
throw an updated kegger? Check with your local liquor stores to find out what
sorts of imported brands are available in keg size, or order from a
little-known local brewery, which can be just as exotic."
18. "Announce
that you'll be giving prizes to those who can name everybody in the room. It's
an incentive to get everyone trying hard to meet everybody else."
19. "I asked
everyone to come as either James Bond or a James Bond babe. I played the
album007 Classics and ran a few 007 movies on the TV — with the volume off — as
a background effect."
20. "I ensure
an interesting crowd by asking everyone to invite along one person they don't
know very well (perhaps a friend from their health club or a new person from
work)."
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