November is upon us, and with it comes party season. Soon we'll all be inundated with invites to the usual variety of seasonal gatherings: work drinks, family dinner parties, neighborhood drop-ins and cocktails with friends. In the interest of canvassing opinion, and helping you host the most epic party ever this year, we want to know: what was the best party you've ever been to?
It's a tricky question, right? For me, the memory of a holiday party my family attended when I was little sticks in my mind, an annual event referred to as "The Cookie Party". Picture a big old house, set in the middle of the snowy Ontario countryside. Trays of plain sugar cookies piled high in the huge farmhouse kitchen, alongside vibrantly-hued icings, sprinkles and anything else a crafty, sugar-starved kid could ask for. We decorated (and ate) cookies to our hearts' content, while the buffet of delicious hors d'oeuvres in the dining room, along with music, wine and conversation, kept the adults entertained. After the sugar high kicked in, us kids would spend hours playing hide and seek in the countless nooks and crannies available to us, until our parents packed us into the car, sleepy, sated and clutching a tin of our edible artworks.
Your turn — tell us about your favorite party memory. Was it a laid-back dinner with friends or a no-holds-barred, catered blowout with all the fixings? More importantly, what made it so awesome?
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One of my favorite parties that I ever threw was a Jaws-themed pool party last summer. We borrowed a projector and watched Jaws in the backyard and everybody had brownie sundaes, and cheered at "You're gonna need a bigger boat"...it was a total blast!
I used to know a woman who gave the Best Parties. Everyone of them was my favorite. The best one of all, perhaps, was a post- Christmas party where people were supposed to bring the worst gift they had received and we had a Yankee Swap. I may have laughed harder than I ever had since childhood. There was something about the truly horrible gifts and the Yankee Swap, which was wonderful. Oddly, some of the gifts were things that other people wanted, but most of them were just hilarious.
Another party she gave was an End-of -Summer party, where everyone was invited to bring something- a poem, an play, an event, something to share, anything that reminded them that autumn was closing in. Among the 'things' people brought: drums - we all went outside and drummed and sang to the moon; tomatoes, someone brought enough of the last tomatoes of the season for everyone to take one home, popcorn still on the cob for everyone. There was a funny little play and someone sang The Morns are Meeker Than They Were to the tune of Gilligan's Island, and many other things.
Here are some of the things that made her parties wonderful: 1) she invited everyone she knew - the guy who fixed her car, her vet, people she worked with, anyone she encountered who seemed interesting, so it was always a really interesting group of people who ended up coming. 2) It was Potluck, but she supplied a basic menu. 3) There was always a theme but the theme was always a bit off beat. And you were usually required to bring or do something at the party. Some people like to stand up and recite things or do a little play, while others were more comfortable bringing things to share and there was always an atmosphere of anything goes, no judging.
I think Dulcibella hit it right on the nose. I, too, had a friend , Ann, (now planning parties for angels, alas) who had a delightful, eclectic bent to every soirée she threw. Her and her husband David came up with some of the most enjoyable gatherings I've ever been in attendance.
One in particular, however, really stands out. It was in late autumn -- after Halloween but not quite Thanksgiving-- they threw an outdoor party where David made fresh pressed cider and home brewed beers, we played lawn darts and horseshoes, but the best activity was a human spin art board! David was a film special effects guy and crated a huge turntable from wood and a motor from a huge mirror ball, and they provided paper jumpsuits (like the ones you get at paint stores). The turntable spun just fast enough to splatter the water based paint but not fast enough to make you sick, and we spent the afternoon and evening taking turns getting painted by the other guests and having a wonderful time. We all felt like children again.
My favorite parties are usually the ones with my high school friends where we sit around, eat and talk for hours. (Our parties can last up to 8 hours long if we let them)
But the most interesting was my first American halloween party. There was barely any food served (actually, there was, but with respect to my SE Asian standards, the barely was any) and I saw a keg for the first time in my life. (I don't think the sell kegs in my country, though they do sell cases of beer). Also, I didn't realize people took halloween seriously in the US. Like everyone really dressed up. The biggest shock was how little food was served.
My friend Delia consistently throws amazing parties in the beautiful converted loft she shares with her husband. From her annual Easter brunch to last year's 70s-themed Christmas costume party, she is by far the best hostess I know--every single detail is perfect. Her blog is http://marthastalwart.wordpress.com and it has posts about most of her parties, including three incredibly well-decorated baby showers and the ultimate DIY wedding (her own!).
The best Party? Walked completly tired to the community-centre, said hello, asked for a little glas of wine to become more sleepy ... met some old fellows so suddenly ... and stayed there for the hole night. Soft and gentle music, some wines to drink, some crackers to eat, a lot of disputs ant talks - even any kisses with pretty ladies ... wow - that was a long night ... When the sun was awaking I got back home and to bed. Nothing like this I had had any time more ...