by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
Want to throw a memorable get together? Here are just a few suggestions and resources from EU…
Holiday Parties
Mix it up.... You need to throw a holiday party, but you want to do something other than the standard get-together. When in doubt take TWO standard or good ideas and see if they’d be a good mix. For instance, you can combine your standard holiday party with an ethnic party. Find out what the traditions are in Hawaii and you can throw a Hawaiian Christmas Party. Many cultures have some sort of holiday akin to our Thanksgiving Day, so you can do the same for a Fall or Thanksgiving themed party. If you’re finding it difficult to pick a culture, go international and throw an international Thanksgiving or Holiday party.
Costume Parties
A general costume party can be fairly fun, but you can narrow the theme (and also your menu and décor) by asking that folks attending keep to a particular style of costumes. You can ask for guests to dress in a specific time period or go with a theme like pirates. Suggested themes: Monster Mash, Pirate Bash, Party-A-Go-Go, Couples Costumes, Classic Toga, Dead Poets Party, Party Animal.
Beverage Parties
Beverage parties center around a particular drink (alcoholic or not). From the time-honored “kegger” to the more staid lemonade picnic, beverages have a way of setting the tone for a celebration. Just make sure that everyone you’ve invited actually likes the beverage you’ve chosen, and always have alternatives on hand, just in case. Here are a couple of fun and easy beverage party suggestions:
The BYOB Wine Party
Just because you want to hold your own wine party doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune on wine. Instead, you can enlist the help of the people coming to the party. Everyone brings their favorite wines or something new to try, making this BYOB an instant wine tasting. You can throw a wine tasting for a particular region, just whites or you can try for a mix of reds and whites. It’s not entirely stress-free though: you’ll still have to organize the tasting and make sure there aren’t any duplication in wines. It helps if you ask for the wine your guests plan to bring so you can plan what finger foods to serve and in what order the wines will be in. Remember that some folks will show up with completely different wines, so be flexible.
Home Spa Tea Party
The British have had their share of bad ideas, but tea isn’t one of them. Unfortunately, hot tea in the US is not the sacred ritual it once was. Make tea drinking the luxury it should be by holding a home spa tea party. Using ingredients from your fridge and pantry to condition your skin and hair isn’t a new idea, but it is pretty fun. Put a new twist on this old idea by eating the ingredients you don’t use in your mask. Here’s a taste of what you can do:
Margaritaville
Planning on having lots of Margaritas at your next bash? Look no further than the Margarita Man. You can rent a Margarita machine from them and they provide the mix. They have a number of other frozen drink mixes to choose from as well. Go to www.margaritaman.com for more info or just call (904) 241-0225.
Hawaiian Luau
Once the air starts to chill, you might long for more tropical days. Who says it has to be the dead of summer for you to throw a hot Hawaiian party? As a theme, this is one of the easiest to execute because supplies are available year round in party stores. It’s a very flexible theme; it can be high-class or kitschy and food can be very simple or incredibly complicated. The Hawaiian Luau has stood the test of time for a reason.
Sushi Party
Sushi parties have become more common lately, and they’re a fun idea for an activity based party. Go the extra mile and decorate in a Japanese theme, just to kick it up a notch. If handling raw fish yourself is a tad scary to you, just get cold smoked salmon, cooked crabmeat or cooked shrimp. You can hire a chef or caterer to teach you and your guests the ins and outs of sushi prep or you can just DIY. Buy a sushi kit for directions and supplies or just do an on-line search for tips and tricks. Even if your technique isn’t perfect, you and your guests should have fun.
Vintage Swap, Vintage Recipes
Nearly everybody has a recipe their mom or grandma has passed down to them and nearly everybody has something in their closet they don’t want anymore. Each guest is responsible for cooking one item. The hostess hands out blank recipe cards to the guests in advance (each guest would get six cards if there are six guests). The guests will copy the recipe onto the cards and everyone exchanges them at the party. Anyone who wishes to share the stories connected with the recipes about their family members or friends should be encouraged to do so. Rules for fair trade of in the clothes swap should be clear and there should be a set time for that exchange toward the middle of the evening.
True Decadence Party
Go straight for the sweet stuff with a true decadence party. This potluck is only for desserts; all other, more sensible food is banned from entry. It’s a terrific theme for bachelorette parties.
Anomaly: Crafting and Shopping Parties
For a different sort of night out with the girls, birthday bash or any other kind of celebration, you might want to schedule something fun at Anomaly, a hip Five Points clothing store. They host three different types of parties: a shop ‘till you drop party, a t-shirt design party and a customized purse design party. For the shopping party, you’ll need to gather at least ten of your friends, and Anomaly will take care of the rest. This party is free and can be scheduled anytime after 6pm. Everyone attending receives a special gift from Anomaly and 10% off their total purchases for the evening. The party price for the t-shirt design party is $15-20 per person, depending on the cost of the t-shirt. Anomaly provides Swarovski crystals, felt letters, paint and iron-on images to get your creativity flowing. For the custom bag party, each person will receive a one-of-a-kind handmade tote made from vintage fabric. Fun add-ons like pins, ribbons and crystals will be available to decorate your bags. Call (904) 354-7200 to arrange for your party at Anomaly.
Pottery Party at Doing Dishes
Not only is this a fun activity for kids and adults, but at Doing Dishes the price is very reasonable at only $13-19 per person, including the pottery piece. The cost also includes paints, use of brushes, decorating sponges, stencils, glazing and firing. You also have the option of creating your own package (which can be more expensive). If it’s a birthday party or a bachelorette party, the guest of honor gets a commemorative, personalized plate with the signatures of all the attendees. Everyone at the party gets a piece to work on and about an hour and a half in the party room. You can bring your own food (no ice cream please!) or just order from the Pizza Hut right next door. Doing Dishes is located at 5619 San Jose Blvd in the Lakewood Shopping Center. Call (904) 730-3729 for more info.
Boomtown! Build Your Own Party
One of the most popular party destinations is Boomtown, located downtown. This entertainment restaurant has happily met the needs of corporations and private citizens for quite few years. Chef Stephen Dare of Boomtown loves the challenge of creating usual menus. Says Dare: “No matter what the requested menu is, we can do it. We’ve done menus like all vegan, world cuisine and food-as-art…” Entertainment is also a crucial part of the Boomtown experience, and they’ve got a list of four-hundred entertainers to choose from. From spoken word poetry, a cadre of musicians, vocalists and over-the-top-party stunts, Boomtown has a wide selection of entertainment, and they aren’t afraid to be creative. Dare says that they’ve even had one of their actors “pretend to be a party guest and have a staged fight.” For more info or to book a party, call (904)632-0099 or just go to www.boomtowntheatre.com.
Destination Planning
This all-inclusive party planning corporation is dedicated to making your event stress-free. They do as much or as little as you might need, from catering to booking a venue to entertainment and décor. With a bank of over two-hundred and fifteen handpicked local and national suppliers, entertainers and chauffeur services, they’re prepared to meet whatever needs you might have, from weddings and corporate events to more intimate affairs. If you’re holding an event that includes out-of-towners, these guys can take care of everything, including arranging for transportation form the airport. Mystery theater dinners, haunted pub crawls, casino nights and Moroccan Casbah are just a few of the themed events they have to offer. Parties centered around activities like historical tours, kayaking, horseback riding, gourmet cooking and skeet shooting are also an option. For more info on everything they have to offer call (904) 699-8704 or go to www.destinationplanning.com.
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