Memorable Party Ideas

Want to throw a memorable get together? Here are just a few suggestions to make your bash unforgettable!

Ethnic 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.

Theme-Specific 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: All costumes must start with the letter S, 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.

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.

Ethnic Themes
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.

A Twist on Potluck Parties
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. Whatever the case, make sure you schedule it for later so that people have time to do dinner first.