 Just a pig and a mushroom Halloween is and always has been my favorite holiday. Whenever the sweet scent of fallen, decomposing leaves starts filling the air, I immediately recall that teenage thrill of being allowed to galavant unsupervised around the neighborhood just for one night. Walking from house to house in the crisp air after the sun went down, it felt like anything could happen. Now that I'm older, I spend my Halloweens a little differently. My friends and I have walked in the NYC Village Halloween Parade every year since 2011, including this past year, which was the parade’s 50th anniversary! Anyone is allowed to walk in the parade, as long as you wear a costume. I like to think of it as “trick or treating for adults” because even though we're too old now to go door to door asking for candy, we can still venture out to get a taste of that spooky, All Hallows’ Eve energy. One thing I especially love about Halloween is that you can strike up a conversation with just about any costumed stranger you encounter. There’s a community to it; a sense that we’re all taking part in this tradition together, and that means a lot in New York City, where we spend most of our days trying very hard to ignore each other. Putting together a costume for Halloween has become something of a passion of mine, but I wasn’t always good at it. I’ll never forget that fateful year when I hastily grabbed a leopard bathrobe off the Salvation Army rack at the last second, attached some ears to a headband, and walked in the parade as “a cat.” My friend, who went dressed as a baby (complete with a diaper, belly shirt, pacifier, and bald cap) effortlessly worked the crowd of spectators and was a huge hit. I felt ashamed that I had the gall to walk in this historic parade, surrounded by giant puppets, live musicians and impeccably decorated floats, donned in such woefully inadequate attire. I decided then and there that I would never again let my fellow parade-goers down with such an embarrassingly lackluster effort. And over the years, after much trial and error, I have formed strong opinions around the art of dressing for this occasion. I share these with you below to spread the gospel of well-planned costuming, in the hopes that you may find it useful. Your costume should have personal meaning to you. What you choose to dress up as says something about who you are and what you like. If the costume you choose is special or nostalgic for you, you will have more fun embodying that persona, not to mention it will probably delight those around you as well. I like to dress up as my favorite characters from movies or TV shows (Xena Warrior Princess and Tails from Sonic the Hedgehog are two that are close to my heart). That said, try not to choose something so esoteric that very few people will understand the reference, unless you’re prepared to explain it all night. This leads me to my second point… Your costume should be easily recognizable. Nobody likes being asked what they’re supposed to be. Most people just want everyone to look at them and say, “Wow, great costume!” and mean it. Your costume should not require a name tag (unless the character normally wears one) and should not rely on having to repeat a catch phrase in order for others to get it. Choose something that has a visual giveaway, like an unmistakable hairstyle, outfit, or prop that makes it obvious. Generally I find that characters make for better costumes than actors, since actors tend to look like normal people when they’re not on screen. Specific tends to be better than generic. For example, I had a lot more fans at the Halloween Parade when I was Christina Aguilera from the Lady Marmalade music video than when I was “a flapper.”  Christina Aguilera in the "Lady Marmalade" music video Give yourself plenty of time. This is the most important piece of advice I can give you: decide on a costume early and commit to it. I truly believe that choosing what to be is the most difficult part for most people. A lot of my friends will put off making this decision until the very last minute, so by the time they finally pick something, they have no choice but to throw a costume together with whatever they happen to have lying around in their closet, which often isn’t much. In the time it took them to make up their minds, they could have already been hard at work assembling the costume of their dreams! Don't make this mistake. I would even go as far as to say that what you choose to be is much less important than how you choose to do it. I recommend making your decision no later than the 1st of October, but if you can get things started in September, even better. This should give you ample time to gather all the materials you need without feeling too rushed. This also allows you to order custom or handmade pieces that may take a little longer to ship (e.g. from eBay or Etsy). It also gives you enough time to order something, try it on, and still have time to exchange it for a different size if it doesn’t fit. Scour the internet for inspiration. I know figuring out what to be for Halloween can be tricky, but the Internet makes it much easier. You know how when you first sit down in a karaoke booth, it can feel like you have no clue what to sing, but later, after looking through the book of songs and hearing other people’s song choices, you suddenly have a plethora of songs in mind, and the remote needs to be forcibly wrested away from you because you’re hogging the microphone and refusing to let anyone else take a turn? It’s the same way with costume ideas. Try Googling terms like “cute Halloween costume for women” and see what images show up. Even if you don’t choose any of those particular costumes, they might spark another great idea and then the hard part is over. Also, feel free to copy someone else’s awesome costume if you see one that you like! Nobody will know, and it can lay the groundwork for what you need to get. Remember to choose a costume that is realistically doable for you. For example, don't pick something that would require a great deal of artistic skill if you're not especially strong in that department. As you consider each possible costume, think about all the things you would need in order to pull it off, and use that to inform your decision.  Sonic & Tails Assemble your costume yourself. Once you've gotten over the hump and you know what you want to be, the next step is identifying all the components that will help you get there. Rather than wasting your money on an overpriced, mass-produced costume from a Halloween store, embrace your creativity by doing it yourself. That does NOT mean you have to cobble something together using only the random items you already have at home. In order to really look the part, you'll likely have to borrow or purchase a few things. Assembling a great costume doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money, but it does mean you have to spend some money and a fair amount of effort. I promise it’s worth it, because a well-done DIY costume always looks better. If you’re crafty, you can sew, paper mache, or hot-glue your own stuff, and quite frankly if that's the case, you probably don't need the advice in this blog. If not, there’s a good chance somebody else has already made the thing you’re looking for, and you can just buy it online, like this handmade felt hat specifically designed for anyone dressing as Mary Poppins. You can also check out local thrift stores to find inexpensive, high quality pieces that were made to last, especially if your costume requires you to harken back to a bygone era. Even if you order everything through Amazon, taking the time to hand select each individual piece yourself will amount to a much more impressive-looking finished product than any paper-thin, wrinkly costume-in-a-bag you might find. Plus, you can take pride in the fact that you built the whole thing from scratch! A good costume takes into account every detail, from hair and makeup to jewelry and shoes. Pay attention to little things like the particular belt or necklace a character wears. It doesn’t have to be an exact match, but the whole thing should come together to capture the overall essence. Even if you don't look exactly like the character you're dressing up as, if you include enough key elements, it will be a lot easier for others to tell who or what you are.  Mary Poppins and Bert Be thoughtful about which pieces you splurge on. Consider ways you can reduce waste by buying pieces for the long term. If your character wears a leather jacket, rather than spending money on a cheaply-made jacket that you’ll never want to wear again, might it make sense to take this opportunity to purchase a quality leather jacket you can get use out of even when it’s not Halloween? For my Mary Poppins outfit, I bought this carpet bag to complete the look, and it’s still my go-to weekend bag all these years later. I also recently visited Screaming Mimi’s vintage costume store in New York to buy a 1920’s style dress (they have an entire 1920’s section!). I have to say, it was SO MUCH FUN shopping there. I could have bought the whole store. Their costumes are on the pricier side, but now I have a flapper dress for any jazz-age lawn party I attend for the rest of my life! Be prepared for various weather conditions. After spending so much time and effort putting together the perfect costume, the last thing you want to do is cover it all up with a coat if it happens to be cold or rainy that night. Check the forecast and plan ahead for different weather possibilities. Be ready to double up on tights to keep your legs warm, or have an optional outer layer ready that matches your character’s aesthetic. For instance, when dressing as a flapper on one chilly Halloween, I managed to stay warm and toasty by adding opera gloves and a furry shawl that didn’t interfere with the rest of my costume.  Me as Xena Warrior Princess and my friend as a Piñata Wigs complete the look. Over the years, I’ve come to believe that you’re never fully dressed (for Halloween) without a wig. Maybe it has something to do with my lack of talent when it comes to styling my own hair, but I think wigs are the icing on the cake and make such a big difference when it comes to transforming your appearance. After all, isn’t the real goal of Halloween to make sure you’re disguised enough that the murderous evil spirits won’t recognize you? If you can't find the exact wig you’re looking for, try getting something that’s close enough and using a brush or bobby pins to style it to your liking. The year I went as Sandy from Grease, I bought this curly blonde wig. Out of the box, the wig’s tight coils didn’t evoke Sandy at all, but after asking my hair stylist to help me tease it and pin it just so, it started looking a lot more “Tell me about it, stud.” Hang on to your costume. Even if you never repeat costumes from one year to the next, it's a good idea to save costume pieces like wigs and random accessories because they might come in handy for a different costume later. Over time, as your collection expands, you may find yourself having to buy less and less.  Tell me about it, stud! That’s it! Those are all the words of wisdom I've got. I think putting together a Halloween costume offers a wonderful creative outlet that allows you to have fun and express a piece of yourself to the world. There’s a certain magic in that childlike excitement we get as Halloween approaches, and I plan to fully embrace it for as long as I can.
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 There is so much to love about traveling to Italy. The food, the wine, the breathtaking scenery! With so many unique cities to experience, many of us find ourselves visiting again and again, discovering something new each time. My oldest friend has started spending her summers doing archaeological digs and studying the Etruscans in the Umbrian countryside. Last July, for her birthday, she invited our friends to come visit so she could show us around. My boyfriend, Patrick, and I were planning to meet up with the group in Sorrento. Before joining them, we had about 4 days to do whatever we wanted, so we were faced with the difficult question of where, exactly, to go. Patrick and I are both quite outdoorsy, and so we wanted to go somewhere that would be bursting with natural beauty. We were particularly interested in Sicily, since we had been to Italy before, but never to that region. At some point in my research, I came across a Lonely Planet article showcasing Sicily’s best coastal hikes. Four of the seven hikes were found in the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago off the coast of Sicily known by some as “The Hawaii of Italy.” I had never heard of the Aeolians before, but the photos were stunning. And the fact that there was not one, but two active, hike-able volcanoes immediately appealed to my sense of adventure. We were sold!  Molten rock erupting from Stromboli volcano I decided to write a post about our trip because I felt that there wasn’t an abundance of information available while we were in our planning phase. Forums on TripAdvisor were certainly helpful, but there wasn’t much in the way of how-to guides -- the kind that make it easy to emulate someone else’s tried and true itinerary. Because neither of us had our driver’s licenses at the time of our trip, we relied only on public transportation and occasional taxis to get around. My hope is that this post will be helpful for others who are planning a summer vacation in the gorgeous, unforgettable Aeolian Islands.  The view from Vulcanello, Vulcano overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea Step 1: Figuring out how to get there There are a few different options when it comes to getting to the Aeolian Islands, but since the region is pretty remote, it’s going to take a long time to get there no matter what. I promise, it’s worth the trek! We opted to take a redeye into Rome from New York, and then caught a connecting flight to Reggio Calabria. From Reggio Calabria, it was a short taxi ride to the ferry station, where we took a hydrofoil to the islands. To us, taking a boat directly to our destination was preferable after a long flight and I believe it is the fastest, as opposed to flying to Catania and taking a bus to Milazzo, and then a ferry.  A cozy corner of the patio at Grand Hotel Arciduca, Lipari Step 2: Picking a base and a hotel Because each of the islands has its own unique charm, there is some debate over which one makes the best base. We picked Lipari, as many do, because it boasts the biggest town, complete with its own archaeological museum, plenty of restaurants, and the most frequent hydrofoil connections to the other islands. In Lipari we wanted to find a hotel that would be within walking distance of the ferry station, and ultimately chose the Grand Hotel Arciduca. Between the pool, the colorful, funky decor, and the wonderful free breakfast every day, we really enjoyed our stay. I still think about some of those pastries they put out each morning, particularly a certain ricotta cake… The hotel also provides a free shuttle service, so when you first arrive in Lipari with your luggage, you can just call the front desk and they will send someone to pick you up.  A Liparian street scene Step 3: Planning your itinerary Island hopping is common in the Aeolians, and it's relatively easy to figure it all out as long as you pay attention to the schedule. Patrick and I made the mistake of planning our itinerary once we were already on vacation, thinking that it would be easier to figure out what to do once we got there. While this may be partially true, it also forced us to do significant research and planning over dinners where we would rather just be relaxing. Here I will share what we did, in the hopes that it may save you from a similar fate!  Patrick exploring the ancient streets of Lipari Day 1: Get settled in Lipari We felt a bit stranded when we first arrived at the ferry terminal in Reggio Calabria, because there didn’t seem to be much available in terms of places to eat and we had a few hours to wait. We were thankful to stumble upon the nearby Hotel Continental because there’s a little cafe inside where we could have a snack and sit comfortably until our departure time. Once we boarded the hydrofoil, it was only two short hours before we reached our island paradise. We arrived at our hotel in the afternoon, exhausted by the long journey, and above all wanting to relax. After a shower and a dip in the hotel pool, we strolled around Lipari to get our bearings and chose a spot to have dinner. Swordfish is a local specialty, and Il Corallo does it beautifully in the Aeolian style with capers and tomatoes. The region is also known for their local wines, which taste even better when you’re sitting in the restaurant's airy outdoor garden.  Inhaling sulfuric gas at Vulcano's crater Day 2: Hike Vulcano and visit a black sand beach There are two active volcanoes in the Aeolian islands: Vulcano and Stromboli, which are also the names of the islands where they are found. Vulcano is known for the sulfurous gas that flows out of its fumaroles, emitting a signature stench that is much stronger in some areas than others. Patrick and I hadn’t yet made up our minds as to whether we were up to the challenge of hiking Stromboli, which takes hours and has been described as “intense.” But we knew that a Vulcano hike would be more or less doable, and so we decided to start there.  Smoke billowing out of Vulcano to remind us that it's still active We caught a hydrofoil in the morning after breakfast, and arrived at Vulcano in no time. The first thing you’ll notice when you set foot on land is the scent of sulfur, which is pungent. There are stands near the port that sell bandanas to cover your nose and mouth, and these are especially helpful once you get closer to the source of the smell at the crater.  Taking in the sweeping vistas from atop Vulcano After walking around and exploring a bit, we set out to begin our hike. The path up the volcano is a gentle incline with captivating views, allowing you to see some of the other islands in the distance. When you finally get to the bare, igneous top, you feel almost like you’re walking on an alien planet.  Watching the sun set at Vulcano's black sand beach is nothing short of magical If you’re like me, once you’ve finished hiking, you’ll want to cool off with a swim and grab a bite to eat, which is what we did next. La Baia Negra (also known as Spiaggia Nera) is a public black sand beach with lounge chairs and umbrellas. Here you can enjoy some well-deserved rest after the physical exertion of the hike, gazing out at the sailboats and the rock formations surrounding the beach. On the far right side of the beach, there is a little hut called Sunset Beach where you can grab a panino and an Aperol spritz.  Spiaggia dello Scario in Malfa, Salina Day 3: Explore Salina and watch the sunset at Quattrocchi I find that the best vacations are all about striking a balance between activity and relaxation, so on our third day, we decided to venture to Salina, which is known for its spas and wineries. Because Salina is the second largest island, it’s not possible to get everywhere you want to go by foot, the way we could in Vulcano. Renting a car or scooter would definitely be the way to go here, but we made it work by taking the shuttle bus from the port (Porto di Santa Marina) to the town of Malfa. Be sure to check the timetable online, as the buses don't come all that frequently.  Beachgoers swimming and lounging on the pebble beach. Watch out for jellyfish! Visiting Spiaggia dello Scario is one of the most popular things to do in Malfa, though you wouldn’t know it by the pleasantly small number of people hanging out there when we went. The beauty at this beach is striking. Try not to gasp as you approach it from the cliffs above and see nothing but clear turquoise water beneath you. Since the beach is so rocky, you’ll want to rent an inflatable mattress for lying on (one per person). Some people also bring these into the water as floaties. You can also rent umbrellas here, and if you get hungry, there is a beachside cafe to provide shade, nourishment, and a place to change.  Enjoying a glass of wine at Fenech After swimming and lounging at the beach, the next item on our agenda was finding a winery. There are a few wineries within walking distance of the beach, including two well-reviewed spots: Azienda Agricola Virgona and Fenech Azienda Agricola Biologica. We ended up choosing Fenech because we had read that the owner goes above and beyond to make guests feel welcome with tours of the vineyard and endlessly entertaining stories. We arrived at Fenech with an adorable dog we made friends with in town who decided to join us. The owner wasn’t around because he was traveling, but one of his employees greeted us and said we could still do a tasting if we liked. Even without meeting the owner or hearing his stories, we had a really nice time hanging out at the winery. Patrick and I were the only ones there, so we had the entire patio to ourselves overlooking the sea below. Unlike more traditional tastings, our host began by setting an entire bottle of white wine on the table, which we sipped as we talked and relaxed. Our host didn’t speak much English, and we don’t speak Italian, but he made us feel at home and brought us little snacks (cheese, bread, cured meats, and olives) that we shared with our dog.  Our dog for the day, with one blue eye and one brown The second course was a bottle of Malvasia, a sweet dessert wine that is a must-try in the Aeolians. Having polished off one already, we couldn’t finish the whole bottle at the winery, but it was so delicious that we took it with us and had the rest later. The tasting ended with grappa, which is a brandy made by distilling the skins, pulp, seeds, and stems left over from winemaking. Grappa tends to be a bit too strong for me, but Patrick enjoyed it. Overall, we found the winery delightful. Hopefully the next time we visit, we can finally meet the famous Francesco Fenech.  Patrick making himself at home at the winery From the winery, our host called a taxi to bring us to the ferry station and back to Lipari in time for sunset. Our plan was to head to Belvedere Quattrocchi, and we couldn’t wait to take in the lovely view. Patrick is passionate about taking photos on vacation (see: his Flickr) and he was excited to get the perfect sunset shot. Once back in Lipari, we took a short taxi ride to the lookout spot, and then wandered down a prickly-pear lined path to get an even better look. Just to be sure we wouldn’t get stranded, we got our taxi driver’s number when he dropped us off so we could call him for pickup when we were ready to go. The extraordinary views of Vulcano and beyond did not disappoint.  The stunning Belvedere Quattrocchi in Lipari, with Vulcano in the distance Day 4: Archeological Museum & boat excursion to Stromboli Day 4 was our last full day in the islands, and we saved the best for last. We were psyched to visit the constantly active Stromboli volcano. If you wish to see the volcanic eruptions (and they are not to be missed), you really only have the following options:
 Twin lava spurts at Stromboli, as seen from our boat tour Even after reading about it extensively, we had a hard time deciding whether to do the hike. We loved the adventure aspect, but we knew the hike would be steep, take about 6 hours, and since it was July, it would be extremely hot. Ultimately, we decided not to do it due to a huge explosion that occurred at Stromboli just days earlier: the volcano's largest eruption since 1930. Having finally made our decision to see Stromboli's embers by boat, we spent the morning scrambling to find the best option for our excursion. It turns out pretty much all of the tours follow a similar schedule, with most of them beginning in the afternoon. We went with Aliante which, like the others, has a small office in Lipari where you can buy tickets and talk to an agent in person.  Regional Aeolian Archeological Museum Luigi Bernabò Brea, Lipari Tickets in hand, we decided to check out the Archaeological Museum in Lipari before it was time to board. There is so much to look at, so you’ll want to give yourself at least two hours if you visit. We found it very interesting to see the vast collection of ancient Roman and Greek artifacts discovered from shipwrecks near the Aeolians.  Boats at the harbor in Lipari Next it was time to locate and board our vessel. Nearly all the tourists on the boat were Italian, and the guide spoke over the loudspeaker in Italian only, but this didn’t bother us -- we were just happy to be spending the day on a boat. The guides have signs that make it clear what time you need to be back at the dock whenever it stops somewhere, and we liked being able to do our own thing at each destination. Make sure you wear your bathing suit for the tour, because one of the most memorable parts of the day was when the boat anchored and let everyone jump into the water for a swim. This was awesome, but take the plunge only if you are a strong swimmer, because the water is deep and the current can cause you to drift away from the boat. We definitely had to hustle a little to make it back on deck when swim time was up.  Panarea yacht life. Must be nice. The first stop is Panarea, the smallest Aeolian island, known for yacht parties and celebrity visits. Coming here as part of the excursion is a neat way to check one more island off the list without having to spend the entire day. The boat docks at the harbor for an hour or so, which gives you just enough time to have a quick bite of arancini (fried rice balls) or a granita, those refreshing frozen slushies made with real fruit. From there it’s time to go to Stromboli. Sitting on the top deck of the boat as it zoomed toward the massive formation was quite the rush. When we arrived, it was still daylight, so we had some time to kill before the much-anticipated lava viewing after sunset. We spent it by visiting the super-small Visitor Center, which is free and features lots of information (in Italian and English) about the volcano’s history.  Another black sand beach on the shore of Stromboli There were a lot of tourist-trap-looking restaurants along the shore of the island, but if you venture through the charming, white-walled alleyways of the town, you can find a few more options, including Da Giovanni Ristorante, which has great pizza. The sun was beginning to set as we headed back to the boat for the event we all were waiting for. Patrick and I took a seat on the upper deck as we started making our way to the side of the island where Stromboli’s fiery mouth is in full view, and glowing orange lava flows down the side of the mountain.  Sunset near Stromboli before the volcano viewing As the first stream of hot lava burst out of the crater, you could hear and feel the crowd’s excitement. Much like when you see the first firecracker on the fourth of July, or the first shooting star in a meteor shower, we audibly reacted in unison, creating the warm sense that all of us were experiencing this special moment together: Italians and Americans, children and grandparents, all equally dazzled by the sight. Naturally, we started talking to one another, especially when folks started noticing the close-up shots Patrick was getting with his camera. The eruptions were quite frequent, but they never got old. I watched the whole thing through my binoculars, which definitely helped, but those on deck without them seemed happy enough as well.  One of the biggest and most impressive eruptions of the evening Day 5: Saying goodbye
After one last breakfast at the Arciduca, it was time to go. I would love to return to the Aeolians again someday, because there is so much more to see beyond what we could cover in just 3 ½ days. From Lipari, we moved on to the next leg of our journey, taking the ferry to Solerno en route to Sorrento, where our friends awaited us. I hope this post will inspire your next vacation, or help someone somewhere come up with a plan for their own Aeolian adventure. Until next time, ciao! Pulling off an amazing party takes a lot of work, but don't let that intimidate you or deter you from hosting the party of your dreams! All the effort you put in to create a really special event will be worth the time, planning, and elbow grease when you hear your friends raving about what a wonderful time they had. If you follow my tips on how to get organized ahead of time, I think you'll find that the work doesn't have to be a hassle, and you may even have fun with the tasks. I know I do! In this post, I've tried to distill my various theories about how to throw a great house party into a few pieces of practical advice. These are by no means hard and fast rules; they are just some words of "wisdom" I've come up with based on my own experiences entertaining over the years. I hope you will find it useful.  Choosing a theme I find that having a theme for your party, even if you don't ask folks to dress up, adds a cohesiveness that helps inform other decisions, from decorations to music to what food and drinks to serve. An overarching vision can really tie the whole thing together. Sometimes the theme is predetermined, depending on the occasion being celebrated (for example, if you’re throwing a party for Christmas or St. Patrick’s Day), but for other events, like a birthday, you have a chance to get more creative. Some themes I’ve tried in recent years include Jazz Brunch, Boogie Nights, Fall Harvest Festival, and of course, for NYE, the infamous Lemon Grove Party. If you're having trouble picking a theme, try starting with one thing that excites you and work backwards. For my 30th birthday, the only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to have a “piggie party.” I adore pigs, and I had heard about a company in New Jersey that will bring a pen of 3 sweet little piglets to your home for an hour or more, where guests can hold and play with them. I knew for sure I wanted there to be pigs at my party, so once I had the booking in place, my next task was finding a way to build a theme around the pigs. Because my birthday falls in October and I love all things Autumn, I decided to do a Fall Harvest Farm Festival theme. It felt like the perfect way to incorporate farm animals while celebrating my favorite season. Throughout this post, I'll keep referring back to that harvest party so you can see some of my suggestions in action. Getting Organized The first thing I do any time I decide to host an event is create a Google doc to keep track of all the details. This is a huge help and allows me to free up headspace while planning. The doc remembers everything, so I don’t have to. Start by dividing the document into these sections: Guest list, Menu, Shopping list, & To-Dos. Guest list Having this written down helps you visualize who’s coming. Keep this up to date as people RSVP so that you have an accurate count when buying food and drink. As you put together your guest list, try to make it well-rounded. This means inviting a combination of old friends and new, bringing people together from different areas of your life, and trying to ensure everyone will know at least one or two people there. Even with a plus one, it can be uncomfortable walking into a party with no familiar faces, so try to invite multiple people that you know from the same group or setting to create a more welcoming atmosphere.  An incredible birthday cheese plate put together by my thoughtful and creative co-workers Menu Use this section to think through what you want to serve, keeping balance in mind, as well as any dietary restrictions. You don’t have to provide a full meal at your party, but it’s always a good idea to provide a few snacks and hors d'oeuvres. If you want to offer more than just light fare, you basically have three options:
Here is a sample menu. It's the one I used for the harvest party, and it worked well to feed about 30 people:
Shopping list Once you’ve decided what food and drink to serve, write out all the ingredients to make your trip to the grocery store smooth and easy. To-Dos Write down every task that needs to get done before the party. No task is too small to be added! The list can include things like, “send email invitations,” “clean entire house,” “put up decorations,” etc. It feels good to check off each one as it gets done. Don’t be overwhelmed if you find yourself with a large list of tasks. Give yourself at least two weeks before the party to get everything done. That way, even if you work full time, you can do a few things each day until they’re all finished. I like to break up my To-Do list by scheduling each task for a particular day, e.g. “Monday: buy groceries,” “Tuesday: put up the string lights,” etc. I would strongly advise against leaving everything until the day of, or even the day before the party. By investing time in planning beforehand, you greatly minimize the stress of running around at the last minute, and you can feel more relaxed knowing that most of the work has already been done. Inviting guests Once you have chosen your theme and you have a few ideas in mind for how you want the party to go down, it’s time to choose a date. Saturdays are preferable to Fridays for those who work weekdays, since you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time on the day of the party to get things together. If your event date is flexible, you may want to reach out to a few close friends ahead of time to make sure they will be available. Many people have busy social calendars, so don’t worry if not everyone can come, but you’ll want to have at least a couple of good friends there as moral support and for helping with a task here and there. Once you’ve chosen your date, I recommend sending your invitations at least two weeks before the date of your event, so that your guests can mark their calendars and avoid making other plans. If you are hosting an event during a popular time of the year for parties, such as New Year's Eve, send them out even earlier. Not everyone uses social media, but everybody has an email address, so I like email best for invitation purposes. If you want to invite someone but don’t have their email address, just ask them for it and let them know it’s because you want to invite them to something. Your invitation should include the following information:
Your email should aim to answer any questions that might arise, such as “Can I bring my roommate?” or “Should I eat before I come?” so that you don’t have to spend too much time responding to follow-up emails. *Parties can get expensive quickly when you start to add up the cost of food, alcohol, live entertainment, etc. To try and offset that a bit, I have started including a “suggested donation” in my email invitations. For my last party, I provided my Venmo username right in the email and asked guests to donate $25 to help cover the costs, which most people did. The idea of asking for money when your guests are already at the party is kind of awkward, but I find that asking for it up front in an email is less so. You can additionally put out a labeled “party donation” jar, but in my experience, people seem to be better about paying by electronic means. **If you prefer, it's always OK to tell guests to BYOB, but make sure to stock extra. What I have learned is that people will generally stay until it either gets too late, or the alcohol runs out: whichever happens first. You don’t want to have to leave your own party to make a beer run, so play it safe by stocking up.  A friend enjoying some apple cider punch at the harvest party Punch I love making punch for gatherings. It's an excuse to actually use that punch bowl I bought, and I feel it makes for a festive, communal atmosphere. It’s a nice alternative to beer or wine without forcing people to find ingredients to mix their own cocktails. I also like that there is an easy-to-make punch to fit just about every theme. For example, if you’re doing a '70s party, Tequila Sunrise punch is both retro and delicious. For the harvest party, I made this apple cider punch, only I wasn't able to find alcoholic ginger beer, so I used regular ginger beer instead. People really liked it, but it wasn’t very strong, so if you want your punch to pack more of a punch, you may need to add a bit more alcohol than the recipe calls for. Taste and adjust accordingly. For serving the cider punch, I put out some rustic, reusable mason jar glasses which looked lovely. Decorations Second only to dressing up in costumes, decorations are what makes a theme party really feel like a theme party. Decorating is also probably the most fun task on the list because you get to use your imagination and let your creativity take center stage. As a huge nature lover, I tend to decorate by bringing the outdoors in whenever possible. Every time of the year has its own seasonal plants, so there are always plenty of choices when it comes to nature-inspired adornments: the evergreens and bright red berries of winter, the autumn foliage and squash, the delicate first blooms of spring, and the juicy fruits of summer. My goal for the harvest party was to transform my apartment into a place that would feel, at least a little bit, like a barn in the midst of fall's bounty. To achieve this, I used the following:
Many of these items were already lying around my house before the party (like the banjo), and didn't need to be bought new. I also plan to reuse a lot of the fall-themed decor each year around Thanksgiving. As I start piecing together my vision, I often use Pinterest for inspiration. Creating a board for your theme is such an easy way to keep all your decorating ideas in one place, along with any related crafts or recipes you may find. Adding an element of surprise I’ve noticed that people really seem to respond to the promise of a "surprise" at a party, so I now try to entice my guests in the invitation by appealing to their curiosity. Think back to the best party you’ve ever been to. Chances are, something happened there that you didn’t expect and were delighted by. Maybe it was an awesome musical performance, or maybe it was nothing more than a watermelon soaked in vodka. Whatever it was, it created a special experience, and a new cherished memory, which is what I aim to do when I host. For the harvest party surprise, all I said in the email was, "There will be a very special surprise from 8-9pm, so whatever you do, don't leave the party before this time, or plan to arrive after, 'cause you'll be real sad you missed it." When the piggies arrived, nobody knew what hit them. The kitchen erupted in high-pitched choruses of "awwww!"  A marvelous trio I brought in to play at my birthday jazz brunch Live music Back in college, it felt like nearly every house party I attended featured some sort of live band. The music had a way of filling the entire room with a unique and exciting energy. I remember thinking at the time, “Now THIS is how you throw a party!” To this day, I still opt to bring in live entertainment whenever possible. The kind of tunes the band plays may be different depending on your theme. For a classy birthday brunch, I once had a jazz trio perform in my tiny living room while guests listened and sipped mimosas. For the harvest party, a four-piece old-time band fiddled away in my kitchen. If you know some folks in a band who would be willing to play a set, here are a few pieces of advice:
The big day Once all your hard work is done and the date of your party arrives, the only thing left to do is try to go with the flow, spend time with your friends, and enjoy yourself. You’ve earned it. Keeping things running smoothly during the party does require some effort, as does dividing your attention equally among your guests. If you have your hands full at any point, just remember that it’s okay to ask friends for help clearing dishes, flipping a record, making coffee, or anything else you need. A lot of folks actually like being given a task at a party, especially those who are shy. You don’t have to do it all alone. Most importantly, do your best to relax. This is something I have to constantly remind myself. Everything will come together, and your party will be fantastic. Cheers!  New Year's Eve is a holiday that I find most enjoyable if I go into it with no expectations. On paper, it sounds great: dress up in something sparkly, feel fancy while drinking champagne, reflect on the year that has passed and prepare for a new start, all while surrounding yourself with friends. There is a much-anticipated countdown followed by excited shouting, hugging, and maybe even a midnight kiss. So why, for some of us, does New Year's Eve always seem to, well, disappoint? Falling just one week after Christmas, New Year's Eve can be kind of an afterthought. You put all of your energy into decorating, traveling, buying presents, cooking, and baking for Christmas, Hanukkah, etc. and just when you've emerged from the holi-daze, it's time to figure out some NYE plans, and fast! You suddenly realize that while you've happily sang along to the lyrics "What are you doing, New Year's... New Year's Eve?" countless times this holiday season, you haven't actually stopped to consider the answer to this question. Of course, it doesn't have to be this way. The other problem is that many people are hesitant to commit to NYE plans ahead of time. I imagine they are all holding out just in case the opportunity comes around at the last minute that will finally fulfill that unattainable New Year's Eve dream. It never does seem to arrive, but in the quest to find it, my friends usually split up, going our separate ways to chase it. So now you have a holiday that isn't given nearly as much thought to planning as it deserves, you have friends going their own ways instead of opting to be together, and on top of that, you have an enormous pressure placed upon you to have a fabulous time and make it a memorable night. Is it any wonder it can never meet our impossible expectations? Knowing all of that, I now try to simply enjoy New Year's Eve for what it is. But I can't resist a theme if the opportunity presents itself. This year, my friend Anthony decided early on to host a New Years Eve party at his apartment and started inviting guests. But as the holiday drew nearer, he noticed some of his friends wavering in their RSVPs, weighing their other options. Worried and dismayed at the prospect of a sad, empty home come party time, he asked for some advice. We realized we were going to need to hype the party up a bit more in order to get people excited. If we gave them something to really look forward to, we figured, they would be more likely to travel through the cold all the way to his neck of the woods. Anthony knew he needed to up his party game, and I was more than delighted to help him do that. Idea #1: An element of surprise It all started with one brilliant idea. Anthony had tried "miracle berries" in college: those magical little fruits in the form of a tablet that somehow make everything sour taste sweet, and the experience really stuck with him. For the party, he decided he would provide the miracle tablets, plus plenty of lemons and limes, which taste like candy for about thirty minutes once you've eaten the tablet. There would also be a few other treats that the Internet promised would taste different (like strawberries, Guinness, and salt 'n' vinegar chips). Anthony loved the idea of people knowing the party vaguely had something to do with lemons, but not giving them any more information than that. So guests would arrive, see lemons everywhere but not know why, and then, at miracle berry time, they would find out that the lemons were not purely decorative. The realization would suddenly kick in that they are actually going to eat (and devour) those lemons. Idea #2: Transform the space I wanted to take Anthony's idea one step further and incorporate lemons into the decor. Decorations are big part of what ties a theme party together. And so, with the help of our friend, Mark, we set out to transform Anthony's New York apartment into a lemon grove.  We achieved this using vines and lemon slice lights purchased from Amazon, plus some green-wired string lights Mark had at home (designed for a Christmas tree, but perfect for the vine effect). We hung everything with scotch tape. Mark wanted it to look like the vines were taking over the room, Jumanji style. The effect was beautiful. I was inspired by the lemon groves of Sorrento, Italy and hoped our decor would evoke the feeling of that place. On a trip to Italy with friends last summer, I had my heart set on doing a limoncello tasting in Sorrento, but after a full day of long walks in the sun, swimming in a beautiful rocky inlet by the beach, and sipping spritzes, our group was tired and lost interest in that idea. On the walk back to our Airbnb, we happened upon the entrance to a walled lemon grove, and I couldn't resist popping in. Anthony and I started down the long path, seemingly the only ones there. Having made it about halfway through, surrounded by gorgeous lemon trees, we knew we couldn't turn back until we saw the whole thing. "Do you think there's anything at the end?" I asked Anthony. "Imagine if at the end there's a woman wearing an apron, and she's standing at a table full of different kinds of limoncello, and she asks us, 'Would you like to try some limoncello?'" When we reached the end, that is exactly what happened. His psychic vision came true, down to the last detail, and I got my tasting after all. Here's how the decorations looked once we turned on the Philips hue party lights:  Idea #3: On-theme beverages There's a punch for every party, and we needed to find a good recipe that would fit our theme. Knowing that our guests would probably be ingesting way more lemons than they ever normally would once we broke out the miracle berries, I wanted to steer clear of anything overly lemony. Enter, the Pomegranate-Champagne Punch! You could easily imagine pomegranate trees growing near a lemon grove, and I loved that it still incorporated lemons (but only as a garnish). The addition of champagne made it perfect for New Years.  We had such a blast decorating for the party, and the guests seemed quite impressed when they arrived and saw everything. Between the decor, the surprise miracle berries, and the overall positive vibes, the night was a huge success. Happy New Year!
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