Let’s do a quick throwback to college:
This was one party that my roommate and I threw our senior year of college. Yes, as students, we donned dresses, drank from wine glasses, and topped our tables with fine Italian pastries. Yes, NYU is a strange place. And yes, I have little to add to the conversations most people have about their wandering-campus-with-a-red-plastic-cup collegiate days.
So, I definitely don’t know how to throw a beer-pong-late-night-pizza party, and the only ones I’ve attended have been courtesy of my high school friends with addresses outside the five boroughs. But really, I’m sure it’s no surprise that those affairs aren’t exactly my style.
Recently, my sister and I had our first gathering at our new home [seven weeks in and I'm still working on hanging the pictures on my white walls - I'm so indecisive].
I never really stress about parties. As long as there is good food, good drink, and good people, there isn’t much to worry about. As my sister and I were the hostesses, tasty food and abundant wine were no-brainers – and of course, our friends are nothing but great people.
This time, I actually followed some recipes. Much of my cooking is ideal for single or double servings, and I’ve yet to master the art of dreaming up creative party food for double digits of guests. I suppose it’s because meal-making is something I can experiment with on a near daily basis, where party-preparation is a far rarer occurrence. I figure I’ve got a lifetime of party-throwing ahead, so like baking, I will eventually become a pro.
I don’t consider myself a complete amateur, however. Experience has taught me that one, two-buck-chuck tastes far classier than it sounds; two, if you provide munchable produce, it always, always goes; and three, new or old, no matter who shows up, my friends are pretty fabulous people. Somehow, inviting people onto your very own turf cements that even more.
A party, after all, is just another excuse for people to share together food, drink, and life. My favorite way to spend any evening, with the added perk of playing hostess.
Next month, we’re doing a family housewarming [yes, you can in fact celebrate a new apartment for three months straight], and there is already some discussion about summertime gatherings [Cinco de Mayo, perhaps?]. If we can only survive all this snow…
What are the elements of your perfect party? Would you rather be the guest or the host?
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I went to a school where there were both types of parties – the loud, obnoxious ones that went until late and were crowded with people; and the quiet wine parties with good food, and usually took place in the art studios or at someone’s funky apartment. Ah, liberal arts schools without Greek life.
In the last year I’ve really enjoyed entertaining – making nice platters of appetizers, serving a variety of drinks, and deciding on a yummy dessert. I much prefer to have people over than to go out, these days anyway.
What’s in the last photo? They look tasty!
My goodness – your hair was SO long! Glad the party went well :) I’m not so much a party planner, though I should be more of one.
There are parties of all kinds at SU, the wine ones and even the wandering red cup ones :) but I’m right there with your preferences. I like to host, in theory, but I’m afraid I’d get too easily stressed out, so in the mean time I enjoy being a guest, and a helpful one at that. I can’t sit back and watch people clean up after me, hate that! And so, with these credentials, I sincerely hope that we will be able to celebrate your new home for months and months to come. A party with you sounds divine.
Nothing wrong with celebrating for 3 months straight! I fully plan to do the same when I move in a few weeks! :D Fun party! I need to take a page from your book. Unfortunately for me red plastic cup/beer pong parties are just the kind I grew up around. :( Klassy, I am not, but you already knew that. ;)
Reading this made me so jealous of your college experience :( Anyway, your party sounds lovely and I bet the guests enjoyed the fabulous food! Congrats on the new job, new apartment, and abundant celebrating. <3
I love good dinner parties. I love to help my mom thrown a party, but it’s nice going to others’ parties, too, so long as the food and company are good!
I go to a beer-in-red-cups kind of school, but I’m with you about it not really being my thing. Moving off campus, I was so excited to just be able to invite people over for dinner and wine!!! I grew up crashing my parents’ frequent dinner parties, and just think they’re so much more fun than something revolving around a keg. Although, I did develop some impressive beer pong/flip cup skills gouge to school here!
CHOCOLATE BALLS!!! so freakin’ good. that stuff is like crack, i’m serious. i’ve never done crack but i think that’s what it’d be like. anyway. keep those away!
i drank out of numerous red dixie cups during my time at NYU. i guess ’cause i hung out with jocks? yeah… that could be it.
i love hosting parties every once in awhile. it’s convenient to get stupid drunk and crash in your own bed two seconds later. or at least that’s what the roomie and i did at our two different apartment-warming parties we’ve had. hah. :)
Awww I wish I could have been there! And I love that green dress I hope you still have it!
congratulations on the move! so exciting, i’m so happy for you & your sister. your party sounds lovely… i love very small, intimiate get-togethers that feel like the most amazing & special thing in the world. <3 enjoy the new place leslie!
http://www.prettytimepiece.org
Your party=my kind of party! Dresses and wine sound fun to me.
And yes to a Cinco de Mayo party–it’s my birthday ;)
I like to host, but then again I do love to be an “active guest” who gets to assist the host, but does not endure the stress of worrying about every little detail.