Cocktail Parties for Dummies Book

Introduction

Do You Want to Party?
How This Book Is Organized

Part I: Basic Considerations
Part II: The Theme's the Thing
Part III: Setting the Mood
Part IV: Drinks and Food
Part V: Doing the Party Thing
Part VI: The Part of Tens

Icons Used in This Book
Where to Go from Here

Part I: Basic Considerations

Chapter 1: What Kind of Party Are You Going to Have?
How Big a Party Do You Want?

The small party
The big party

What Is Your Budget?
Who Do You Wish to Invite?

The right people for the right party
The right people for each other
Inner politics with your guest list

Most Important: When to Have the Party

Setting the date
What time should the party be?

Chapter 2: Where Do You Want to Have Your Party?
Home versus Venue
Throwing the Party at Home

Is your house the proper place?
Do you have enough space?
What about the neighbors?
What about safety?

Throwing the Party at a Venue

Venue economics 101
The usual suspects
Where else will I find what I'm looking for?
Looking over the venue
Closing the deal

The Long Arm of the Law

Part II: The Theme's the Thing

Chapter 3: Themes for Small Parties and Special Occasions
Choosing a Theme
Small Party Theme Ideas

Before-and-after
Christmas cocktail party
Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, or Carnival
He as she and she as he
New Year's Eve
Housewarming
TV night
Valentine's Day
Spontaneous parties

The Office Cocktail Party

The business and office party
The office holiday party

Chapter 4: Themes for Large Parties
Americana Backyard Barbecue
Beach Blanket Bingo
Caribbean
Costume Party
The Elegant and Sophisticated Soiree
Retro ('50s, '60s, '70s, '80s) Party

1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s

Rubik's Cube Cocktail Party
Science
South of the Border
Spy Party
Stag Night and Doe Night
Surrealist Party
Tiki Night, or the Hawaiian/Polynesian Theme
Toga Party

Part III: Setting the Mood

Chapter 5: Invitations
Why Can't I Just Phone Again?
Okay, Okay -- I'll Make an Invitation

Making a simple invitation
Other considerations
Other options

Invitation Etiquette

Things to keep in mind when you're sending invitations
Things to keep in mind when responding to an invitation

Chapter 6: Ambiance -- Creating the Right Mood
Decor: The First Impression

Color
Basic decorating materials
The "must have" decorating supply list
Other decorating items you may need
Basic decorating ideas
Hanging items
Walls
Floors
Unusual situations

Lights, Lights, Action

Kinds of lighting
Lighting at a house party -- creating a mood
Lighting in a venue -- creating a mood for a bigger party
Lighting in rented rooms

The Space and Layout of the Party
Chapter 7: The Cocktail Party Music Guide
The Basic Forms of Cocktail Music

Compilations
Space age bachelor pad music
Exotica
Latin and South American music
Lounge
Big band swing
Great soundtracks
Surf -- new and old
Elevator Music

Playing the Music

The solo act (playing the music yourself)
Hiring a DJ
Musicians and entertainers

Part IV: Drinks and Food

Chapter 8: Tending the Bar
Establishing the Rules of the Road
Essential Equipment

The fundamentals
Other cocktail party essentials
Garnishes
Maraschino cherries
Napkins
Pimento-stuffed olives
Swizzle sticks
Toothpicks
Glassware
The martini glass
The brandy snifter
The champagne flute
The highball glass
The Irish coffee glass
The margarita glass
The old-fashioned glass
The shot glass
The wine glass
Ice, ice, baby

A Quick Look at Liquors

Aperitifs
Beer
Brandy
Champagne
Gin
Liqueurs
Punches
Rum
Sparkling wine
Tequila
Vodka
Whiskey
Wine

How Much Liquor Do I Need?
Other Things You Need to Know before Pouring

Measurements
The terms
Shaken or stirred?
Shaking
Stirring
Are pre-mixes okay?
Other tips for new bartenders

The Classic Drinks
Cocktail
Coffee
Collins
Cooler
Flip
Frappe
Highball
Julep
Punch
Sling
Sour
Toddy
Smartinis and Mocktails -- Smart Cocktails
Chapter 9: Tasty Tidbits
What Hors d'Oeuvres Should I Have?
What Are the Common Cocktail Party Hors d'Oeuvres?
Canapés
Casseroles
Chicken, Ribs, and Other Meat
Chips and Dips
Nuts
Seafood
Vegetables
Non-Traditional Fare
Desserts
How Much Food Do I Need?
How Should I Present the Hors d'Oeuvres?

The timing
The serving staff
The table

Picking a Caterer

Part V: Doing the Party Thing

Chapter 10: Countdown to the Party
Finalizing Your Staff

The party host/hostess
The bartender
The waiting staff
Other staff members to consider

The Party Countdown Checklist

Four to six weeks before
Three weeks before
One week before
Four days before
Two days before
One day before
The day of the party
A half-hour before start time

Chapter 11: Mishaps and Misfits: How to Handle Them
Bad Weather
The Party is Postponed or Canceled
The Venue Manager or Owner is Difficult
Your Guests Arrive Before You're Ready
Accidents and Spills
Drunken Guests
Party Crashers
Kicking Someone Out of Your Party
End Your Party Well in Advance of Closing Hour
Guests Who Won't Leave
Keep a Record

Part VI: The Part of Tens

Chapter 12: Ten Things Guests Should Know
Should a Guest be Fashionably Late?
Should Guests Arrive Bearing Gifts?
If the Invitation Doesn't Specify, How Should Guests Dress?
How Should Guests Interact?

Learn to mingle
Ask questions

What Shouldn't a Guest Say When Ordering a Cocktail?
Should a Guest Just Light Up a Cigar?
How Does a Guest Know It's Time to Go?
Should a Guest Send a Thank-You?
What Other "Don'ts" Should a Guest Observe?
Chapter 13: Ten Essential Cocktail Web Sites
The Blue Lizard Cocktail Club
Club Montepulciano (London, UK)
The International Sinatra Society
Leisure Lab
Kovacksland Online
The Rat Pack Homepage
The Roots of Lounge
Space Age Bachelor Pad Music
Swank-O-Rama: The Cocktail Revolution Homepage
Vik Trola's Lounge of Self-Indulgence
Chapter 14: Ten-Plus Films to Inspire Cocktail Consumption
The Bond Films
Other Great Cocktail Spies
The Rat Pack
The Elegance of Fred Astaire
The Appeal of Mae West
Some Efforts Worth Cheers-ing
Chapter 15: Ten Cocktail Heroes
Milton Berle
James Bond
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Hugh Hefner
John F. Kennedy
Jerry Lewis
Dean Martin
Dorothy Parker
Cole Porter
Frank Sinatra

Appendix: Cocktail Discography

Index