I like the idea of having an altar to remember those who have passed away this year, and have done that in the past. Mine would have included Bob Tucker, if I were at home and with the things that I would want at such a time.
K.
@107
Yep, I know the history of the Margherita pizza. I'm in France, where I had pizza for lunch, and read the menu at two tourist restaurants just hours ago trying to decide which likely-not-very-good pizza place to go to. All this is why I am certain that a variety of spellings and ingredients can be involved with this pizza, to international puzzlement.
The good Margherita pizza in the Cities is at Punch Neapolitan Pizza, and I had it in mind when we walked to town for pizza today. Needless to say, I was disappointed, even though the lardonswere all kinds of yummy.
@98, re flag desecration:
Geez, I dunno, Mike. The French aren't much for flag-waving even in non-pizza situations.
Margherita pizza, using any of a large number of spellings, hereabouts has an equally large number of possible toppings, including mushrooms, ham, lardons, and several kinds of cheese.
No, I don't get it either, but I assure you that it is true.
@ 60, the folding pattern for origami dishes: Sorry, I haven't managed to stir up a link in the time I was able to spend looking for one. I could pull the book off the shelf with step-by-step instructions, but I am a long way from my books at the moment.
More of my own thoughts: One of my minimalist rules of thumb about giving room parties is that if the hotel will give it to you, let them. Thus, I always send for a trash can and trash bags and extra linens and maybe a banquet table, or an 8-top round if cards or gaming are expected to break out, and either way a couple of stacks of chairs, especially if music is expected. (I have sometimes gotten a few dish racks of coffee cups or champagne flutes). Getting the bellman and maids on your side from the moment you walk in the door of the place is useful, thence the small bills mentioned up top.
Re dip: No. Never at a fannish event. People double dip. It is a horror.
Light strings can be attached to the drapes with the handful of safety pins that you brought, assume the fabric is not too sheer. Pins will hold up paper, too.
Prep *all* the vegies in advance. If they can't stand being in ready-to-eat format for a few hours, don't buy them in the first place.
If you're serving drinks in cups, implement The Glicksohn Solution and put people's names on their cups so they can be reunited with them, a plan also manifest in ideas like wine charms.
Smaller platters and bowls refilled more frequently look nicer than the larger ones that get picked-over. Few things are less appetizing than a large tray offering nothing but three pieces of cauliflower and a bruised cherry tomato.
For the hardware of your party, unless you're bringing it from home, the dollar store is where to shop. Since dollar store stock is always a mystery, be prepared to visit a couple of them.
Bring extension cords if you are plugging in lights or small appliances. Nearly every dollar store has them.
If you are bringing a knife besides your pocket knife to do prep with, serrated is more useful than a straight blade.
If you move the furniture, you may have to do something about the chandelier. S-hooks are occasionally useful here.
If you expect to sleep in a bed where a party has taken place, you might be happiest with a pillow that's been tucked away out of the reach of the party.
Our large parties, as well as Minnstf's large parties (significant overlap, admittedly) are currently going through *more* diet Coke than the regular stuff.
Label the cheeses.
If it's not light enough to read, it's not a fannish party.
I appreciate minimalism in the work of giving parties. One of my most successful was done with this as the entirety of the party's service pieces: my Swiss Army knife, a roll of freezer paper made into origami serving dishes (it's plastic coated on one side), a piece of dental floss to cut the cake and the soft cheeses, and whatever was in the room to start with.
| Year | Number of comments posted |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 7 |
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