Unique Themes Free Holiday Parties From Rut
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for entertaining. Virtually every weekend of December becomes a social commitment with family, friends or charitable obligations. If you're brave enough to have a fete of your own and request a commitment from your friends, especially in a coveted Friday or Saturday time slot, you better make sure your holiday party is more than just Trader Joe's dip and iPod playlists, even if working on a tight budget.
Holiday karaoke party
If you've ever spent December in London, you're likely familiar with the Brit fascination with holiday karaoke. The classic bar staple takes on a different format as house parties enlist local karaoke DJs to spin everything from Bing Crosby to The Pogue's classic
Fairytale of New York
in cozy sing-alongs. Recreating the fun in the colonies can be as simple as a few people on the living room floor with a machine rented online or as elaborate as a dressed-up cabaret session by your home's wet bar. By the end of the night you'll likely have to rip the microphone out of the hands of newborn karaoke addicts.
The quintessential dinner party
It's the staple of every consummate host, but even the classic dinner party needs a bit of reinvention to make it stand out during the holiday season. Start with printed invitations sent at least a week in advance to friends who will appreciate the effort as they weigh completing plans. Consider liberating the dinner from the traditional dining room, especially if your stove and dining chairs can see each other and even if it means rearranging the living room or covering the terrace and renting a few heaters. Simple white dishes on a white tablecloth can be had for less than $100 at places such as CB2 or Ikea, but avoid patterns or bold colors to maintain the elegance. For music, think Louis Armstrong or Woody Herman jazz classics intermixed with classic holiday anthems, turning down the music as dinner is served. And yes, dinner should be served at the table, as nothing compromises a classy dinner party more than a buffet spread.
Holiday cook-along
Many chefs hate company in the kitchen. But with so many houses now with open kitchens, it may be difficult to keep hungry guests out. Instead of spending the day prepping, baking and basting alone, hold a party where the guests participate from prep to presentation. When you send out the invitation, let guests know participation is encouraged, as well as announcing what's planned for the menu. If serving festive dishes such as prime rib or turkey, keep in mind slow cooking times and get the meat in the oven before guests arrive. Also, respect those with no interest in being in the kitchen by offering other communal activities, such as making a festive punch or whipping up martinis. Set up an arrangement of glasses, liquors and olives that just require just a bit of pouring and imagination.
Build-a-wreath parties
Perhaps the trend was inspired by those
Build-a-Bear
(BBW) - Get Report
workshops in high-end malls across the country, but the trend to do it yourself seems to have infiltrated holiday parties in the past few years. Ideal for those inclined toward a
Martha Stewart
(MSO)
ethic, a build-a-wreath party is a cocktail party where guests can make real (if you're up for buying items at Trader Joe's) or synthetic (for those who prefer to buy at Michael's) wreaths with bulbs, ornaments, ribbon, lights and any other creative adornment you're able to conjure up in your shopping travels or leftover holiday boxes. It's also a great way to get rid of unwanted holiday ornaments, and you can invite guest to bring their own leftovers in a sort of decorating potluck party -- best infused with hefty doses of egg nog and Mariah Carey holiday anthems to keep the noncrafty from getting bored.
Innovative dessert parties
Give the classic cocktail party a sugary spin with a dressy dessert party. Convert your dinner table into a confectioner's wonderland by starting with all-white table settings and using the entire table to arrange homemade or store-bought cakes in a sea of cookies, chocolates in overflowing piles and endless blondies or brownies that fill the table like a 100,000-calorie avalanche. It's one of the few instances where bakery-bought is just as good as homemade, but avoid anything packed in grocery store plastic or with frosting so perfect it will tell guests of your shortcuts. For those that really want to hide the evidence, sprinkle a dusting of powdered sugar over everything and give your table a signature look.
Who killed Jack Frost?
Not everyone believes in Santa nor celebrates Christmas. So ditch the holiday theme altogether for a meal with a murder mystery theme. With the right host, murder mystery dinners can be among the most memorable parties you'll ever have -- as long as you remember not to kill the fun people first. Online companies such as
offer complete kits with which guests can be given roles and clues throughout the night to solve the evening's predetermined murder. To make it more festive, guests can dress up in character and dinner, cocktails and desserts can even be planned as part of the 1930s mobster, Victorian or other mystery theme. The mystery is ideal for parties of eight or more and hosts who plan on being in the kitchen most of the early evening. The guests will entertain themselves by finding out the details of the holiday crime.
>To submit a news tip, email:
.
RELATED STORIES:
>>Vegas Recruits Superstars for New Year's
>>Ski Couture Puts Posh in the Piste
>>Ditch Family for Unforgettable Year-End Trip
Follow TheStreet.com on
and become a fan on
Michael Martin is the managing editor of JetSetReport.com, a luxury travel and lifestyle guide based in Los Angeles and London. His work has appeared in InStyle, Blackbook, Elle, U.K.'s Red magazine and on ITV and the BBC.