~ Some fun ideas for simple entertaining... ~
How about a Wine Tasting?
- Have 6 different wines ~ 2 whites, 2 reds, and 1 dessert wine. Double the number of bottles if you have 10 or more guests
- Have 2 glasses per guest - 1 for whites and 1 for reds
- Have some buckets out for "spilling". If folks want to not drink so much, or don't care for the wine, they spill it in the bucket.
- Have a water pitcher for cleaning the glass between tastes (or have extra glasses) and crackers for cleansing your palate between tastes.
- Have cheeses, crackers, fruits and nuts for nibbling. There are many articles out there for the pairing of wines and cheeses - and if you want to really get into this type of entertaining- you can do olive oils, balsamic vinegars and chocolates. If the foods come from the same region of the world, you have a good shot at their being very complimentary to each other.
- The actual tasting... go from lightest to heaviest. So begin with a sparkling to a dry white (Pinot Grigios & Sauvignon Blancs) to fuller whites (Chardonnay & Vognier). In the red category, starting with Pinot Noirs & Rhone blends & then moving to the heavier Cabernets, Shirazes and red Zinfandels. A nice Muscato or Port - with nuts and chocolate make a very nice end to the evening.
- Only put 2 oz. of wine in the glasses - about a jigger. The idea is a taste!
How can you find out about wines? The selection is overwhelming! Here are some good tips:
- The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil is great - along with dozens and dozens more
- Wine shops have their own characteristics, but the one in common is generally that the staff know about some great wines. Think about what you want to spend (The $8.00 - $20.00 range can get you some wonderful wines) and the tastes you like. Then just chat. By the process of elimination, you'll find someone who can get you the wines you enjoy. Remember - part of the fun is the search!
- The Richmond chapter of Women for Wine Sense is great for just the female side. There is also the Richmond Wine Society for everyone.
- Wineopoly is fun to play and you can even practice training your wine aroma senses with a kit from Le Nez du Vin. These and all other sorts of wine related items can be found at Wine Cellars Online.
- There are also several sites that help you hunt for that bottle you'd love to find at a wine store. You can try Wine-Searcher, Wine Access, Wine Zap or Wine Fetch.
Now if you're into beer...
The system is basically the same. Invite about 10 friends, have a system - such as seasonal beers or perhaps style (called a vertical tasting that compares say lagers or ale, region or brewery). Have your descriptions of each beer ready. You can get this by consulting with one of our local experts. It's fun and you can go as deeply into it as you like. There are loads of beer sites out there that can give you some good tips.
Along the same lines...
- Ask your guests to bring a bottle of their favorite wine
- Put out many liquours
- have the makings for martinis, mojitos etc.
- for the singles in your life - have guests bring their favorite frozen, pre-pared, canned, boxed meal for the birthday gift.
A Re-gifting Party (my friend Bev's brainstorm).
Everyone brings a potluck appetizer, a drink to share and one gift (per person unless you'll be operating solely as a couple - which I wouldn't advise. The more the merrier!) to be exchanged.
It works better if the gift isn't too junky.
Numbers are drawn and #1 gets the first choice. #2 can take that one, or choose a new gift. The fun really begins when everyone wants some certain item. The last party I went to, a step ladder was the big hit. Now really, how many stepladders do you really need??
Here are the basic rules (taken from Bev's invite).
- Wrap your gift in left over paper.
- Choose an item that didn't fit - your lifestyle, your space, your integrity, your image or something Auntie left you in her will or something you bought for yourself, or someone else and then realized it wasn't good enough, or something you found in the alley! You get the picture.
This is loads of fun - particularly after the holidays, but it would work any time of the year. I also like it because everyone may be a stranger, but they sure aren't by the end of the evening!
Scavenger Hunts
We have a world class scavenger planning company right here in ole Richmond, Va. Ravenchase plans some awesome outings, plus you can get emails with clues, riddles, ciphers etc.
Local Arts
Bend Your Ear Salon - the 3rd Sunday of every month from 3 - 5 pm at Art6 is a show and tell by artists. How refined! It'd be a great spot to gather with friends. 6 E. Broad St. Podcasts of 2007 readings are available.