Tips for Hosting a Holiday Bar-B-Que
Many of us forget that the true spirit of Labor Day is to take a day off from our jobs and celebrate the achievements of all American workers. Instead, so many of us put pressure on ourselves and throw a party, often creating more work than you would have at our 9-5 job. Survive the City wants to remind you to take a deep breath and enjoy what should be a day of great weather and fun with family and friends. And if you still insist on hosting that party here are STC’s tips for maximum fun with little effort.
Picking a venue is your first step.
1. Pick a venue. In So-Cal you have your choice of fantastic locations for a Labor Day BBQ. Here you get to choose from parks, beaches, or even your apartment or house. For public locations, see if reservations are available, if not, get there early and stake your claim. Bonus to a public location, there is minimal prep and clean up is easy. If you are having it at your pad, make sure you have some extra seating and try to keep it outside which translates to less clean up inside for you.
2. Have some activities to keep guests occupied. Cornhole (or Bags if you’re from where I’m from), Bocce ball, croquet, badminton, Frisbee and water balloon toss are all low cost games that will pay dividends to have on hand. If you don’t have any of these, ask around, I guarantee your friends do and will be happy to bring them. If you are lucky enough to have your party at a pool, extra rafts, pool volleyball, and water guns are great party pleasers.
Have some bbq staples ready, but a potluck will save you some stress.
3. Keep food costs and stress levels down, have a potluck. Offer to provide the main protein (don’t forget veggie dogs and Boca burgers, this is California after all) but have guests bring a dish to pass or help out with beverages. People will be happy to bring the chips and dip or a six-pack of beer. Classic Americana food is great but don’t be afraid to encourage guests to bring more exotic foods. Just don’t rely on them for all of it.
4. Music keeps the party going. Don’t try to DJ the party. Knowing you need about 20 songs for every hour make a playlist and be done with it. For my work party, I downloaded some oldies compilations and threw 100 songs in a playlist and hooked my iPod up to some speakers and never thought about it for the rest of the party.
5. Be flexible with time. Pace your party knowing that not everyone will be there in the beginning or the end. That was my biggest adjustment in Los Angeles, finding out fashionably late means over an hour after the start time. Aim to serve food a little later into the party in order to get the max number of attendees. And if you’re a really nice host, you can save some food for those that think fashionably late means 5 hours after the start.
6. Make sure to socialize and have fun at your own party, otherwise what is the point of having one? - Connie Sommerville
