<p>Many years ago we used to have a New Year’s Day–well, afternoon–casual party for about 50-60 people. We got out of the habit, but were thinking of starting the tradition back up. I’m wondering if anyone has any great ideas to help with our resurrection efforts. Aside from food and drink, should we provide giant screen tvs tuned to the big bowl game(s)? Interesting board games? Potato sack races and tug of war? A fire pit with grill-your-own s’mores? A fortune teller? We live in Southern California, so we are probably assured of good weather for outdoor activities. I’m also wondering if instead we should do a smaller, more sedate brunch. </p>
<p>Sushi bar with a sushi chef has always been a nice hit. </p>
<p>Our law firm used to have a clambake at the office and limo drivers to get everyone home safely (people were dropped off at the party & one of the draws was the free limo home).</p>
<p>An ice cream sundae bar, chocolate fondue fountain or dessert bar is nice. A pasta bar is nice.</p>
<p>A lot depends on your friends/invitees. If they & you like games, have at it. </p>
<p>We played a fun game at the last party I attended where you link yourself with someone else and between you try to wrap a package paper, tape, and a ribbon with a bow with two loops. It is more challenging than it sounds (but we had an advantage as we joined our non-preferred limbs & left our dominant hands free (my left, his right). </p>
<p>Another interesting game was about “huggers.” The person in the middle called for “Give me ___ people hugging.” The people who weren’t hugging were eliminated until you only had a few winners left. (Sort of like musical chairs but most seemed pretty happy with it.) You could have a silly grab bag exchange too if you wanted to.</p>
<p>How about having each guest bring a non-perishable food item for donation to your local food pantry. Lots of folks donate BEFORE the holidays but after, the donations do slack off.</p>
<p>Why not just have a nice New Year’s picnic. You have the nice luxury of living where the weather will probably be nice…so enjoy it. I would do a traditional summer picnic…call it “The First Summer Picnic of 2011”.</p>
<p>Thanks. I am really liking the idea of a picnic theme. We can get a few firepits and have both s’mores (LOVE that idea of the s’mores bar–if we don’t use it here, I’ll pull out the idea for a teen party) and burning the sorrow and bad luck. </p>
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<p>This particular idea will be held until the New Years AFTER we finish paying college bills. </p>
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Anyone else remember “New Games”? It’s got the same kind of sound to it. We used to do some “New Games” at D1 and D2’s birthday parties, especially the snake tag game. You take several groups of 3-5 people. Have them stand in a line, put their hands on each others hip, and put a piece of fabric in the rear pocket or waistband of the last person in line. Each “snake” must then try to grab the fabric “tail” out of the other snakes, all while avoiding getting tagged itself. </p>
<p>I had friends that always threw a New Year’s Day – sort of an open house – party with chili … but we were in the northwest suburbs of Chicago … and a hearty hot meal made a lot more sense there than it would in California!</p>
<p>My husband thought I was nuts for wanting to do a New Year’s DAY party … had never heard of such a thing.</p>
<p>Some great suggestions offered here. I just want to say that I LOVE New Year’s Day parties. My all time favorite party was a New Year’s Day party. It was in a loft in NYC for brunch many, many, many years ago (probably 25-30 years ago) and it’s still my favorite party. It’s so much more relaxed, no pressure to have a good time so everyone has a good time, much more casual dress, etc. Plus you don’t have to worry about what you’re doing New Year’s Eve because you’re busy the next day, I hate New Year’s Eve and all it’s pressure. </p>
<p>Great way to end the holiday season; hmmm… I’m going to start working on a few friends to see if they might want to do this. Thanks for the memory and idea!</p>
<p>We always did this too, and also got out of the habit. Somehow 50 people dwindled.</p>
<p>Since people are coming and going with an open house formal activities usually aren’t needed, though one year we had a giant jigsaw puzzle up, and people enjoyed putting in pieces for the length of time they were here.</p>
<p>Northeast here, so I would always vote for fires in fireplaces, but not in SoCal.</p>
<p>I haven’t done a New Year’s Day party, but another fun day to do a party is Three Kings (January 6th) the official (at least in some countries) end of the Christmas season. Our house is still decorated, but people are really relaxed and are back from vacations. There are lots of traditions to do with it.</p>
<p>Yea, the sushi chefs can vary considerably to pricey & not too good to less expensive & surprisingly good. We hired by the hour–I think it was about $200 or so for 3 hours, including all the ingredients & the manpower. They came to the home & it was affordable because we split the cost with another family. It was a joint graduation party & enjoyed by all. He had a pretty good selection of things you chose among, rolls or nigiri.</p>
<p>The party I went to last night had a sushi chef that didn’t even have ginger & would only make rolls with LOTS of rice and a choice of 3 fillings with LOTS of wasabe. I would never hire him.</p>
<p>I like the tongue depressors and other ways of burning grudges & regrets. Sounds cleansing! New Year’s Day parties and Christmas Day parties are nice events! New Year’s Eve has too many expectations, especially for singles & young couples, I think.</p>
<p>Can Wisconsin Badger fans crash the party? I’m disappointed that the Rose Bowl won’t have a PAC 10 team this time- darn changes by the powers that be. btw- there’s a U of Oregon ad across the top of my screen.</p>
<p>Getting good inspiration here! We’d talked about doing a holiday open house-type party, but never got our act together to do it. Maybe a New Year’s Day shindig is the way to go. Gotta get out the invites soon, though. Have to persuade my husband that he doesn’t have to spend the day glued to the TV, but don’t have a problem with having a TV on for football fans…Our weather doesn’t allow for outdoor activities…</p>
<p>What are the advantages of an Open House as opposed to a party? Is it OK to do a late afternoon/early evening Open House? Or is that weird? I was thinking from 4 to 8-ish. If somebody has dinner plans, they could still stop by for a while, have a nibble, toast the new year and be on their way. Or, is it tacky to put an ending time–Better to say Open House from 4 PM onward? Or should I have a party that begins at 7? How does one decide and is there a vastly different menu? I was thinking apps and desserts, maybe a pot of soup/chowder but not dinner per se. Sorry if this appears to be high-jacking…just curious what others think!</p>
<p>wis75, I am with you about the Rose Bowl. My dad is a Badger, I went to another Big “10” school and now my DH teaches at a third. Toss in the fact that H got his PhD at UCLA and it seemed like we always had a team in the game when we lived out there. There’s no respect for tradition! (Apologies for going off topic.)</p>
<p>I have a friend who always does a New Year’s Day afternoon Open House. There’s nothing wrong with having an ending time. I think it’s easier for people to feel that they don’t have to come for the whole time. Unless you are having a sit-down dinner, I really think all parties should be open houses. I think it’s helpful if the invitation gives some indication of what you’ll be serving. If you have soup and appetizers I think you could say you’ll be serving a light supper with lots of desserts. Around here everyone wants to bring things, so lack of food is never a problem.</p>
<p>Rutgersmama, you pose an interesting question–difference between ‘Open House’ and ‘Party’. In my mind, OH is a come and go, typically afternoon or early evening affair that is more casual. I think you’re time frame of 4 to 7 is fine, maybe you could stretch it an hour and start at 3. Party usually means one stays longer and may, perhaps, drink more. </p>
<p>Perhaps a New Year’s Day OH would be better if you think your friends are partied out from the previous evening’s festivities?? </p>
<p>As far as how to decide which to have, I’d think it’s a matter of personal preference and time of day —Just my random thoughts as I am clearly not an expert!</p>
Aside from food and drink, should we provide giant screen tvs tuned to the big bowl game(s)? Interesting board games? Potato sack races and tug of war? A fire pit with grill-your-own s’mores? A fortune teller? We live in Southern California, so we are probably assured of good weather for outdoor activities. I’m also wondering if instead we should do a smaller, more sedate brunch. </p>
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