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Although common sailors traditionally survived on hard tack and grog throughout lengthy sea voyages, the officers’ table has always been graced with finer fare. 

Celebrating New Year’s Day is one of the oldest occasions throughout history. Whether the festivities fall on January 1 of the Gregorian calendar or some other day may depend on culture, but the symbolism of renewal is powerfully entrenched. 

The colorful autumn landscape and frosty nip in the air this time of year seem to have most people in a cheerful mood after the long hot summer.  Hosting a fun dinner affair may be just the right remedy to recharge and reconnect with your favorite people before the holiday hustle and bustle begins.

Most parties take a little organization, but a tailgate party takes planning and then some. After all, you can’t just duck back into your house if you forget the corkscrew.  That’s why it’s important to heed these words from the author A.A. Milne, who wrote one of Rae Lynn’s fave books:   

Oktoberfest began with a wedding—and what a wedding it must have been. On 12 October 1810, Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. Everyone in Munich was invited to the ceremony and celebration, which included horse races. The horse racing continued the next year, and a tradition was born. 

Tailgating food often revolves around the predictable: burgers, brats, chips, dips and a choice of beer, beer or beer to drink.  But that’s for tailgaters who want to warm the bench. If you want your tailgate party to score big and win fans, you need to step up your game.   

Ever want to be THAT girl or guy--the one who can throw a fab little soirée at a moment's notice? Trust me, you can be. Impromptu doesn't mean no planning; it just means you're ready at a moment's notice. All you need to do is stock the cupboards, fridge and freezer, throw on a smile and look for an occasion that calls for a spontaneous party.

Whether your banquet is big or small, at some point you will need the assistance of others.  

Given that many venues are booked years in advance, the highest priority when planning a banquet should be given to selecting and reserving a site for your event. Here we will review key criteria in choosing a facility, the types of venues available, and things to look for during an in-person inspection.

Although there are some similarities to planning a cocktail or dinner party, organizing and hosting a banquet event presents a number of unique challenges and details.  This is the first of a series of blogs on how to plan a banquet.

And like all party planning, the first step is to establish a few basic fundamentals. For banquet planning we start with:  purpose, dress, budget, number of guests, and date & time.

Whether you are a group of 4 dining out or you are hosting a dinner party for 12, planning your dinner seat arrangement will enhance conversation and fun for your guests. Contrary to popular belief, the success of a dinner party is more about the guests and conversation than what you serve.

Step-by-step instructions on building a party music playlist that will:

• set the mood,
• increase the energy level over the duration of the party,
• take your guests on an emotional ride of rises & falls, 
• interject humor & smiles,
• surprise & entertain each guest on a personal level,
• reinforce your theme.