People say that New Year's Eve in the streets is not what it used to be. The city is full of daredevils who stay at home all year round, and therefore cannot handle the onslaught of celebrations on this special evening. The squares are filled with revelers, pouring drinks around them while shaking to music they don't even know. Add to the whole experience the bitter cold and the insurmountable task of getting a table at your favorite bar, and the decision to stay home suddenly becomes more attractive than ever.
So why not bring the New Year's Eve party to your home? You can create a legendary party that will make you the Great Gatsby for a few hours. While inviting a group of friends and buying three huge bags of crisps might have been enough in college, remember that you are hosting the party of the year, so preparation and planning are key to success. We, at Alain Delon Journal, are here to help you make your party an annual event that no one will miss.
Guest list
Sit down and think about your guest list for a few minutes. It's always a good idea to not limit your invitations to just your closest circle of friends, but to broaden your social horizons a bit. Think of people you'd like to get to know better or people you know will be sitting with the other guests. This way, you'll have a diverse group at your home, ensuring everyone has a good time. But don't invite people you've never met before. If your guests wanted to spend the evening awkwardly sitting next to strangers, they'd be taking a tram.
Feed them
The most important component of any good party is the food. Leave the candy bars and chips in the 90s, get creative, but prepare in advance. You don't want to spend the entire evening in the kitchen, so mastering the French art of "mise en place" is a must. In other words, prepare everything in advance. Stick to recipes you already know, now is not the time for new unexplored dishes that you've never made.
Get them drunk
Who are we kidding, this is the most important component of any good party. Surprise your guests with your bartending skills, but what applies to food applies to drinks too. You need to spend time with your guests, not in the kitchen. Create a unique drink that you can serve upon arrival, each guest should have something to drink in their hand no more than three minutes after arriving. For additional refreshments, set up a small drink station with wine, beer, spirits and a few soft drinks so people can contribute to the party spirit without feeling embarrassed.And, of course, don't forget a few bottles of bubbly, which need to be chilled in the fridge by midnight. Just make sure you have enough glasses for everyone. Celebrating New Year's with a mustard in hand is not very stylish.
Make them dance
Forget the shuffle mode on your iPod and make sure you have a mix that suits the evening. Light instrumental jazz is enough to start off with, so your guests feel comfortable as soon as they walk into the space. For the later stages of the evening, choose something with a bit more groove. Save the classic burners for the early morning. And don’t forget to hide the stereo remotes, there’s that one drunk guy at every party who calls himself the DJ.
Scatter them
The best way to spread people out is to create multiple food and drink stations. Subtly place a snack tray in one corner, a wine table in another. Throw blankets over chairs on the balcony for smokers. This way, people will naturally wander around the space, forming ever-moving groups.
