Party Recipe: Urban Open House

Throwing any party requires a certain amount of guts. You invite, decorate & cook…and there is always a distinct possibility that no one will show up, the flowers will wilt or the food will burn. Now combine all this risk with one of the scariest things in the city: apartment building neighbors. Yikes.

I am determined to be brave and go forward with my plan to host a holiday open house for the residents of the eleven other apartments in our building. I’m inviting all those people I studiously avoided in the halls for the last year and a half into my living room. I must be out of my gourd.

Anyway, the party is going to be next Sunday in the afternoon (and it is going to be fabulous). Here’s the plan so far:

• Old fashioned Christmas candy – Mini candy canes, ribbon candy and peanut brittle will make a festive display.
• Cookies – Frosted and sprinkled.
• Veggie platter – With a hearty hot artichoke dip in my small chafing dish.
• Finger sandwiches – On rye with radishes will be festive.
• Hot cider & champagne – Two easy options that please anyone.
• Red and white flowers – Roses and white lillies in a silver bowl.
• Name tags? – I’m on the fence with this one. It would certainly be helpful for me and I could grab the names from the mailboxes.
• Music – Holiday classics.

I’m halfway in a panic just thinking about it. I’ll keep you posted!