Entertaining at Home By Ammanuel Moore
O
kay, so cookouts and other outdoor activities are no longer in season. But cooler temperatures and less daylight don’t have to put the kibosh on having fun with family and friends. Some of the best times and pocket-friendly experiences can be had right at the home.
MOVIE NIGHT From the latest releases to the wellknown classics, everyone loves a good movie; and I don’t care what anyone says, movies are more fun to watch with friends. Want to make your movie night a truly block buster evening? Try a few of these ideas: • Play off a theme. Is the movie a romance, a gangster film? Does it come out of a particular decade or era? Send invitations with the theme in mind. Decorate your setting based on your theme. The host or hosting couple can dress as the main characters. Can you imagine Shaft or Foxy Brown answering the door? • Think beyond popcorn. Finger foods are nice. Spice up the evening with a dish from the film. • Seating, ambiance and lighting. Don’t invite 12 people if you can only comfortably seat six. By comfortable I mean everyone can have enough space that they're not touching (cuddling is different). 8 Trends
•No bootleg or pirated films please. They’re illegal and no one wants to see Pookie stand up in the middle of the film and make his way to the concession counter. If you want to see a new release so badly, spend the $20, go to the theater and see it like it was meant to be seen. GAMES BRING OUT THE KID IN ALL OF US Could you get a group of your friends to say Slam Dunk or Rocky Balboa without talking, writing or using any hand gestures? Could you do it in two minutes? Charade-style games still bring about a lot of fun and laughter as groups try to guess random yet commonly used phrases without the use of normal communication. Trivia games are also a blast. In the popular ‘80s sitcom “Different Strokes,” what was the never-seen bully’s name that always threatened Arnold? A) Clyde B) Spike C) The Gooch D) The Shank. Games also come in the electronic format, ala DVD/board game combinations and video game systems, which,
by the way, are not tied to just violent and sports-based choices. Video game systems now provide just about every board and card game that exists–but in a digital environment. Instead of rolling the dice or spinning the wheel, you can click a button and move around the board as if there were a game in front of you. Nintendo Wii, has a fun system of games that requires real life motion. Up to four players at a time can bowl, play baseball, golf or tennis and other activities–all in front of the television. Wine Tasting – Red. Whites. Blushes. Way too many choices. Explore with friends some of the most unique wines from around the world. Make it competitive. Have each one bring in a wine and a favorite complementary dish. Best combination wins. Book Clubs–Assign a book or several chapters from a book. Discuss the story, plot or characters. Make sure the book is something everyone can enjoy. Monday Night Football, self explanatory.
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