Holiday Party Guide for New Yorkers: How to Fit Festivities into your New York Minute

Holiday Party Guide for New
Yorkers: How to Fit Festivities into Your New York Minute

Many of us have overextended either our credit or schedule, or both. How on this ball of earth can we possibly meet all of our obligations?

If you just can’t say no…

While New Yorkers are famous for their impatience, sometimes they just can’t say “no” when they really need to.

Recently, I ran into a friend at a posh party in a Greenwich Village house.

“I have to run out; I double-booked for tonight. I have to get down to the gallery for another party,” he says as he straightens his expensive tie.

“Oh,” I say, “that’s tricky. Dinner hasn’t been served yet. I hear it’s lamb chops.”

Gothic"; ">
“Don’t worry,” he says, “I have an easy escape route.”

“What?” I ask.

“I just tell everyone I have reservations at Per Se.”

No one would want a friend to give up reservations at Per Se.

For those of us who just cannot bring ourselves to say “no” and end up double or triple booked, here are a few more tips:

1. Make sure the first party has an early start time. Many work-related parties start at about 6PM.
2. Avoid the eggnog as a first drink – you don’t want to beburping it at your friends later.
3. Pace yourself – one or two flutes of champagne are all you need to get on the holiday glow.
4. Make sure you know exactly where your coat is at all times so that you can make a quick exit.
5. Do not tell the host you have another party to attend. Tell him/her that you have reservations at Per Se or Jean-Georges. No one would want you to miss that!
6. Perform a teeth-check in the bathroom mirror before you head back out into the street. Reapply lipstick if necessary.

If you have to socialize with a Babette you don’t really like…

Overheard on the 6 Train:

A young woman wearing excessively pointed shoes and a frown of frustration leans against the pole.

“So, what are you taking to her party?” her friend with the Jeanine Garrafolo look asked.

“Oh, I’m taking a bottle of 1999 August Kesseler Rudesheimer Trockenbeerenausleser.”

“Isn’t that expensive?”

“Yes, but it’ll be worth every penny watching her try to pronounce it.”

“Hmmm. You’re probably right.”

Yes, it is fun to make Babette babble on, but she will seek revenge. Here are some tips for not letting her get the best of you:

1. Bring along a bottle of something that you know she cannot pronounce.
2. Mention that the latest fashion colors just don’t work for everyone.
3. Compliment everyone in the room about their accessories.
4. Be wearing some sort of bobble that you know she will covet, then let her know it is exclusive. She will covet it more.
5. Extricate yourself from her manicured grasp by telling her that you have reservations at Le Bernadin with that photographer friend.

If you can’t say no to yet another
glass of the bubbly…

If you have a problem controlling your alcohol intake during holiday parties (a syndrome known as FestivusExcessivus), you should take along a buddy who can deftly remove unnecessary beverages from your hand before you make a fool of yourself.

If you do not want to try the Christmas treats…

When a plate of unsavories (e.g., deviled eggs dyed green & red or crab salad from a can, fruit cake, celery with peanut butter) passes in front of you, try to wave whatever it is away with a “No thanks, really, I have dinner reservations,” or a “Does this contain gluten? I am allergic to gluten.” If none of that works or you have a hard time lying, then tell your host that you just aren’t feeling well and that you are afraid you won’t be able to keep it all down.

But by all means, no matter what you do, have a good time!

Tags:   None

© All rights reserved.

Posted on 12/18/2005 ( Permanent Link )
 Send to Friend