Two, I try to make a point of always greeting every person as they walk in the door. I make sure they have the drink of their choice and then try to steer then to someone they might want to talk to before moving away. I always have a bartender and a helper, so I am free to move about and make sure everyone feels welcome and are having a good time. Music is also important. I like to start with something light and lively, then move to louder heavier stuff later. One night at Apache's a saxophonist showed up. He was fantastic. He played blues and a lot of 30's and 40's songs. I tried to speak to him to tell him I wanted him for a party. He gave me a card. Since he spoke no English I had a Mexican friend call him. Both numbers were no good! How Mexican ! But then someone noticed there was a face book symbol on the card. The first two attempt brought no response. I told the waiters and owner of Apache's to watch out for him and get a number. The owner also loved his music and said she was sure he was quite poor and probably has no computer and maybe not even a phone. She said she always tips him when he plays at her bar. Then I spotted him again and my Mexican friend was there, so I had him explain to him what I wanted. He agreed, but did not know what to charge. The next day, my friend got a call from him and he wanted 6,000 pesos for four hours. That is more than I pay for rent and I am sure more than he makes in a month wandering around bars and restaurants. So no live music.
Then I got an email from a friend in the States who said he would love to attend my party. He must have read it in my blog as we had not communicated for a year. I told him I would be thrilled and he could stay with me and I would pick him up at the airport. Then I got an email that his plane was to arrive at 4:00 the day of my party. I told him that no way could I pick him up just hours before my party and perhaps he should check into the hotel he mentioned for the first few days. He cancelled his trip. I did invite more people from my bridge club. This is tricky for I cannot invite everyone (and there are people there that I really do not like). I tell them all to keep it quiet, but last year news leaked out so I was forced to invite more this year. I also invited my Spanish tutor and told him that there would be a half dozen of his other students there. He studied the invitation for a while and then said, "But, will you be there?" This has led to my questioning his comprehension of the English language.
I always try to make sure that I have plenty of booze. Last year I ran out of gin and had to send my helper out to buy a new bottle (GIN ! who drinks gin? It must be the Canadians), I set out all the cheap booze and keep the good stuff underneath the counter. The bartender is to only pour out the good stuff to people who ask, or if they are drinking it straight. There is no need to put good vodka in a glass with coke. I never make it a dinner, but have plenty of finger food so people don't get too drunk. My coffee shop makes a great thin pizza that I have my helper pass around. Then I bring out the Mexican food. My favorite Mexican restaurant makes a huge platter of great tasting food for 250 pesos (can you believe that $20.00 will serve 30 people?) Then I have nuts, dip, cheese and meat. Lots of good food for nibbling.
Usually summer ends in mid October. Last year it did not cool down until after the first week in November, so I scheduled my party for the second week of November. But the heat and humidity continued and I worried about having so many people in my tiny apartment if it was still in the 90's. Then one day before my party it cooled down, the night was lovely. The day of my party was overcast but it did not look or feel like rain, so I was not that concerned. Then just before the party was to begin, it started to sprinkle. I quickly pulled the chairs I had carried up from the balcony under the cover of my cabana. My music man arrived early, but had problems getting my internet feed up to the deck. As I was still fiddling with that when others arrived. Then the rain really started to come down. How could it rain on my parade?? Some people braved it upstairs anyway and sat under the cabana. Had all 55 people I invited shown up. it would have been very crowded. But at least a dozen or more failed to show. Still there were enough people to keep me hopping all night. The one shot I took of the living room was early and after that I just forgot about photos. (The guy with the muscles behind the bar is NOT me). That is Filipe my favorite bartender and good friend. The platter of Mexican food was only one of three. There was plenty of food.
It never rains this late in the year (well not until I planned my party for November). Sure enough the following night was a beautiful clear, starlit night. We even had a full moon above. Why could not the storm have waited one more night? But I have lived long enough to realize that not everything in life turns out exactly as you had hoped it would.
I always try to make sure that I have plenty of booze. Last year I ran out of gin and had to send my helper out to buy a new bottle (GIN ! who drinks gin? It must be the Canadians), I set out all the cheap booze and keep the good stuff underneath the counter. The bartender is to only pour out the good stuff to people who ask, or if they are drinking it straight. There is no need to put good vodka in a glass with coke. I never make it a dinner, but have plenty of finger food so people don't get too drunk. My coffee shop makes a great thin pizza that I have my helper pass around. Then I bring out the Mexican food. My favorite Mexican restaurant makes a huge platter of great tasting food for 250 pesos (can you believe that $20.00 will serve 30 people?) Then I have nuts, dip, cheese and meat. Lots of good food for nibbling.
Usually summer ends in mid October. Last year it did not cool down until after the first week in November, so I scheduled my party for the second week of November. But the heat and humidity continued and I worried about having so many people in my tiny apartment if it was still in the 90's. Then one day before my party it cooled down, the night was lovely. The day of my party was overcast but it did not look or feel like rain, so I was not that concerned. Then just before the party was to begin, it started to sprinkle. I quickly pulled the chairs I had carried up from the balcony under the cover of my cabana. My music man arrived early, but had problems getting my internet feed up to the deck. As I was still fiddling with that when others arrived. Then the rain really started to come down. How could it rain on my parade?? Some people braved it upstairs anyway and sat under the cabana. Had all 55 people I invited shown up. it would have been very crowded. But at least a dozen or more failed to show. Still there were enough people to keep me hopping all night. The one shot I took of the living room was early and after that I just forgot about photos. (The guy with the muscles behind the bar is NOT me). That is Filipe my favorite bartender and good friend. The platter of Mexican food was only one of three. There was plenty of food.
It never rains this late in the year (well not until I planned my party for November). Sure enough the following night was a beautiful clear, starlit night. We even had a full moon above. Why could not the storm have waited one more night? But I have lived long enough to realize that not everything in life turns out exactly as you had hoped it would.
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