Sweet Reading

There’s nothing like using a get-together with friends as an excuse to eat. Add a book and you can explain away eating a lot of baked goods as being intellectual. Here’s a book club idea that’s sure to inspire conversation and satisfy everyone’s chocolate cravings.

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

Sure, tea parties have a certain shabby chic, Queen Elizabeth-meets-your-former-five-year-old-self appeal but sipping tea, pinkies out, and acting prim and proper grows old real fast. With spring approaching, why not celebrate warm weather, blue skies, and little white rabbits with a rousing, wild version of afternoon tea?

Landmark Birthday Party

Despite what your mom might say, no one wants to celebrate her 50th without some fanfare, even if she swears that she doesn’t want a party. This is a trap, folks! If you don’t throw a party, be prepared for subtle guilt trips for an indefinite period of time. Here are some pointers on how to make their special days a memorable, un-embarrassing, guilt-free blast.

Guitar Hero Rock Band Extravaganza

Unless you’ve been living in a Buddist monastery for the past year, you know that Guitar Hero and Rock Band are all the rage. But playing to your millions of fans is no fun without your trusty crew. So invite ‘em over for a rockin’ good time.

Red Carpet Roundup

Haven’t seen any of this year’s nominated picks? The red carpet pre-show is where it’s at anyway. Get together and critique celeb fashion faux pas in style.

The Non-romantic Valentine Party

Don’t worry. This isn’t some love-letter-burning, ex-boyfriend-bitching, voodoo party. The non-romantic Valentine Party is about getting together with your girls to celebrate your love for each other (and possibly bitch a little).

Raise Money for Charity in Style

There are several ways to raise money for charity: bake sales, car washes, and eBay auctions, to name a few. But charity events garner the most success and not only raise much-needed funds, but also raise awareness for a cause.

Multidenominational Holiday Party

Who doesn’t love the holidays? They’ve got everything anyone could ever need: rampant commercialism, excessive food and alcohol intake, family drama and, of course, Jesus. But what if you aren’t a Jesus-lover?

Lucky Escape

Engagements, weddings, baby showers…it seems every occasion is ripe for a party. While many people never get married or have babies, most of us have been involved in a break-up—especially the type that elicits a sigh of relief. If you’re relieved to have dodged what might have been, you’ve just had a lucky escape.

Throw a Low-Key Kids’ Party

Okay, so having a house full of five-year-olds is never low-key, but there’s a huge difference between taking 30 kids to an indoor theme park and entertaining a bunch in your backyard.

Throwing a “Grown-Up” Party

Tired of stale chip n’ dip party fare and want something more, dare we say, mature? Here are some easy ways to take your events to the next level, that don’t take the fun out of funnel (beer is still welcome).

Dinner Party with His ‘Rents

The wedding is done and the honeymoon is over. You’ve officially settled into newlywed life, so now it’s time for you and your darling hubby to celebrate your new couple status. How? By breaking out the CorningWare and inviting the in-laws over for a divine dinner.

The Summer Garden Party

Get the most from your backyard space this summer by transforming it into an outside oasis for entertaining. Let colourful flowers and fruits guide your inspiration.

Plan a Girls' Night Out

When it comes to the chaos of our daily lives, you know you can always count on your girlfriends. We share our clothes, good wine, tears, and gossip with these women. If times are tough, we...

The Ultimate Stagette

In addition to wearing a less-than-flatttering chartreuse bridesmaid’s gown, you’ve been given the thankless task of throwing a bachelorette party (aka the stagette to us Canadian gals). Make it a memorable one with our ...

Are You a Socializer?

My boyfriend is having a 25th birthday party this weekend. For half the year he lives in Stratford, Ontario, designing costumes and sets for its well-known theatre festival and his big day usually falls during one of his first weeks back ...

Rollin' on Retro

Retro… that trendy word that gets thrown around as often as Seinfeld quotes. Retro is the chance to relive our glory moments in the past, or explore an era that seems far more entertaining than the one we’re in now. It’s also an excuse for ...

SURPRISE!

Planning a great fete is a challenge at the best of times. Planning a surprise party is an opportunity to really show off your skills. Just make sure to follow a few simple rules and even your ...

The Black and White Party

We’ve all heard about Diddy’s infamous white party. And the kids from Laguna Beach had a Black and White party, too. It’s an easy theme and it screams elegance, even if you don’t have ...

Wine Pairing 101

So you’re having a dinner party and you’re serving up some spicy butter chicken. Which wine should you serve: a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a fruity red merlot, or a light-bodied Gamay Noir? No need to ...

Last Minute Fête

Here’s the drama: A university girlfriend calls unexpectedly and says she’s in town and wants to check out your chic girl pad – she’ll be there in two hours! She’s invited her new beau and his single guy friend, which probably means she’s already ...

Chow Down Snooty Styles

So you want to throw one of those dinner parties that everyone talks about for months afterwards. These are the ones that make you jealous because yours can’t seem to ...