Ideas For Hosting a Weekly Get-Together

A life goal of mine is to create one night a week that people know they can stop by and enjoy good food, good conversation and overall good company. The vision in my head is fabulous.  Friends walking in unannounced, knowing they were invited giving hugs and their offering to the festivities.  Neighbors popping in relieved they have an option for dinner outside of their kitchen where their children are welcome.  New acquaintances stopping in for the first time marveling at the idea, and knowing that as they walk out the door they were glad they came.  Oh yes, it is a glorious vision.

My ideal weekly soiree would be casual, no formal invitation, and no RSVP’s.  Some friends would show up once a month, surprising me, others would be regulars that I would come to count on.  Not everyone would know each other and that would be part of the beauty.  I would have the same theme every week so my guests knew what to expect and how they could contribute, leaving no room for awkward exchanges.

Sounds great doesn’t it?  Think of the laughter, the stories and the friendships that would be formed.  Think of the memories you would be creating for your family.

I have put this idea off for when I was in my own home again, tucking it away for a time that I felt secure with the environment I would be hosting my vision in.  Sad, really….keeping myself and my family away from such an experience – the experience of celebrating life with the living breathing people around us.  Because in my vision that is what we would be celebrating….life.

Well times a wastin’ and I’m not getting any younger.  Far too often I have ideas that I let slip away with excuse after excuse, only to regret the lost opportunity.  Not this one.  Starting next week…

Here are a few ideas I have for my theme, and I would love your input, please?  Just tell me what you would enjoy or share an idea of your own.

Finger Food Friday

This idea comes from a mutual friend of all of us here on TMH.  Rebecca hosted a finger food Friday every week inviting people over to enjoy a night of nothing but finger food.  I tried this on my nieces and nephews and it was a hit.  My sister said that is all they talked about for months.  I love this idea because it is so kid friendly, you’re bound to find something your child will eat when it comes to finger food!  Every week you could change things up leaving your guests wondering what they will discover on the table.  It would also be an easy theme for guests to contribute to.

Pasta Night

This would be the easiest theme.  You would provide the pasta – different shape, flavors, and one sauce.  Then your guests would each bring a sauce.  Having breadsticks and a salad would be a nice touch, and some freshly grated Parmesan cheese.  Oh think of the recipes you would gain from this!  Again very kid friendly too.

Pizza Night

You would provide the dough, sauce and cheese, and your guests would bring the toppings.  Every week would be different and that would be part of the fun, and yes, kid friendly.

Dessert Only

You would provide a dessert, juice, coffee….whatever is fitting for your crowd, and your guests would each bring a dessert.  I like this idea for obvious reasons.  Really, need I say more?

I know the vision will more than likely be far from reality, and that if I were wise I would start this out with only one family a week.  But I have to start somewhere because I know it will be something my kids will look back on and think fondly of.  As they get older it will hopefully be a night they look forward to and might even invite a friend or two.  Oh I get excited just writing about it!

I hope you join me, even if it only begins with your own family and slowly becomes a community event.

Thoughts?

I shared this on Chatting at The Sky, it has become one of my favorite parts of Tuesday – lovely women with great stories to tell.