About Barware

I moved into a new house last month, and some of my friends suggested that I have a housewarming party. It seems a little odd to me that after I sink thousands of dollars into a home that I should be the one obligated to throw a party; shouldn’t my friends be the ones throwing one for me?-but I digress. Since it was my first soiree in my new abode, I wanted to make sure that it was spectacular.

Not only did I hire a DJ, have professional lighting and bring out my best acrylic glassware, but I also splurged and decided to buy caviar. When the guests arrived, they were visibly impressed, especially by the caviar and smorgasbord of delectable cuisine. Although I am not cheap, I informed my friends that after my extravagance, they would be the ones hosting the holiday parties this year.

How to host a football tailgate party.

Step 1:  Think of your tailgate party as a mini production along the lines of camping meets sports bar. Here’s what’s on the basic set list:
Grill, grilling supplies (check out the links below for killer mobile grills)
Coolers (best if with wheels)
Seating
Flags, banners and other team affiliated materials
Radio, boom-box or portable television
Blankets, lighting, citronella, and so forth for night games
Card tables and cloths
Food and beverage
Plates, napkins, silverware, cups, bottle opener, acrylic glassware and so on.

Step 2:  Instead of grabbing basic folding chairs and sitting in the back of the truck, go front-porch chic and transform the parking lot into your own outdoor living space. Enlist a few guys to help load a couch or chairs from home for maximum comfort. Toss sheets or blankets in team colors over everything to protect the fabric.

Step 3:  Hype the #1 Fan contest by letting everyone know ahead of time that there will be a prize for most enthusiastic wardrobe. Bring the face paint, hats, foam fingers and anything else you can glue to your body and let the good times roll. For prizes, think game-day paraphernalia like team cups, key chains, bobble heads or, if you are feeling generous, tickets to the next game.

Step 4:  To show that you’ve got spirit, set up an extra table for team-banner making. Get a roll of white butcher paper. Then load a tool box with markers, paints, stamps, stickers, glue and glitter for fans to make some killer banners worthy of the TV camera stop and stare.

Step 5:  Brew some healthy competition off the grid-iron with a scavenger hunt. Make a list of things people have to find or do before the game starts, print up enough for everyone to participate and let ‘em fly. Include digital disposable cameras so the hunters can document their trek. Here are a few ideas for the hunt:

Ask to try a bite of a strangers hot dog or hamburger
Take a picture with a fan from the opposing team
Find 5 footballs
Give a high five to 3 fans of the opposite sex
Chug a beer (or soda)
Find a truck with a team license plate cover
Find a bucket hat with your teams name on it
Find 3 different types of hats with your team logo on it and take a picture with all of them on at once

Step 6:  A great tailgating game is baggo (order from link listed below). It comes with a board that looks like a mini-football field and bean bags. The objective is to throw the bean bags and make a touch down. It’s easy to travel with and set up and perfect for every competitor in the group.

Step 7:  Staking your space before the lot is jammed is key. Lay out the grilling area, have an extra table available to serve as the buffet, and bring a few coolers for drinks (don’t forget the ice).