Dan's Papers - August 17, 2007 - Knot Your Average Party

The weather is beautiful, the garden is planted and your pool is finally warm. There's no doubt that summertime is in full swing. So you invite everyone you know to your house "out east" for your annual mid-summer event. The merrymaking's going to be in the great outdoors of your backyard and you're inviting friends from the city, family and a few locals. What party theme can you tackle that hasn't been copied about a thousand times in just your neighborhood alone?

How about throwing a nautical party, one that takes your guests on a fantasy voyage into the deep blue sea! Yes, your yard sits on the Atlantic Ocean, so what? You've tried to brainstorm stuff like this before and have come up with nothing, but there are many ideas you can incorporate into your festivities. Start with the invitations; send them out with a pirate's map to your house as messages in bottles. Place an anchor at your front door. Serve mixed drinks with nautical-themed glass swizzle sticks, and of course, create a play list of mostly Jimmy Buffet tunes- that will indubitably fashion the feeling one gets of being situated in the tropics with Pina Colada in hand!

No matter the age of your company, one can create a little whimsical adventure by featuring Little Mermaid elements, sailor hats and treasure chests. Bedeck your property with nautical flags, life preservers, sand and use little lighthouses to illuminate pathways as darkness settles in for the night. Think of decorating with a ship's brass bell, a compass or a sundial. For centerpieces, use a sailboat, sextant, or a captain's wheel surrounded by assorted seashells. Service pieces like knives, forks and spoons can be placed with an accompanying cloth napkin in fish netting. If seating your guests is in the plan, feature place cards made from sand dollars and a calligraphy pen to inscribe your party-goer's names. Placing some real sea turtles throughout your yard will also be quite a conversation piece.

Okay, so now you get the gist of a nautical theme party, but what about the food? Fish-n-chips wrapped in newspaper cones and served with malt vinegar will establish your seafaring theme and entice your guests. One can even throw a clam bake, including corn, potatoes, chicken, lobster, shrimp and cherrystone, littleneck or soft-shell clams. To throw an authentic clambake is a big deal... you should be situated at the beach, dig a pit lined with rocks and tend to a wood fire. When the rocks reach about 400 degrees, thickly line them with wet seaweed then layer with the corn, potatoes, clams and yet more seaweed. The pit is then covered and left to steam; it's a rather daunting process that one can simplify via the stovetop by placing rocks in a metal washtub on a high setting. Just layer the seaweed over the rocks and use seawater.

Some of the best websites for recipes and ideas are the Food Network, Martha Stewart, All-recipes.com and Planet-Science.com. Once can find some fantastic recipes for different types of maritime party foods and drinks, like a sea blue vanilla milkshake, octopus sandwiches, pink meringue shells, mock sushi and cake ideas. Deserts can consist of anything from key lime pie to ice cream cones. Saltwater taffy can be placed in sea, lobster, or conch shells. Look for unusual items to serve the food such as coconut shells, orange, mango, or watermelon halves can work just as well as any serving dish.

Like the experts will always attest to, the only limitation to a gathering is one's own imagination. If you find yourself in a quandary and would like to throw a nautical themed party, think of four things and you'll get through it: the sea, what you'd find on a sailboat, Google and nature itself! What makes for a more imaginative and fresh premise for a party than the sea, the great outdoors and nature?