digsandthat.com

DigsMagazine.com be the perfect host/ess .

 

 

a home + living guide for the post-college, pre-parenthood, quasi-adult generation

10.19.2006

home
editor's note 
_____________

DEPARTMENTS
 
o lounge 
o nourish 
 
o host
o
laze
_____________

o BOARDS
o SHOP
o send an ECARD
_____________

about
contact
submit your ideas
search

 
SiGN UP! join the DigsNews mailing list + we'll keep you posted about updates and other DIGS-related news .
Name:
Email:
Subscribe 
Unsubscribe 
..
need party help? Jump to the boards and talk about entertaining, cooking, etiquette and more.

copyright ©1999-2006
DigsMagazine.com.

flick or treat host a halloween movie night
by Yee-Fan Sun
|
  1 2 3
continued from page 2

spooky sippers
Now, naturally, you’ll need something to wash down all that candy and popcorn. So what’s the perfect beverage to accompany ghouls and goblins, spine-tingling terror and devilish delights? Red wine is the no-fuss choice, as its ruby hue goes perfectly with a night of gore, but you can also serve up cocktails in keeping with the theme of the movies at hand. Mix up a big pitcher of zombies for your walking-dead-fests or a crimson-hued vampire for a movie marathon featuring the blood-loving undead; shake up a few black devils for your night of movie e-vil or make some black cats for a witchy-themed shindig. For the non-drinkers in your group, offer red beverages like cranberry juice, pomegranate juice and fruit punch, or go with a big jug or two of fresh apple cider.
fires of hell popcorn
Pop up a big batch of unflavored popcorn, whether your preferred method is microwave or stovetop doesn’t matter. For every 10 cups or so of popcorn, mix the following seasoning combo: 2 Tbsp. melted butter, 1/2 tsp. paprika, 1/4 tsp cayenne and 1/8 tsp. garlic powder. Toss with the popcorn. Taste, adding salt and more seasoning as needed to suit your tastebuds.

a little ambience
Ambience, as any decent horror movie director knows, is what primes the audience for those big scary screams. Dim light, a murky fog, a suggestive silhouette, a dissonant tune playing softly in the background: it’s the little details that can make all the difference in the world. So as you’re making the final preparations for your movie night, spare a moment or two to ready your surrounds.

As one of the prime draws of a Halloween movie night is that it’s a low-key alternative to full-blown costume parties, there’s no need to go too nuts with decking out your digs. Instead, concentrate your efforts on spooking out the key areas: namely the TV, and the food table. This can be as simple as draping dining/coffee table and TV cart in black sheets or fabric, adding some orange or purple string lights, and maybe accenting the whole shebang with a carved jack-o-lantern. If you’re dying to pull out your collection of kitschy Halloween décor, though, by all means go all out with plastic spiders and fake skeletons.

costumes encouraged! Just because you're skipping the blow-out party doesn't mean you have to miss out on costume fun. Tell folks to show up in an old costume if they like, but reinforce that no big efforts are necessary, and that showing up in regular old street clothes is dandy too. Meanwhile, dig out any remnants from Halloween costumes past, whether it’s wigs, masks, funny hats, or feather boas. Have them out and about for anyone who might be in need of some masquerading. Of course, on the more logistical side of decking out your pad in preparation for your party, you’ll want to make sure that there’s plenty of seating around the television. Rearrange sofas and armchairs as necessary, pull in as many pillows and blankets as you can dig up in case some folks need to get comfy on the floor.

With just these few small touches to ensure the proper fright night mood and seating comfort, you’ll be ready to settle in for a nice long evening of Halloween movie fun. Turn the lights down low, fire up the DVD player, and enjoy.

o
check out these related articles:
cheap tricks no/ low-budget halloween decor | devilish delights party food | drinks that go bump in the night | creepy-crawly cocktails | into the spirits more cocktails | no costumes required
alternative Halloween ideas | plus more in host

---------------------------> lounge . nourish . host . laze . home .