The Reluctant Hostess

After all those canceled and postponed plans, you want to invite people over, but...it’s been a long, weird while. From an everything-but-dinner get-together to a last-minute shindig, we’ve got four ways to get you back to hosting and toasting.

- TISH DURKIN

There are many reasons not to throw a party—especially now that we have hit the is it mostly kinda over?” stage of the pandemic. Just the question Should we have a bunch of people over?” leads to more questions, all of them nettled with cranky uncertainties: What if a new variant invites itself along with my guests?” How much does the temperature have to go down and the Covid numbers go up before I’m dealing with outdoor heaters?” Does Miss Manners have a rule about rapid testing?” And it’s not as if these new trepidations have done anything to banish the old ones. Covid could vanish and we’d still be worrying that our home is too cramped, our time too short, our cooking too blah....

But the reasons we most need to entertain right now flow directly from all the reasons we are most afraid to. The very fact that the pandemic forced us into such leaden isolation only sharpens our craving for light communion. You don’t need money, a mansion, or Ina Garten’s way with gratin to throw a fantastic party. You do need a Covid-combating plan negative test required? outdoor drinks? a picnic dinner?). And you need a concept. Not a concept as in an all-girl luau or Christmas in July although I keep meaning to do that), but as in an idea that acknowledges any shortcomings you may be dealing with and turns them into selling points.

Take it from me, someone with absolutely no decorating, cleaning, organizing, or culinary claims to fame: These are four parties that anyone can throw this season.

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