Any Talented Hostesses?

Something I did at a party that keeps getting talked about - it was a dinner party with new co-workers, no one knowing each other yet, trying to get everyone comfy. In the middle of each table was a basket with 3-4 envelopes - in each envelope was a paper with a random question (what # child are you? what socks do you hate to throw away but never wear? if you had to wear a cast, what color would it be?). At any point, someone could grab an envelope and read the question - that person would answer it first, then everyone else at the table would follow.

One of the cards had a red star on the back of it, the person who chose that card got a special prize. There were kids ranging from 8-12, and the prize was a how-to-do-magic tricks book, that entertained the kids for the rest of the night.

Good luck!

You could make name tags where people have to put their names and 2-3 fun things about themselves.

You could do round robin where you walk into the room at any point and say that all the girls have to move four steps to the left kind of thing.

Have a people scavenger hunt. Make a list of 20-25 questions about the people at the party. Something like who was born in (city,state or year) who loves the color purple? Who never misses his high school football games? Who is one of __ children? If you can make the questions outragous like who here wishes they could have a elephant as a pet. Or who here climed Mount Everest or would like to or go visit the pyrmids, it helps to get conversations going. Make up at least one question about each person attending and the person who has the most right answers gets some croissants or other French pastry.

This way everyone has to talk to everyone else and no cheating. Each person can only answer a question about themselves.

Have everyone email you 3 kindof oddball things about themselves that not everyone knows. Then you as the hotess read each set off and have everyone try to guess the person. This was recently done at a party was at and it was a lot of fun. Learned some interesting facts about people that made for great conversation starters.

I've been to parties where when you walk in the door, they put a post-it with a famous person written on it, on your back. Then as you meet people, you can also ask them yes/no questions to try and figure out who your famous person is. For instance, my post-it might say "Marie Antoinette." Then I'd ask things like, "Did I live in this century?" And they'd say, "No." "Was I rich?" "Yes" - and so on, until I guess that I'm Marie Antoinette. Might be fun for a theme party like that...

We just hosted a wonderful party last weekend at our new home. It was the same situation as you- some people knew each other and some didn't. I know all the people very well, so I knew what they had in common. I usually would start the conversation, get it going, and have to excuse myself to check on the food, drink, etc. People generally keep the conversation going anyway...especially after a few. :)
I love the French idea... I might steal that sometime. :)

I would also think about what people may have in common so I can introduce people with a little tidbit that might get a conversation flowing between two people who have not previously met. For instance, "Joe, I'd like you to meet Bob. Bob is planning a fishing trip to X. Haven't you been there Joe?"

Try to mix and mingle as much as you can. Have fun!

Great finger foods, adult beverages and your pretty smile!

Are you keeping your menu in the French theme?