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How to host with the most
Here's some advice on how to organize indoor activities with style
If you go stir crazy after too much time inside, then give yourself something to do, such as hosting a small party with friends. The possibilities are limitless and some students on campus have established party nights with friends weekly.
Photo Illustration by Jerry Wang
In lieu of a rowdy keg party, why not throw an intimate game night? It can be a lot more fulfilling than a drunken night that you'll forget the next day.
Dinner parties
Keslie Kandt, Hays senior, is a member of the Friday Night Eats club that meets weekly during the semester at various friends' houses. The host cooks dinner for the entire group.
Kandt says the idea started because a large group of friends lived in the Meadowbrook apartment complex and they just wanted to make each others' meal planning a little easier by rotating cooking nights. As the cooking nights evolved, Kandt says that other friends that live around Lawrence became involved and have hosted dinners.
Sometimes the dinner party can set up other nightly activities, Kandt says. "We'll eat dinner and then decide what we're going to do for the night," she says.
Kandt says she not only enjoys the company, but also having the feedback from her friends.
"That gives me a whole group of 30 people to try out recipes on."
It can even help her meal budget."You, only do it, basically, once a semester and then you get free meals every other Friday for the semester."
Game nights
While Kandt enjoys hosting these parties, Leavenworth junior Spenser Fitzpatrick is just glad to finally have the space to host a similar event after living in the dorms and the Jayhawker Towers.
Book clubs
Fitzpatrick tries to host a game night monthly. He says he feels it is a better alternative than the common college drinking party. "It's a lot more fulfilling to hang out with a few people and get to know them," he says.
If you are a person more interested in sparking intellectual discussions with friends,
maybe a book club is something you should plan. Mary C. Davis, corporate affairs manager of Borders, says the online book club section of the Border's website is one of the most trafficked pages of the site. The site also features guides for discussion on certain books if you need help getting your own book club started.
"When the company was developing the Border's Book Club, he [Vice President of Content Richard Folley] thought it would be a great idea to take it a step further and create some tips and suggestions for people who want to start their own book club, who are inspired by what we are doing online,and want to do something in their own hometown or their own neighborhood," Davis says.
Get it together
Organizing is an important factor to hosting a small get together. Kandt says her group of friends uses Facebook to organize their weekly dining nights. It lets people know where the dinner will be hosted and what will
be on the menu.
Local event planner Teresa Wolff, owner of Teresa Wolff Event Planning in Lawrence, knows just how important organizing can be to a party. Wolff says it's important to understand the interests of your guests and also suggests picking a theme for your party.
Kandt says it helps her and friends see each other by having a weekly event planned, because while they are busy during the week, they can take time to be together on Fridays before they handle their own weekend activities.
Fitzpatrick says his game nights are good for fostering friendship within his group because it is a smaller group of people and the atmosphere is pleasant. "It's just a very laid back event and I think people like that," he says "They don't feel like they have to get dressed up and impress anyone."
The winter weather will probably continue until mid-March. If you want to keep yourself entertained, chances are you'll be doing it inside. Small gatherings are a great way to foster camaraderie between you and your friends. Besides, you know you want to show off your apartment or home to your friends. JP
Movie night ideas
If you don't want to set up a weekly gathering for friends and would rather enjoy one night of fun with your pals, a movie night isn't a bad idea. Here are some suggestions from fellow students on what movies to watch.
Trevor McReynolds, Gardner freshman
Suggested movie: The Dark Knight or 300 Why: "They're both action packed awesome movies that I'll never get enough of"
Kathleen Sis, Kansas City, Kansas, sophomore Suggested movie: Zoolander Why:"Ben Stiller is always good for a laugh and he knows how to do it right."
Jordan Pollock Overland Pork freshman Suggested movie: Animal House or Spaceballs
Why: "Animal" cause it's just a classic college movie, and Spaceballs because it's a really good movie and I always watched it as a little kid with all my friends."
Charle Moder, Clearwater freshman
Suggested movie: Transformers
Why: "I love how it's so action-packed and they tie everything together really well and I just think it's a great movie."
Emily Sis, Kansas City, Kansas, Freshman Suggested movies: Pirates of the Caribbean Why: I love Johnny Depp, and it's actony and intense and I just love it."
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January 22,2009
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