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The Arabian Night
Inspiration
Tyler says: Really, when you think about it, what could possibly be more luxurious and extravagant than nineteenth-century Arabia? Lots of things, I'm sure, actually. But still. At any rate, it was a more clearly defined theme than the FHHCBII, and hopefully the guests would comply.
Emily says: A Middle Eastern or Turkish party had been on the Great List Of Party Ideas for awhile, and Tyler's recent fondness for Turkish tobacco brought it up again. The images of airy, fabric-draped pavillions, heavy eyeliner, jingling bells and bellydance have shown up numerous times in our personal mythologies, as evidenced by Paisley Glen (our absurd, fabric-clad ren faire camping group,) and Tyler's War of 1812 video.
The Arabian Night takes place again at Hale's Pass Lodge.
In planning, the idea is to drape everything in luxurious (or, you know, dollar-a-yard) fabric inside. The picture at the top shows how successful this was! Outside, brightly colored tablecloths and draperies marked the area where we would have our feast.
The Set-Up
Guests were supposed to begin arriving at six, and dinner was supposed to start at seven. By five thirty, we were still slaving in the kitchen and hadn't applied costumes or makeup. It was possibly the most stressful pre-party period, and a lot of it had to do with anxiety that we wouldn't get our deposit back, or that the preschool director would be unhappy with us.
But things turned out, as they always do. By six-thirty, guests were arriving, the host and hostess were beauteous, and dinner was well on its way to being ready.
I agree with Emily that this was probably our most stressful set-up period of all time. My fabulous new Pavillion - a wonderful dome of $300 proportions - was to be set up as a hookah lounge sort of area. The directions claim that it needs six people to set it up, but I had done it previously with 3, and was convinced that 2 plus my truck would be sufficient. Needless to say, it didn't go up, and it's had structural damage ever since.
Apart from the colapsing pavillion fiasco, decorating was more extensive than previously - instead of just draping things cunningly in pretty fabric, we needed to create a gauzy tent inside, fill it with cushions and so on, and a sort of jungly faux-oasis, also inside, adjacent to our new 'pleasure den'. Immediately before guests arrived, food wasn't done, our help hadn't shown - yet again! - and we had yet to dress.
Also, Hale's Pass had been very upset with us the last time we were there, and had just instituted a $100 deposit to the preschool (not the parks department, who own the building). We were awfully agitated for that reason before we even got the key.
Whatever were we to do?
Dinner
We enormously overbought on food, which, I'm sorry to say, is probably my fault. I just never have got into the habit of believing that guest will bring things if not forced to at gunpoint. And the invitations didn't even say pot-luck! However, many guests brought many dishes, and we were blessed with bountiful, extravagant food.
As our hired help (a fillipino cook and a hispanic cook from my work at the time, who were amused by the victorianized racism of all the little brown people being the same) didn't show, and finally called to say that they weren't coming (at or around dinner time), my Mum kindly offered to run the barbeque at the build-your-own Kabob station. I'm sorry to say that I probably shouted at her a bit when she was confused here and there, but that can't be helped now. It turned out splendidly, and you'd never know from the photos that anything went wrong at all.
For dinner, there were thirty people. It started around seven, as planned, and was a buffet, as usual. In the preparation-stress, there had not been enough time to get tables for the buffet (as all the tables at Hale's were being used for dining,) but the edge of the concrete shelter served very well.
For beverages, we had Turkish coffee, chai tea, and Spectacular Punch. The food was a mixture of "middle eastern" and random food: pita bread, kumquats, figs, ricey couscousy pilafy goodness, curried funny round noodles, asiany salad, honeydew melon, grapes, gorgonzola, snickerdoodles, chocolate chips, falafel, beef curry, a pyramid of olives, herb scones, cold yogurt soup, and build-your-own-kabobs with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, red, orange, yellow and green peppers, marinated pork and beef, plain pork, and lamb. Afterwards, there was also chocolate and coconut pie.
There was plenty of leftover food. We also had extra uncut produce, and unopened meat.
After dinner, our first game was "Jihad," where Christians and Muslims battled one another with boffer weapons. The Muslims won.
Games
Really, I think that Jihad existed to get people into the spirit of passion and physicality. Mock battles will do that, you know. Also, it can be fun to stab your best friend in the ribs. At any rate, it seemed to be a rousing success, even for the spectators, who - I believe - had the option of pie rather than watching.
Many people chose to watch the holy war rather than dirty themselves. The winners got cool dollar store prizes (foam rocket launcher, water guns, and suction-cup-bow-and-arrow sets.) After the holy war, we all went inside and had French Silk Pie, a Middle Eastern delicacy.
After lounging about among the pretty indoor draperies, we played "belly dancing contest." At first, guests were hesitant (this, I think, is where alcohol would have helped :-P) The host and hostess went first, and were silly, that people would feel more confident. Prizes were given for the best belly dance (a dollar store "Chanler's special [or was it secret?] magic" doll,) and for the most entertaining dance (a dollar store ribbon dance thingy.) There was much laughter and joy.
Belly dancing contest - our very first version of "Period Dance" - went tepidly, at first. However, when The Empress of India and the Earl of Mount Ararat took the floor, all the guests wanted to join in.
After the belly dancing, we played a few rounds of hunt the slipper, as happens. It was the first time for a few people, and it was fun. Some people who had been too shy to play Belly Dancing before, were made to do it for their forfeits.
After the games, people separated into little social groups. Inside, there was an elaborate game of "who would you rather?," while outside, some guests continued their boffer war and others ate, played the Airplane Game, and smoked the hookah.
I think that at this fete party games were probably the best recieved. They were expected, but our guests weren't tired of them yet. There was enthusiasm, and laughter. And Sobriety! Things went swimmingly, and all our guests, old and new, seemed to enjoy themselves.
Conclusions
There were a number of elements of this party that did not come together, and that's mostly because of the late start we got on the morning of the party. These elements were:
--Outdoor lighting (Christmas lights,) but smokers didn't mind the dark.
--Music! Forgetfulness meant that neither of our two promised stereos made it.
--The Domed Pavilion could not be assembled
--Indoor lighting was limited because of a lack of extension cords and power strips.
--Menu cards never existed.
These "misses," didn't negatively affect the guests, but the hosts were a little frantic.
What did we learn from the Arabian Night party?
Not all your plans have to come through for guests to have a wonderful time.
There will always, ALWAYS, be too much food.
Preschools hold grudges like everyone else.
Alchohol isn't always necessary for people to be jolly.
People don't miss salads.
Putting on ones pajamas and inflating ones air mattress, are good ways to get the point across that people should go home.
Don't expect that things won't get broken. We damaged the little pavilion and shattered a hookah base. It was sad.
Overall, this was a successful party. The decorations, food and games were all fabulous. We could have been a little less stressed.
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You can see a few more at the photobucket album for the party.
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