Neighborhood Choctoberfest
When we moved 'cross country, hubs and I made a pact that we Going To Get To Know Our Neighbors.We'd never really done that before. Mostly we avoided making eye contact with the people living around us.
That being said, it's hard to believe that a couple of geeky introverts would make such a decision, but we did. I suppose our desire to "build community" finally surpassed our need to "hole up."
Miracles never cease.
And neither should the chocolate.
After reading Cindy's post about hosting a Choctoberfest, I knew it was the Next Neighborhood Event for me. You can't go wrong with "chocolate" in "October" for a "fest."
Here are some tips on planning your own Choctoberfest:
- Invite just the ladies on your street (not to be confused with ladies of the street, though that would be fine too). Sometimes those pesky men-folk and children get in the way of All The Talking That Needs To Be Done.
- Provide take-home plates. The people left behind will thank you. Your behind will thank you.
- Share the load. Let someone host, another one fancy up the place, and someone to coordinate the food. This is a great way to get to know the neighbors as well as making sure you aren't the only one at your party.
- Serve all things chocolate. Let others bring their favorite dessert if they want.
- Have plenty of palette-cleansing beverages on hand. We served coffee, ice water, and a mock champagne (equal parts ginger ale and white grape juice).
- Serve something non-sweet along side the chocolate, to help your guests eat more chocolate. (That's the point! Or, maybe it's about the people, I dunno.) Mixed nuts, pretzels, and fruit fit that bill.
- Play a few lighthearted games to help the crowd mix. We guessed the number of M&Ms in a jar, guessed the names of unwrapped candy bar pieces, and did a blind taste-test of five different gourmet chocolates.
Doing a neighborhood choctoberfest is what worked for me this fall. I hope those ideas give you some ideas for planning your own neighborhood party.
For more tips, head over to the carnival at Rocks In My Dryer.
7 comments:
What a great idea! We have been talking about how to get to know our neighbors. This may be just the ticket. Thanks.
Yum! Great idea for getting to know the neighbors :)
Love the new look to your blog!
This sounds like fun!! I am a chocoholic, so I had to come read your post. This is right up my alley! We had a chocolate tasting for one of our ladies' Bible studies when I lived overseas, but unfortunately I was gone during that one back home to the states.
Thank you for sharing! :D
Happy WFMW!
Sherry
Oh. My. Goodness!!!
This may be a perfect idea. So much better than sauerkraut and beer!
Must try this!
Julie
I just read your post on the katu.com site about "reverse trick or treating" and I loved it. We're also more of the "hi neighbor"- introvert club but do desire to form more of a community connection. Thanks for the great idea!
Your ladies on the street made me giggle. :)
Great job, girlie! :)
Great idea!
We just had a "Girls' Night Out" through our Women's Ministry department at church last night. We had fondues (chocolate, chocolate caramel, and strawberry) with pound cake, brownies, pretzels, and fresh fruit to dip in the fondues. We also had smores and popcorn, along with soda, coffee, and ice water. We happily ate our fill and watched Anita Renfroe's Christian comedy DVD "It's Probably Just My Thyroid." Funny!!
~Susan
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