Mad World, Mad Men (no. 48)

The reason you haven’t felt it is because it doesn’t exist. What you call love was invented by guys like me, to sell nylons. You’re born alone and you die alone and this world just drops a bunch of rules on top of you to make you forget those facts. But I never forget. I’m living like there’s no tomorrow, because there isn’t one. — Don Draper, “Mad Men: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (1.1)” (2007)

Last month, Mark and I hosted our first real house party, inspired by one of my favorite television shows, AMC’s Mad Men.  Our evite invitation required that guests come dressed in era-appropriate attire and promised an evening of 1960s cocktails and cuisine.

Attire: I bought a 1960s dress on Etsy while Mark grabbed a fedora hat and suspenders at Macy’s.

Food: We offered deviled eggs (the most labor-intensive selection), pigs in a blanket, a cheese/meat tray, chips and onion dip, mixed nuts, and several other finger foods. And of course, packets of candy cigarettes where placed throughout the party room.

Drinks: Mark and I put together an Algonquin Bar Punch which made for a delicious and deadly concoction.  We also set up a Gin station (for Tom Collins) and a Vodka station (Vodka Gimlet and Martini), stocked with the necessary ingredients and recipe cards.  And of course, we offered Heineken, one of Sterling Cooper’s clients.  Here’s the gin station:

Etcetera: We got I downloaded four hours of 1960s songs which we played throughout the evening and used this great Flickr slideshow of old advertisements which we played on a laptop set up by the food.

Overall, it was a fun evening! I’ll leave you with some group shots:

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