Recommendations

Stocking your bar.

1. Start with the basic spirits: gin, rum, vodka, whiskey and tequila in 750ml bottles for mixed drinks. If you or your guests like to sip fine spirits, you'll already know to stock such items as single-malt Scotch or 100-percent agave tequila.

2. Add other spirits and wines: dry and sweet vermouth, brandy or cognac, a basic white wine and a basic red wine, also in 750ml bottles.

3. Buy larger bottles (1 liter) if you are throwing a party or know that your crowd loves a particular drink.

4. Purchase liqueurs you know you'll need for your guests' favorite drinks: Cointreau or Triple Sec (margaritas), Kahlua (black Russian), creme de cacao (Alexander) and blue curacao (almost any blue drink!) are just a few examples.

5. Be sure to stock non-alcoholic ingredients - enough for drinks but also for the non-drinkers in the crowd. These could include: cranberry, grapefruit and orange juice in 48- to 64-ounce bottles; soft drinks such as cola and lemon-lime soda canned in sixpacks; canned tomato juice or Bloody Mary mix in sixpacks; club soda, tonic water and bottled water (still and sparkling), bottled in sixpacks.

Set bar away from kitchen
Most people have a functional living room that rarely gets used, except for a party. However, most of the time, people end up huddling in the kitchen at every party I attend. Set up your drinks in the room where you wish people to mingle.

LUAU

Bring a taste of the islands to your backyard by throwing your own luau. It's not as difficult as you might think.

1. Hold your luau outdoors.

2. Set up a few tiki lamps and citronella candles around your yard to brighten your event and ward off insects.

3. Play Hawaiian music on your stereo to set the mood.

4. Greet your guests with shell or flower leis. Shell and synthetic flower leis are inexpensive and can be purchased at most party supply stores. Though a bit costlier, real flower leis are quite simple to make and add elegance as well as authenticity to your luau.

5. Serve a traditional luau menu, including kalua pig, chicken long rice, lomi lomi salmon and haupia. Try your hand at making poi, or pounded taro root, if you want to be adventurous.

6. Make tropical drinks, such as mai tais, piña coladas and daiquiris. Have pineapple juice on hand for a nonalcoholic alternative.

7. Set up a single large table for your entrées, and decorate it with centerpieces of coconuts and tropical flowers. Serve the entrées buffet-style, not in courses.

8. Use paper plates and plastic flatware, and encourage your guests to eat with their hands. Luaus are incredibly casual affairs.