QotD: Entertaining
Posted July 15th, 2005 @ 09:37pm by Erik J. Barzeski
Question: How often do you "entertain" at your abode?
My Answer: Never. Tomorrow doesn't count. I always make fun of people on TLC and HGTV when they're looking for homes. They all say they want to "entertain." I don't really know anyone that "entertains." Who are these people? Where do they live? Why aren't we friends with any of them?
You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.
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Posted 15 Jul 2005 at 10:10pm #
We do, holidays, birthdays and such. Usually birthdays are just excuses to invite dozens of family. I can remember one birthday party. The guest of honor was 1 year old, was in bed before 5pm -- we didn't arrive till after 6pm -- and the party lasted until well into the next day.
I like to think I entertain people when they come over my house. If only when I get really drunk and start to do renditions of my favorite broadway musicals.
Can anyone hear:
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure - Measure A Year?
In Truths That She Learned Or In Times That He Cried In Bridges He Burned Or The Way That She Died.
Ok, ok, it wasn't THAT bad, you didn't have to leave the room laughing!!!
Posted 15 Jul 2005 at 10:16pm #
never. I don't know anyone who does this. (aside from family things for Christmas, Easter, etc.)
Posted 15 Jul 2005 at 10:27pm #
I have friends over periodically to watch movies, have dinner, that kind of thing.
I suppose that counts as "entertaining".
I know plenty of people who do, but not so many in my circle of friends.
Posted 16 Jul 2005 at 1:18am #
Once or twice a week. Family or friends. All the entertainers live on the west coast 😉
Posted 16 Jul 2005 at 9:13am #
I entertain regularity. My apartment has lots of seating, and I have lots of friends. Thus, I invite them over to hang out, play games, shoot the shit, etc. It's fun.
Posted 16 Jul 2005 at 9:50am #
They are people that like to cook and have friends over, as opposed to say, umm meeting someone at a restaurant. Suppose you liked to cook rather than blog and program, and you didn't golf and were too busy at work to actually keep up any social relationships there. You might just fall into the habit of entertaining.
Or is the question really one of, where are my friends with this Martha Stewart habit, and when are they asking us over? Which was generally the case with me. I did creative stuff at home, but I didn't think the shape it left the house in, led to a condusive atmosphere for having friends over to relax, so that entertaining stuff usually took place elsewhere.
I have friends who eat out four times a week, and then complain about their love life not being what it used to be. I have suggested cooking to them, as a shared organic creative activity, a way both of them can interact in a new way.
Well at least it is a change of pace, whether they take to it or not. Sometimes you need to tell others to fetch, but sometimes, you ain't happy unless you are fetching for others.
Posted 16 Jul 2005 at 11:26am #
How can you NOT entertain? You're missing out on one of life's greatest pleasures - the sharing of your home, your food, your libation of choice. Share your life with your friends.
It doesn't have to be a "special event". Order a pizza, crack open a 6 pack of PBR and watch TV together for all I care - but do it.
Watch a movie. Fire up the game console. Play a board game. Make a huge mess in the kitchen cooking a dinner that none of you have prepared before. Set up a wine tasting. Have a pot luck dinner. Whatever.
Trust me, you won't regret it and your friends will love you for it.
Posted 16 Jul 2005 at 11:22pm #
When I was living in a house I would have friends over quite often, but since I moved to Orlando -- I've only had people over three or four times. I thought that was pretty sad.
My wife is really into entertaining. She constantly has people over. She got this huge, cheap couch for $100 and it seats five to seven people by itself. Then she has all this other furniture set up near it, so we can have a dozen people over at once. It is fun, and it is a nice change of pace every once in a while.
I think it really helps to live somewhere near the center of a smaller city or town. We live(d) in a college town, so it is really easy to get everyone together.
Posted 17 Jul 2005 at 11:19pm #
To answer the question, never, because I am always uneasy when I have guests in my living spaces. I do, however, play a role in "entertaining" at my girlfriend's house when we invite our friends over there. You know, the usual, I might cook some wings while she prepares some chips and a dip, or maybe make a dinner. On extra-special occasions I might even put on a little magic show, or have my dog Spot show us his tricks. Do your prayers, Spot! Show Auntie Lemon how you can do your prayers! What a big boy!