After all, what good is all the great local food, farmers markets, beer, and wine in the Bothell area if you're not going to celebrate America with it?
Apartments.com offered up some very helpful tips for throwing a July 4 party at your apartment - here are some of our favorites:
Plan ahead: Many people travel around the 4th of July, so it’s important to get your party on their calendars early. With the holiday falling on a Thursday this year, you may consider hosting your party Wednesday night so no one has to worry about going into work the next day. Or, if your friends are making it a long weekend at home, Friday could be the perfect day. Check with your VIP guests about their schedules and plan around that.
Request RSVPs: Whether you invite your friends via Facebook, Evite or email, ask them to RSVP and let you know if they’re bringing anyone else. Having a general headcount will help you plan how much food and drinks to buy. Especially if your party is on the 4th, many stores may be closed, so if you run out of grub, you may be out of luck.
Go shopping: Stock up on everything you’ll need for your party as far ahead as possible, including food, drinks, paper plates, plastic silverware, disposable cups and grill supplies. That way, if you forget something, you have more time to go to the store again before the big day. For drinks, the rule of thumb is to have enough for three drinks per person (one bottle of wine holds 4-5 drinks). For food, decide whether you want guests to bring anything, and if so, ask them to tell you what they’re bringing when they RSVP so you don’t double up.
Set the scene: You’ve got the food, the drinks and the guests, now it’s time for the ambiance. Make a playlist on your iPhone or on Spotify and test out your speakers to make sure they’re loud enough. Get into the spirit of the holiday and throw in some patriotic songs. And you can’t go wrong with some red, white and blue – pick up some streamers and American flags, and don’t forget the sparklers and (legal) fireworks!
Tell the neighbors: When living in an apartment, it’s common courtesy to let your neighbors know you’ll be having a party, especially if you’re using the shared yard or rooftop deck. Although it’s not required, it’s also a nice gesture to invite them to stop by. It’s a good opportunity to get to know them, and they can’t get mad about the noise if they’re among those making it!
Have fun! When hosting a party, it can be easy to get stressed about whether there will be enough food, if people like the music, and if everyone’s having fun. Enlist as much help as you can from your roommates or closest friends to help set up/refill snacks, then sit back and enjoy yourself!
Click here to read the full article at Apartments.com.
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