Porch Parties

If there is one positive outcome from the current state of our economy it is that people are going back...way back...to the basics.

Porch Parties are going to be huge this summer in neighborhoods all across the country; some have been doing them for years and others are resurrecting an classic American tradition that started in the south when summers were so hot and humid that people were forced to build outdoor living rooms, more commonly known as the porch.

Porch Party: a social gathering on one's porch. All are invited for casual food and refreshments. It is never a massive party but more so a coming and going of friends. Some people just stop by and others stay all evening.

When: weekend evenings in the Spring and Summer Months

What if you don't have a Porch? Driveways, Garages, and Yards will do.

People are getting the word out in all sorts of ways...word-of-mouth, paper postings on street corners, Facebook, and personal blogs.

Not sure how to get started? Denise Gee is the Author of "Porch Parties" (pictured above, look for it at Crate&Barrel or on Amazon) in which she offers guidance for outdoor entertaining and lists recipes for simple drinks like Tipsy Tea and Prosecco Martinis.

The key to having a porch party is creating a relaxing and casual atmosphere where we can once again realize the importance of family and friends and restore that neighborly camaraderie that existed before cell phones and the Internet crippled our sense of social skills.

Fancy Idea: Theme your porch parties or have everyone bring one thing, be it a bottle of wine or their favorite cheese. Theme Ideas include: Clamcake, Bluegrass, Backyard BBQ, Christmas in July, Tiki Time, Fiesta, Western, Sugar-n-spice, Great Gatsby, etc.