A Mad Men Party

 

 

Check out photos from my Mad Men party this past weekend! People came dressed to impress and the night was appropriately boozy, rowdy and full of gorgeous photo opps - with a Polaroid, of course. Thanks to my pal Jessi for taking some of the fun photos above!

Here's my must-have list for a Mad Men or retro-themed 1960's party. 

The Booze:

• My bar was as stocked as its ever been. I bought all the necessities: Rye, Scotch, Gin, all the makings for Manhattans, Moscow Mules and Old Fashioneds. Luckily, a multi-talented colleague helped to make these classic cocktails for thirsty friends. 
• Another fun idea: find an eight-year-old bartender to dress up in a tux and make Manhattans as they did back in the day (a la Sally Draper). I don't happen to have a spare kid with bartending skills lying around though, unfortch.
• Dangerously strong gin punch in a retro punch bowl set (found at a thrift store) 

The Nosh:

• Ambrosia salad
• Cheese Fondue (amazing recipe, it was the first thing gone!)
• Jell-o. An adult version with lots o' vodka from the visually drool-worthy Jelly Shot Test Kitchen. However, Jell-o and I are not friends.. I had serious problems getting the Jell-o out of the pan, but I don't think most normal people do.
• Finger sandwiches with pimento cheese (courtesy of Lauren)
• Pigs in a blanket!
• Cheese balls of all kinds. I found a great dessert cheese ball recipe from trust AllRecipes.com that tasted like cheesecake with chocolate grahams for dipping. 
• Peanuts
• Chex mix
• Old school Liptons soup dip mix
• Deviled eggs

Party Props & Details:

• Candy cigarettes in a cigarette box with custom matchbooks to remember the event (eBay)
• 1960's magazines from eBay (Ladies Home Journal, Playboy, TV Guide)
• Borrowed items from my parents' basement: record player, rotary phone, retro lamps, dishware
• Plenty of flowered toothpicks
• 1960's music
• As a dork/loser/completefreak, I used Keynote to mimic and personalize the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce office logo for my TV
• Polaroid camera
• Fun, dapper friends more than willing to dress up, drink copious amounts of booze and eat odd finger foods in a wee Chicago apartment!
• A Mad Men-inspired invitation (below designed by my colleague Kenny):

Comments

[Jessica]

Oh my gosh I'm in love with this photo collage. It looks awesome together! First, this was seriously one of the best parties I've been to in Chicago. As always, you are an amazing hostess and did a fantastic job pulling this together. The food was delish and that bar, well I think we all know how that turned out :) But everything was so creative, I literally could gush about this all day.

But please, no more gin punch and Jello shots. I don't think my liver, stomach and head could take any more. I also love you lots for making Deviled Eggs, although I think Lauren and I will cage match over the last one at any future party they are served at.

I also promise not to break anything in your place again. Sorry.

[Robin]

Thanks, Jess! I also had no idea so many people loved deviled eggs - that was the first time I've ever made them.

JB - 1, TP roll - 0

[erika]

Looks like you've done it again Robin, fabulous pictures & incredible ideas!!!

[Teresa]

Just caught that you dated the polariod 1965...your attention to detail is INSANE!!! Had so much fun, per usual. Also, I could have eaten the deviled eggs and fondue all night long. Scratch that, I already DID ;)

[Robin]

Erika - I miss you!! When you're done, ohhh you knoww, having the time of your life around Europe, come back for dinner!! :)

Thanks, TC!