Coach Andrew Harrington

I come from a long lineage of outstanding gathering hosts, most notable my aunt Patti Schmid of Prescott. It is no easy task to simultaneously make a dozen-plus different people all enjoy their time all at once, but through the scrolls of my ancestors, I would like to think I have become a solid host myself.

Today I am here to impart that wisdom onto you, the readers.

Part One: Motive and Theme

First up is the reason for the party. Is it a graduation party, a family reunion, a birthday party or simply a way to get a group of friends and family together that have not seen each other in a while? When you have your reason, it is important to know the wisest piece of advice I have ever received: It’s not a party unless there’s a theme. As a somewhat recent college graduate, I’ve seen that rule firsthand. The best parties always had a theme.

The easy part is that the theme can be anything your brain can come up with. There’s the obvious costume parties or holiday celebrations, but the rabbit hole goes much deeper. If you really want to throw a party though, come up with a theme that you have never seen done before. I cannot even give out ideas because the ideas are best executed out of your own imagination.

Part Two: Entertainment

Let’s get one thing straight, a party stinks without entertainment. The one thing the Harringtons do best is refuse to sit still. We are also an extremely competitive crew, so any way we can get pinned against each other is sure to stir things up. One of our most infamous parties was a Survivor party where we played through the real life equivalent of the Survivor game show, voting each other to be booted from the game. Did it get feisty? Sure, but it also brought lifelong memories.

Part Three: Food

If you’re anything like me, the idea of throwing a party all falls apart in the kitchen. Cooking for myself is a challenge in and of itself, let alone making a meal good enough to present to guests. If you can lock in on a few solid side dishes and buy a nice dessert from a bakery or the grocery store the task just became simpler already.

When it comes to the main dish, do not reach out of your comfort zone unless you are a capable cook. My baked submarine sandwiches have become a favorite with my friends, and all I do is stuff a huge loaf of Italian bread with some meat, cheese, sauce, toppings and seasoning and toss it in the oven. Not every party needs a steak dinner as long as you can make up for it with the entertainment and guests.

Part Four: The Rule

I operate on one simple rule. If you bring drama into my party that inflicts upon our ability to have fun, I’ll call you a cab. There’s a time and place for venting about your issues, but that time is not today and that place is not at my party.

If you don’t bring any dramatic baggage, all are welcome whether you’ve known me for years or we’ve met once in passing.

I hope some of this information can help you throw a great party, and remember the most important part is having fun.