It’s the end of the year and you’re going to be entertaining guests; or maybe the recession’s hit you hard and you’ve decided the B20,000 Saturday nights out just had to end. Whatever the reason—and whatever your style may be—here are eight themes for a smashing party.
GHETTO LUXE
When we think party, we think excess. And who better embodies bling and bucks than the ghetto hip hop artiste? Spray paint your living room walls, turn the volume up, and chill that bottle of Roederer.
Pimp that pad
Forget subtlety. The dizzying Victorian monochrome sofa at Hemisphere (B70,000, 44/15 Convent Rd., Silom, 02-632-2625) is loud enough to get any booty’s attention—dance or sit on it; it works both ways. Looking up, Trada chandeliers from Lamptitude, (Soi Thonglor, 02-392-1837/8. www.lamptitude.net) pack the crystal to match the Cristal. Choose from three colors: red, black and white for B59,000 a piece.
Dress to impress
“Apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur” maybe Flo Rida’s idea of style but he doesn’t have a fashion line…yet. Stick to P Diddy’s very own Sean John (1/F, Central Chidlom, 1027 Ploenchit Rd., 02-793-7777. BTS Chitlom) if you’ve got the cash. Otherwise, Preduce (218/9 Siam Square Soi 1, blog.myspace.com/preduce) will make a thug of you yet. To complete the look, you’ve got to add a bit of bling. Since you’re only going to wear this for a night, skip Bvlgari and head to Platinum Fashion Mall (542/21-22 Petchburi Rd., 02-121-9999) for heaps of “diamond” studded silver jewelry. For the Ladies, a (very) tight cocktail dress, preferably a shiny metallic color from MNG (The Emporium Shopping Complex, 622 Sukhumvit Soi 24, 02-269-1000) should do the trick.
Jam to…
We’re currently listening to T.I.’s latest album Paper Trail with the addictingly catchy “Live Your Life,” featuring Rihanna on loop. But for some local flavor, you can download UB Radio underground hip hop maestro DJ Jedi’s mixes at http://bangkokradiothailand.com/djs/dj-jedie-15.
Get entertained
Just drop it like it’s hot, dip it low, pop that thang, lean back or smack that. But if you’re looking to crank it up a notch, challenge your friends to a mini dance off. Start training now with our very own hip hop battle champion, Cheno (Free Soul Studio, 08-6323-9874,08-9495-4712) for B2,900/9 hrs. Want something a little less rough? Sign up for a Saturday afternoon class with Ponn at the Rumpuree Dance Studio (5/F Amarin Plaza, Ploenchit Rd., 081-430-6684).
Get doused on
You can’t have a hip hop party without Champagne. Too broke? Wine Connection (The Third Place, Thonglor Soi 10, 02-714-7548) has Italian Prosecco for B550. The real thing starts at B2,600 for a bottle of Champagne Brut J.M. Gremillet. You can even get it delivered. Call their head office at 02-234-0388 between 11am-9pm.
Feed your friends
Champagne without caviar? Impossible. But if you can’t afford the real eggs from CentralWorld’s Food Hall (7/F CentralWorld, Rama 1 Rd., 02-640-7000), try frozen khai kung (shrimp eggs, B65), with a bit of coloring. You won’t even be able to tell the difference.
INCREDIBLE ISAAN
If mawlam and rice wine can’t get you jumping, nothing will. Crank up Yodrak Salakjai’s golden jams, strap on that pha kao maa and let’s get the party started.
Pimp that pad
Clear out the furniture in your living room and head to Exotic Thai or the shops at Paragon Passage (4/F, Siam Paragon, 02-690-1000) for its section of Thai-Thai goodies. You’ll find everything from traditional triangular pillows to sua for the floor.
Dress to impress
Cotton and silk. Try flimsy cotton shirts coupled with flowy cotton pants (3/F MBK, 444 Phayathai Rd., 02-260-9000) as soon as you hit the clothing aisles on the far end of the shopping complex for B199 a piece. They come in all colors and sizes. For a chic Isaan touch, accentuate your wardrobe with the latest scarves and accessories from the Jim Thompson collection (9 Surawong Rd., 02-632-8100). For some great deals, head to the sale between Dec 12-14 at Bitec, Bang-Na Trad Road.
Jam to…
Look thoong hits from Phoomphuang to Aphaporn Nakhonsawan. Forget DJ Siam, get it at the Mangpong store closest to you. Again, MBK is your friend (3/F).
Get entertained
What’s look thoong without karaoke? Rent yourself a karaoke system for the night from New A Class Karaoke KTV (42 Sukhumvit Soi 63, 02-714-2351/-3). Or if you want to go real ghetto isaan, switch on the local channels 9 or 5 where you’ll get all the mawlam you want after midnight. Plug in a mic to your television set and get ready to sing the night away.
Get doused on
Try the traditional Thai alcohol sato, an OTOP rice wine traditionally made by the farmers of Isaan. Visit the OTOP Plaza at Pratunam Center (555 Pratunam Junction, Ratchaprarop Rd., 02-309-8888. Open daily 10am-10pm). To indulge in something cheap and easy, head to the nearest 7/11 for the generic Sangsom, you’ll definitely be able to hold the alcohol with all that sticky rice inside you.
Feed your friends
Go for true saap Isaan flavors and get the scrumptious fried chicken and som tam pla laa from Jae Kee delivered to your doorstep. Call 02-655-8489, from 7pm-9:30pm.
TAKE IT OUTDOORS
It’s the ONLY party Australians (and a lot of Americans) know. Pack the icebox with beer, hope for good weather and chuck a shrimp on the barbie.
Pimp that pad
For garden furniture, Index Living Mall (Ekamai Soi 6, 02-714-8300, or for a list of stores visit www.indexlivingmall.com) is surprisingly cheap and tasteful. Don’t bother paying more elsewhere—you need to save for the centerpiece. Get yourself a real BBQ! Visit The Barbeque Store, (21 Sukhumvit Soi 39, 02-662-6665. Open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10.30am-4.30pm. www.bbqthai.com), from the latest, lean mean grilling machines, like the small Grill Master B10,500 to the 3 Burner Cordon Bleu Timber Trolley for B31,900. Now that’s a fire!
Dress to impress
Hit up Billabong or Roxy (at any Central or Emporium) for all kinds of beach bum summer wear. For once, you can be thankful we don’t really have a winter.
Jam to…
It’s a BBQ; any commercial crap should do the trick. Plug the nearest iPod to the stereo or turn on the radio. You’ll soon be too drunk to care (see below).
Get entertained
Table tennis! Play a one-on-one match or team up for a doubles showdown. Once you’re done using the table for its rightful purpose, turn it into a battlefield for a few rounds of beer pong (see below).
Beer Pong
How to play:
1. Queue up your beer-filled plastic cups (like you would in pool) on both ends of the table
2. Split into two teams and take turns chucking the ping-pong balls into the other team’s cups.
3. You get them in; they have to drink
Feed your friends
Fire up the grill and get your hot dogs and buns from Villa Supermarket (Sukhumvit Soi 33., 02-662-1000. Open 24/7). For something a little more complicated, try homemade mini burgers (see below).
Homemade Mini Burgers
Ingredients:
1. 200g minced chicken and 200g minced pork
2. Finely chopped shallots, coriander, chilis and garlic
3. Salt and black pepper
How to:
1. Marinate the chicken, pork, shallots, coriander and garlic in a bowl and season with a teaspoon of salt and sprinkle with black pepper and let it sit for an hour.
4. When ready to eat, mould into round flat patties and fire it up until it turns light brown on the outside.
5. Get mini whole-wheat burger buns from the bakery at Carrefour (Rama 4 Rd., 02-661-5695) and spread on a thin film of butter.
6. Serve in the bun with a slice of tomato and thin slices of cucumber.
7. For seasoning, beat up some mayonnaise, ketchup and chili sauce.
Get doused on
Beer. Get a big plastic container, dump lots of ice water in it and fill it with all your local and foreign favorites.
GOOD TO BE GEEKY
Skinny neckties (or even bowties), large glasses with thick, black rims, skinny pants—no use fighting it, geek is the new chic. Most of these posers can’t tell their CSS from the Java but they look the part, and your party should do.
Pimp that pad
What décor? Geeks aren’t even supposed to have parties other than coding marathons with lots of Red Bull and pizza. Pretend geeks will settle for visible displays of technophilia: a Mac (no, PCs are not OK), a first to third generation iPod (check ebay.com) and a collection of Lomo toy cameras Get them at TCDC, 6/F The Emporium Shopping Complex, 622 Sukhumvit Soi 24, 02-664-8448. www.tcdc.or.th.
Dress to impress
Note Pongsuang might not have started it, but he sure embodied it. No wonder he’s a partner in the fashion store Mathematics (3/F Siam Center, Rama 1 Rd., 02-658-1718) where you can the perfect printed T to dazzle your guests.
Jam to…
Miss Kittin and Ladytron are your best friends. Head to Do Re Mi (Siam Square) where an auntie will sell you everything from mix tapes (real tapes!) to some hidden electro jewels. If you can’t fork out B800-1000 for her imports, break the law and support the pirates by going to a little shop in Soi Rambutri (B100/CD, just after Bangkok Bar, on your right when you’re coming from Kao San, 6pm-11pm).
Get entertained
Get with the game and get your own Nintendo Wii (around B8,000) at Panthip Plaza, New Petchburi road.
Feed your friends
Your nerdy friends need food to feed the brain. Try anything with Omega-3 in it: plenty of smoked salmon and buckets of almonds. As an added gift, you can also hand out multi-vitamins as takeaway souvenirs. Get them at Tops Supermarket, (79/3 Satupradit, Chongnonsee, 02-673-6124/-30 ext 101. Visit www.tops.co.th for a list of all branches).
Get doused on
Fruit punch. That’s bound to loosen up your nerdy playmates.
Fruit Punch
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of Ginger Ale
- 2 cups of fruit syrup
- 2 cups of pineapple juice
- 2 cups oaf sugar
- 1 cup of water
- 1 cup of lemon juice
- 1 cup of cherries
How to:
- Boil the water and sugar together for 5 minutes.
- Add fruit syrup, pineapple juice and lemon juice and leave it for 30 mins.
- Then add ice water to make about 5 liters of liquid.
- Add cherries and ginger ale
- Serve in punch bowl with lots of ice
ART ATTACK
Admit it, you cried when Apirak opened the Bangkok Art & Culture Center. You’ve had it with commercial hip hop and you want to sit with like-minded artistes to discuss how art will solve Thailand’s current crisis. Here’s how to arrange the perfect “cultural happening”.
Pimp that pad
Don’t buy anything. Artist hate consumerism. Don’t want to sit on your bare cement floor? Battered car seats salvaged from a junkyard, or empty beer crates should do the trick. If you must, shop for some futons (SB Furniture, 5/F MBK, 02-960-9068) so your guests can lie down and enjoy the experimental movie projected on the wall—or is that just your bed sheet?
Dress to impress
Band t-shirts (or any with cool designs) and skinny jeans, for both the men and women. If you’re looking to invest the bare minimum, browse through vintage T’s at the JJ market or Wang Lang (Take BTS Saphan Taksin and then an express boat to Wang Lang pier). If you don’t mind dishing out the dough, try Topshop (1/F CentralWorld, 02-613-1660).
Jam to…
Indie and underground music. Make a local and international playlist consisting of everything from Flure to Melee. You can do your research at the Bangkok 100 Rock Concert this weekend. In the meantime, go grab yourself a copy of Tabasco’s Princess of Discofloor under the Mind the Gap label. Their “I Luv Vodka” and “Stop It My Baby” are also included in the Sanamluang Zine Vol. 1 compilation which can be bought at DJ Siam (292/16 Siam Square Soi 4, Rama 1 Rd., 02-251-2513). While you’re there, hit up familiar favorites, Apartment Khunpa’s latest album, Somrot & Phala.
Get entertained
You need a projector. Show everything from your favorite mix-media installations to the year’s most talked about indie flick, Control, a black and white film about Joy Division’s late singer, Ian Curtis or the popular 2007 release, I’m Not There, a biopic of Bob Dylan.
Feed your friends
These Artsy people don’t eat. They drink coffee and smoke cigarettes.
Get doused on
Magic brownies? No, we don’t have a phone number.
WHITE COLLAR MIXER
Sure you took a hit when the markets went tits up, but that’s an even better reason to cash in those junk bonds and party till you drop with your corporate lawyer and plastic surgeon acquaintances (friends are for wimps).
Pimp that pad
Drop by Habitat (4-5/F, Siam Discovery Center, 989 Rama 1 Rd., 02-658-0400) where you’ll find classy glass tabletops (Monza, B87,500), they’re great for doing lines!
Dress to impress
Formal business attire. Tailor-made Duly suits (1/F, Siam Paragon, 02-610-9298) for the men coupled with shiny leather shoes. Ladies, high waist skirts, neatly pressed tucked in shirts and closed toed heels. Try Max Mara (The Emporium Shopping Complex, 02-259-8648).
Jam to…
Anything 80s with a preference for New Wave.
Get entertained
Poker should do the trick if the stakes are high enough (your new BMW, that condo in Sukhumvit). Or have your guests take part in a hi-so murder mystery. And since coming up with your own story can be rather tedious and time consuming, we suggest you check out www.host-party.com for a pre-packaged, nail-biting story ranging from the Vikings to the Wild West. Don’t forget to hand out the characters in advance so your guests can come prepared for their roles. Price per package ranges from B850-3,250. Paranoia not included.
Feed your friends
How about macadamia soft cake from Mousses & Meringues (245 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-261-4830. Open daily 11am-11pm)? Wow, we just managed to mention dessert without name-dropping Tim Butler, the New York pastry chef in Gaysorn’s basement. Oops. Well now that we mention it, he caters, too. Trust us, it’ll beat the icing off S&P’s gateaux if you want to impress your stockbroker buddies. For him and more, see Call in the Chow below.
Get doused on
Hire Flow (29 Vanissa Building, 1/F, Unit 1L, Soi Chidlom, 02-655-5445) for white faces with blonde ponytails that can fix a drink. Since their service is personalized, call for a quote (it won’t be cheap). Hey boys, we’d like one called, “American Psycho.”
ADULTS ONLY
Two’s company, three’s even more fun! The best reason to meet and mingle is to end up in someone else’s pants, right? Here’s a party that’s bound to get out of control and either land you in the sack, in jail, or on the internet.
Pimp that pad
Think Playboy mansion. Go for the red/pink and black theme. You’ll do good to make a short visit to Diva (Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-255-1005) for ideas. You can even install makeshift poles, mirrors and chains! Visit Home Pro, 161/2 Paholyothin Rd., 02-958-5699. www.homepro.co.th. Save the strobe lights for your next visit to Nana. They sell them just on Sukhumvit road between sois 5 and 7.
Dress to Impress
Get your very own extreme with made-to-order outfits from Planet Latex (50 Soi 4, Baan Suan Laemthong 2, Pattanakarn Soi 28, 08-1892-7959. www.planet-latex.com). Available for both men and women.
Jam to…
From Britney’s “I’m a Slave for You” to 112’s “Peaches and Cream”. Or go old school with some Barry White.
Get Entertained
A teasing game of Twister (Toys R Us, CentralWorld, Rama 1 Rd., 02-613-1400) should help your guest mingle. Just don’t break anything.
Feed your Friends
Oysters, Champagne, strawberries or chocolate. Just don’t pig out on all four or your gag reflex will get the best of you. Get yourself a chocolate fountain from Duc de Praslin (Fenix Tower, corner of Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-258-3200) and throw in some white, milk or dark chocolate blocks from the nearby Villa Market.
Get doused on
You have a choice of Sex on the Beach cocktails or a Blow Job for shooters!
Blow Job Shooter
How to:
1. Mix 1 oz. Kahlua and ½ oz. Amaretto (hazelnut liqueur) in a shot glass
2. Layer the top with whipped cream
3. With hands behind your back, grab the shot glass with your mouth, pick it up and gulp it down. No cheating!
Call in the Chow
You’ll need them if you: 1. Can’t cook or 2. Just can’t be bothered.
Annie’s Party Planner
259/1 Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-390-2257.
A one-stop service with expertise in private house parties.
Bartender Co., Ltd.
46/15 Ramintra Soi 63, 02-955-2236/7.
Covering everything from mixing the drinks to full on bartending services.
Fanfare
01-815-9566
Cocktail party? Brunch? Dinner? Fanfare will even cater for breakfast if you so desire. Minimum order of B15,000.
Greyhound Catering
1575 New Phetchaburi Rd., Mukkason, 02-252-3405, 09-898-6283
Funky, tasty food. Minimum 50 people but this is negotiable.
HI TIM
08-1257-2685
Scrumptious designer desserts by the New York pastry chef, Tim Butler.
I Do Catering
6 Soi Ari Samphan 9, Rama 6 Rd., 02-279-480. www.ido-catering.com
They’ve done everything from wedding to pool parties. They also offer cooking class workshops.
Sovente
02-711-7480. www.sovente.com
Everything from economy to boutique catering as well as options for coffee mornings.
Tessa Catering & Tessa Homemade Cuisine
20 Soi Thonglor 23, 02-712-6844. www.tessahomemade.com
Restaurant, catering and takeaway services courtesy of one super talented lady.
Tres Bien
916/3-4 Soi Thong Lor, Sukhumvit Rd., 02-381-4949.
This high-end party organizer handles everything from private parties to product launches.
White Café
07 Lardprao 115, 02 734 0514. www.whitecafecatering.com.
From the folks behind the famed White Café, Blue Bar and Red Bar, well known for their work at product launches.
Clean Up That Mess
Or rather don’t, just get one of these
companies to clean up the evidence of your
smash hit house party instead.
Coit
482 Soi Sainamthip, Sukhumvit Soi 22., 02-663-5200. www.coit.co.th
The prices of this cleaning service franchise from the US start from B8,000. They can wash curtains, Persian carpets, sofas, cushions, do general cleaning and remove unpleasant odors from your home (unless that’s a guest of course). Tips to help remove stains from clothes, curtains and carpets are also available on their website.
XTrade Genuine
84/1 Tambon Klong Nueng, Ampur Klong Luang, Pathumthani, 02-516-1020, 08-7716-4146. www.xgenthai.com
These guys can make your home look like new again in just a few hours. Its professional team will clean everything from the floor to the ceiling (for that blender incident). Prices are B50 per square meter. Gardening and landscape design services are also available.
Four Hands Maintenance
46/28 Moo 12, Nuanphaka Village, Nuanchan Rd., 02-510-2571, 02-944-6581. www.fourhandscleaning.com
For over 15 years, they have been offering floor, tile, carpet, mirror and furniture cleaning services. Prices start from B6,000 for a 40-square meter home.
