We’ve spent a lot of time Home Alone this year. Responsibly gather with your significant other, roommate, closest friends, or wet bandits and celebrate being Home Alone Together with this themed movie night. I’ve included an invitation and specialty cocktail, but sprinkle in your own festive touches to make this get-together your own.
Here’s a quick party list – check it twice!
Pick your movie night date and time
This weekend sounds good, or make a new tradition watching Home Alone on Christmas Eve. Determine your movie date, time, and how you are going to show the movie, even if it’s just background to the mingling. Home Alone is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime or streaming on Disney+.
Confirm guest list
I suggest no more than 5 for this intimate movie night. You’ll want to create a comfortable environment for your guests, and for now, that means smaller, safe gatherings with people closest to you.
Send invitation
I found this Paperless Post design called “Plaid Wreath Frame” – an invitation Kate McAllister definitely would have selected – and customized it. In general, look for an invitation layout with lots of room for the wording so it is easier to read on a small scale via text message.
I always vote for a theme party, but if you don’t want to mess with 90s attire, require loungewear or festive sweaters – or don’t! It’s your party.
Confirm your drinks and menu
SPECIALTY COCKTAIL
For the Home Alone Together party, I like to offer one of my favorite bourbon cocktails that just so happens to taste like an upgraded Coca Cola. I call it, “Grown Up’s Soda” – it’s definitely something Uncle Frank would have enjoyed with his pizza while mooching off of the McAllisters
GROWN UP’S SODA
Recipe Makes 10 – 6-oz. serving
Ingredients
- 3 cups bourbon, divided
- 3 cups ginger beer, divided
Balsamic Basil Simple Syrup
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¾ cup water
- 1 oz fresh basil, leaves picked from stems and cleaned, plus extra basil leaves for garnish at the party
Recipe
In a saucepan, add the brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, and water. Stir to combine, breaking up the brown sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat for about 1 minute. Stir and check to see that all brown sugar has been dissolved, then remove from heat. Add 1 oz basil leaves to the saucepan, stirring to incorporate them in the syrup mixture. Let steep in the saucepan for about 30 minutes, then strain into an airtight container, discarding leaves. You should have 1 ½ cups of balsamic syrup. The syrup can be stored in the fridge for at least a week before the party.
About an hour to 30 minutes before guests arrive, put on an apron and add ¾ cup of the balsamic basil simple syrup, 1 ½ cups bourbon, and 1 ½ cups of ginger beer to a large, clean pitcher. Cover with cling wrap, beeswax paper, or other covering, if possible, to keep carbonation fresh, and store the pitcher in the fridge until just before the first guest arrives.
To serve the cocktail at party time, simply add ice to a glass and pour in the drink. Garnish with a basil leaf. Enjoy your Grown Up’s Soda responsibly!
To make another batch, simply combine the remaining balsamic basil simple syrup, 1 ½ cups bourbon, and 1 ½ cups ginger beer in the pitcher again and refill everyone’s glasses!
MENU
One takeaway from Home Alone is that Kevin LOVED his pizza and junk food. Because the holidays are a time to indulge, create a Kevin-approved spread for your guests. Here are a few suggestions with quantities:
Little Nero’s Pizza (or pizza from your favorite spot)
Simply order pizza from your favorite pizza place. Even though Kevin’s favorite pizza is cheese, I would suggest a small variety of pies for your crowd.
Quantity: 2 large pizzas or 3 mediums (you will have leftovers but this allows for variety)
Flavored Popcorn
Pre-popped popcorn options are perfect for this party, so you get all of the popcorn taste without the eau de popcorn aroma. And heaven forbid you burn it! Skip that stress and buy a yummy flavor or two. My personal favorite is Trader Joe’s Popcorn with Herbs and Spices.
Quantity: 2 – 5-oz. bags of pre-popped popcorn (1 bag should be fine but I would buy 2 so I have enough to make the bowl look full)
Chips and “Kevin Didn’t Make it to France” French Onion Dip
Every time I eat a regular ol’ Ruffle potato chip, I think, Dang! These are good! Ruffles and French onion dip are a classic party staple, but one that I don’t suggest regularly. For this theme, however, it’s perfect and very 90s. Grab a family sized Ruffles bag and your favorite French Onion Dip (or make your own with the Lipton’s soup pack!) and think about how Kevin missed going to Paris.
Quantity: 1 – 13.5-oz. family size bag or 2 – 8.5-oz bags of Ruffle’s Potato Chips or similar
1 – 16-oz. container of French Onion Dip, or make the equivalent with 1 packet of Lipton Onion Soup Mix and 1 – 16-oz. container of Sour Cream
Movie Theater Candy
Like any 8-year-old, Kevin loves his candy. But adults like candy, too! Twizzlers, M&Ms, Sour Patch Kids, and Starbursts are good ideas for a mini candy bar. Pick your favorites in case you have leftovers.
Quantity: About 2 pounds assorted candy, or use this calculator to determine how much candy is needed to fill your exact assorted candy jars and vases
Buy disposables or decide to use your own plates
Target has many Kate McAllister-inspired party disposables. Don’t you think she would have used these plates all year around?
Tableware Quantities for 5 Guests
- 10 – 15 disposable plates or 6 – 10 non-disposable plates
- about 20 napkins, just cocktail or cocktail and dinner sizes
- 20 disposable cups or 10 rocks or stemless wine glasses
- 15 or so paper straws, depending on the package size
This menu doesn’t require a fork, but if you want to have some on hand, just get a small pack of disposable forks, or just use your salad forks if someone asks for one on the fly.
I generally prefer to use real glasses at a party. They feel nicer, and it’s completely fine to mix real glasses with disposable plates. People tend to hold on to their glass and refill if it’s glass, versus going through more cups if they are disposable.
I hope you’ve found inspiration in this mini party guide! Have a wonderful time celebrating the season, however you choose to do it this year.
Happy Holidays from Social Lite!
