Bag of ice bag of ice bag of ice bag of ice bag of ice bag of ice - ThreadSky

hels.bsky.social • 99 days ago

Bag of ice bag of ice bag of ice bag of ice bag of ice bag of ice

I am embarking on a two week stretch of many, many parties. I do not drink and so don’t really like to bring wine, but I hate showing up empty handed. What are good hostess gifts?

Comments

yodelingfish.bsky.social•99 days ago

Also, non alcoholic drinks because many hosts forget that not everyone is interested in drinking alcohol for various reasons. Bring mixers for margaritas, etc. And yes, bringing snack trays is always welcome too.

jpevansofrocks.bsky.social•99 days ago

Or sparkling na cider; upscale sodas, etc

yodelingfish.bsky.social•99 days ago

Yes, those are decent non alcoholic drinks. Some folks want non alcoholic versions of adult beverages but there's also folks that would be too triggering for them if they have Alcohol Use Disorder.

arewetheryete.bsky.social•99 days ago

A loaf of sourdough or a few bagels and some cream cheese for the following morning.

kimjimenez.bsky.social•99 days ago

Ice is perfect, but also the maldon bucket is always a crowd pleaser and useful for the host

bavariancookie.bsky.social•99 days ago

My Mom sending someone to go get more ice is a holiday ritual, so she would unironically LOVE this. (If you can get pebble ice somehow she would probably die of happiness lol)

plentynuff.bsky.social•99 days ago

people who are hosting parties need you to bring ice even if you specifically ask them and they swear they don't need ice

they're wrong, they need ice

I treat ice like I treat flowers anymore, I'm bringing one of the two whether you want it or not

oddletters.bsky.social•99 days ago

BRING A BAG OF ICE OR I WILL SEND YOU OUT FOR ICE

erikahall.bsky.social•99 days ago

As a person who has thrown a lot of parties, this x1000

daniellealberti.bsky.social•99 days ago

Tbh my favorite ever was the guest who brought mozzarella sticks to our Chanukah party. We just tossed them right into the oil. Can't go wrong bringing mozzarella sticks anywhere.

alexjamesfitz.com•99 days ago

that's why I always keep a few in my wallet

daniellealberti.bsky.social•99 days ago

I can always rely on you.

alexjamesfitz.com•99 days ago

somebody should make a cigarette case for mozzarella sticks

daniellealberti.bsky.social•99 days ago

I bet I could sew that

mjanssen.bsky.social•99 days ago

A humidor

goldfarb.bsky.social•99 days ago

That is an amazing option for a Chanukah spread.

daniellealberti.bsky.social•99 days ago

Ever since then we basically run our Chanukah parties on the premise of "bring anything you want to fry" and just have oil running all night. But the mozzarella sticks rule them all.

stickfigured.bsky.social•99 days ago

Truly, the Guest of Guests.

factsnotfolly.bsky.social•99 days ago

Going to host 25 for standing rib roast. Starting to have pre party anxiety dreams. Suggestions?

museofire.bsky.social•99 days ago

I’m not Helen but I’ve hosted parties. Have a plan of action and a timetable. Decide what you’re going to serve everything in with what utensils. Prep as much as you can beforehand. Doublecheck your ingredients. Carve out tasks you can delegate if ppl ask. Stay hydrated.

museofire.bsky.social•99 days ago

And make plenty of ice! 😄

factsnotfolly.bsky.social•99 days ago

We're doing that now and putting it in gallon bags for the freezer

alcademics.bsky.social•99 days ago

Sometimes I show up with an ice cube sampler.

tammylc.bsky.social•99 days ago

Show off. ;)

hels.bsky.social•99 days ago

I mean, when YOU do it

mdbuk.bsky.social•98 days ago

Really?

Did that here and you'd be nicknamed vanilla ice or vanilla for short for the rest of your life

doctorcuriosity.bsky.social•99 days ago

Singing this to the tune of “Chelsea Dagger”

coletteshade.bsky.social•99 days ago

I second this

norrieaga.bsky.social•99 days ago

A friend of my parents recently passed away. To honor his memory, everyone was encouraged to always show up to parties with 2 bags of ice.

grammar-girl.bsky.social•99 days ago

This may be too specific, but when I go to gatherings hosted by a friend who doesn't drink I like bringing the weirdest NA beverages I can find. "Prebiotic" sodas, TJ's has some great champagne-adjacent sparkling teas, @angus.bsky.social once found a delicious fizzy blood-orange thing at Zabars.

harrietvane.bsky.social•99 days ago

I’d LOVE that (I am usually not drinking).

kateflaim.bsky.social•99 days ago

Highly rec the new seasonal NA spritzes at TJ’s; the grapefruit/orangey one is excellent and like 1/3 the price of a can of Ghia.

kateflaim.bsky.social•99 days ago

(Also it feels correct that I’d find you here organically 😂)

harrietvane.bsky.social•99 days ago

Kate!!

kateflaim.bsky.social•99 days ago

Hi!!!

harrietvane.bsky.social•99 days ago

I tried some of their earlier ones and they were basically just fruit juice so I gave up, this is a great tip.

kateflaim.bsky.social•99 days ago

Yeah, they added bitters. (Let’s be honest, all these canned cocktails are just sparkling juice 😂😂 but at least this one does have an added complexity.)

grammar-girl.bsky.social•99 days ago

Not sure if it's seasonal but I just had a canned rosé sparkling tea from there that was a delight.

markyarm.bsky.social•99 days ago

True, though you never see "bag of ice" on end-of-year gift guides.

hels.bsky.social•99 days ago

Doesn’t do so hot sitting under the tree for some reason

dearsplenda.bsky.social•99 days ago

that’s precisely what it does under the tree

jaimealyse.bsky.social•99 days ago

Heyo!

goodhart1989.bsky.social•99 days ago

Smart!

hels.bsky.social•99 days ago

That is a 100% sincere answer btw. The other crowd-goes-wild old reliable is to bring nothing, and then send flowers the next day

paulaforbes.bsky.social•99 days ago

oh my gosh this, i always panic when someone comes in while i'm mid-finishing touches on dinner and suddenly i have to deal with flowers lol

hels.bsky.social•99 days ago

The thing about a bottle of booze is that (in theory) it’s a contribution *to the party*, not just for the host. Chocolates, fancy chips, a big box of satsuma mandarins hit a similar bullseye — host can put it out immediately. If it’s a gift-gift, for the host as a person, send it after the fact.

bibivirtue.bsky.social•99 days ago

According to the rules of etiquette, when you bring a bottle of wine to a dinner/a party it isn't meant to be for the party, it's a gift. You shouldn't expect it to be opened that evening.

hels.bsky.social•99 days ago

Whose rules, though? Etiquette is ever-shifting and ultimately exists to facilitate ease and appreciation between people. If etiquette dictates something burdensome to both parties, it’s not helpful anymore.

bibivirtue.bsky.social•99 days ago

I don't think giving someone a gift that you chose for them, is burdensome. If you don't want to do it, don't. The person asking said that they don't drink & therefore don't want to gift booze - wouldn't this knowledge ease their burden?

slec.bsky.social•99 days ago

I just tell the host explicitly:

Bottle A is for the crowd, bottle B is just for you guys

One day, i might understand how it’s supposed to work

hels.bsky.social•99 days ago

Cherries are also great but people lose their absolute shit over satsumas, especially if they’ve still got a bit of stem and leaves on

the17thqueen.bsky.social•99 days ago

Just had my first satsuma of the season and it was GOOD

hels.bsky.social•99 days ago

I think it’s going to be such a good year for them!

the17thqueen.bsky.social•99 days ago

🤤🤤🤤

mgaleti.bsky.social•99 days ago

I have so read, if you are a well known cook / baker, granola for the next day. Apparently Ina Garton does this when she’s invited somewhere- and I’m not ina Garton, but like the idea of adding to a gentle day after?

harrietvane.bsky.social•99 days ago

Relatedly: a bottle of maple syrup.

mgaleti.bsky.social•99 days ago

Yes. Or local honey!

daniellealberti.bsky.social•99 days ago

God damn you're good at this

cvh.bsky.social•99 days ago

brought some sumos to a party once, hail to the conquering hero

ksd1123.bsky.social•99 days ago

Yeah, if you're not going to bring me wine or ice (LOVE the person who brings ice!), fancy fruit isn't a bad move and citrus is seasonal and doesn't need fridge space.

csparks.bsky.social•99 days ago

They are so beautiful and festive. Perfect gift!

ariellaminden.bsky.social•99 days ago

This would go over HUGE in my family. Every year we have a contest to see who can peel them with the longest continuous peel. It would be taken as a sign of profound understanding of our culture (of competitiveness).

hels.bsky.social•99 days ago

Ok I LOVE this

blythe.bsky.social•99 days ago

But be careful not to usurp the host’s painstakingly assembled menu. Don’t bring dessert to a dinner party if that’s not your assignment. Don’t bring a bottle of wine and expect it to be served if the host is a wine pairing purist. Don’t bring a full on charcuterie board to show off.

ajsider.bsky.social•99 days ago

📌

timothyhelmuth.com•99 days ago

started giving dekopon once they became available in North America. Fancy fruit is the perfect gift

susanjames.bsky.social•99 days ago

I used to bring flowers in the morning of the day of the event so they adorned the house for dinner but didn’t arrive when the host was trying to frantically do three things at once.

hbts.bsky.social•99 days ago

Wow, this is why you're a professional.

eternal-expanse.bsky.social•99 days ago

I always adopt anyone who remembers to bring us fancy bubbly water

linneaharts.bsky.social•99 days ago

Yes! So many house parties don't have enough ice

tomandlorenzo.bsky.social•99 days ago

This is genius

vmcntosh.bsky.social•99 days ago

I need to remember this trick.

notamateurhour.bsky.social•99 days ago

Wow that’s a really clutch, actually.

blushingflower.bsky.social•99 days ago

Yep - consumable, contributes to the party, doesn't upstage the host

johncluverius.bsky.social•99 days ago

Frfr you bring a really good bag of ice to a party and you’re a hero. Moira works at Stanford, a bastion of bad logistical planning and inconstant temperature regulation. You will forever be an ICE HERO.

hels.bsky.social•99 days ago

Be an ice hero @moiradonegan.bsky.social !!!

hels.bsky.social•99 days ago

Or, space-wise, a nice hero

johncluverius.bsky.social•99 days ago

You could just make it your thing; like buy a little cooler that you bring the ice in that plugs into the back of your Subaru; people will be like oh shit we’re low on ice and then breathe a massive sigh of relief that you’re coming to the party

moiradonegan.bsky.social•99 days ago

That’s why they call me the ice queen 🧊😎

johncluverius.bsky.social•99 days ago

Hell yeah

johncluverius.bsky.social•99 days ago

In Massachusetts you either want to bring some bougie ice or the massive 15-pound bag from Market Basket

hi11ary.bsky.social•99 days ago

I forget who said it, but showing up later in the evening with a sack of cheeseburgers was his big move

scjessey.bsky.social•99 days ago

🧊 This is GENIUS! Parties always run out of ice. I'm stealing this idea! 👍🏻

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