by Amy McNeal
The weather outside is indeed "frightful", as the old song says. Winter brings challenges to everyone's social life. No more meeting friends on the patio at the coffee shop. No more evenings out at free concerts in the park. No art or ethnic festivals until spring. Your favorite watering hole is crowded since they've had to pack up the outdoor seating for the winter. Not even your dog wants to walk in the slushy park. Add in the fact that you're feeling economically challenged, and it paints a pretty bleak landscape for your winter social life. So what are you going to do for cheap fun over the winter?
Try having a game night! Board games are a great way to spend a cold winter night, and they're interactive. Most games involve 4 or more players. Modern board games go way past an evening of backgammon. Games like Settlers of Catan by Mayfair Games, Arkham Horror by Fantasy Flight, or Apples to Apples by Mattel have tons of replay value for a small investment. There's an endless array of themed boardgames for every interest: building, trivia, horror, strategy, and more. Even the most inexperienced gamer can learn the rules of the average board game quickly. A board game can be played on a coffee table or even on the floor, if you're lacking a dining room. Everything you need to play is in the box. All you need to add is some friends and a few snacks and libations, and you have a perfect winter evening.
Another great idea for a winter evening is a fondue party. Yes, fondue is back! Time to dig through your parents' attic, or the thrift store, and break out the harvest gold fondue set.... Unlike other party spreads, fondue is space efficient. It's easy to prepare, even if you can't find a vintage pot. Two popular fondue types are cheese and chocolate. You can have a very low cost party by providing the fondue, and having your guests bring the things to dip in it. There's no sit-down dinner to plan, so you don't have to worry about space.
Continuing with the food theme--because everyone likes to eat more in the winter--consider a themed potluck party. Have all your guests bring a dish that reflects the theme. You can choose a country, a region, or an ingredient, and have everyone show off their inner "Top Chef" building on the theme. You can even combine this with a movie, and have your guests bring a dish that complements your film choice. Have your non-culinary friends bring the wine, and settle in for a fun night!
If you're bored with all your movies and you've read all your books, host a swap meet! Invite some people over to trade movies or books. You can get some great new entertainment without having to spend any cash. Instead of tossing a bad DVD choice in the trash, recycle it into a friend's collection. Everyone brings a few things, and takes away the same number that they bring, so it all ends up even in the end.
So how do you do this in a small apartment? Easily! Potlucks and fondue are ideal for small city apartments with postage stamp kitchens. Clear your counters and use them as a serving area. If you're one of the fortunate few that has an eating area, or even a dining room, use the table space for the buffet and move the chairs into the living room for more seating. In an efficiency, you might need to borrow or buy a folding table, or commandeer the coffee table for the food. Serving all your food buffet style allows people to move around freely, and creates the illusion of more space. Don't worry if the china doesn't match, that's way too 1950's. Use washable plates and utensils, or recyclable paper goods to keep it green.
The winter months don't have to be full of "blah." You can entertain your friends on a shoestring budget in even the smallest apartment. Use your creativity, and make the cold weather months full and happy. Play some games, eat some great food...and before you know it, it will be spring again!
