And They're Off!
The Belmont Stakes is tomorrow. Why not throw a post-time party?
A thing that will become evident as I post in this community is that I *love* a good party theme. Recently, a friend invited me to a prom for adults; while I didn’t have enough time to source the over-the-top 80s dress I had in mind, I went hard on the sparkly blue eye shadow, made sure we each had a gaudy wrist corsage, and I wrapped up a bottle of Jägermeister as a hostess gift. I am a dutiful guest when it comes to conforming to themes, but I also live for throwing these kinds of shindigs myself. A sampling of some past bashes: A full-on Italian Sunday dinner for a premiere of The Sopranos, including a tray of “F*ckin’ Ziti.” At a combination barbecue/baby shower, mini versions of cookout foods, including sliders, grilled cocktail weenies, and teeny apple pies, were featured. During COVID, it was Thanksgiving in June. The most recent was a backyard blowout in honor of our younger daughter’s graduation from high school, but thrown specifically for the parents of her friends who had gone through all the school years together with us. I bought two kegs and made Jell-o shots, put out bowls of orange snacks like Cheetos and Doritos (a maxim I’ve taken deeply to heart is that it’s not a party without orange food), set up a table for beer pong and quarters, and wore a vintage Bon Jovi concert tee—all of this in homage to many a crazy summer evening from my suburban Jersey youth. It was a blast. And, unlike in years past, no one called the cops!
Another thing about me is that I am slightly obsessed with sports. While football and basketball are my favorites (the Knicks just broke my heart for the umpteenth time, but I will survive), I’m an equal-opportunity and enthusiastic fan—needless to say, forget about it during an Olympics year. While I’m not a regular follower of horse racing, when Triple Crown season comes around, it’s always exciting. The final race in the series, The Belmont Stakes, is happening tomorrow. I have a soft spot for this race, as my grandmother—born and raised in Queens Village—brought my sister and me to Belmont Park in Elmont when we were young to bet on the ponies. Well, we couldn’t actually bet as we were way under 18 at the time, but it was a gas nonetheless. (As is often said when discussing the eye-opening experiences of many a Gen-Xer, it was a...different time back then.)
The pomp and pageantry of a tradition such as The Belmont is catnip as far as giving me an excuse to grab a bunch of friends and have them over for a fun time. When I go into party-planning brainstorming mode, things come down to this simple, um, trifecta: food & drink, ambience & attire, and activities. Is there regional or traditional fare that I can serve? What kind of a specialty cocktail could be made for the evening, and what would it be called? What about a dress code, are there certain colors or special clothing items associated with the tradition at hand? Not every party needs an activity to liven things up, but what kinds of games lend themselves to the theme? What kinds of decorations or table decor would be festive? And so on.
If you are looking for a reason to gather up some friends this weekend, why not celebrate the most exciting two minutes in sports? Here are some ideas and inspiration for throwing your own Belmont Stakes bash:
Food: Since this is New York City we’re talking about, the food options are obvious. Pizza. Hot dogs. Soft pretzels. How about Everything Bagel Dip with crudite and bagel chips and old-school New York Cheesecake?
Cocktails: While the Mint Julep is most famously associated with the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont’s signature drink is not as well known but looks equally delicious: The Belmont Jewel. If bourbon isn’t your thing, take inspiration from another major sporting event that happens across the borough of Queens—The US Open in Flushing—and stir up a batch of Honey Deuces. (Both drinks lend themselves easily to mocktail versions.)
Attire: I mean, fascinators and bowties for all.
Ambience: The race’s official flower is white carnation, so that’s an easy one; carnations are relatively inexpensive and the color white is a blank canvas for other decor. You can use printed copies of the Daily Racing Form as decoration, perhaps as a tablecloth or maybe have a few copies around your living space. Search Spotify for songs with “New York” in the title or racing in their theme and make a playlist.
Activities: Of course, there needs to be a way for guests to place friendly wagers on the winners. But how about a contest among guests for the best photo finish? A few rounds of Pin the Tail on the Race Horse? Organize a competitive horseshoes tournament? It should go without saying that any contest or game winners must receive a mini trophy or a ribbon. 🥇🏆