When I was in the second grade, my mother baked carrot cake from scratch for the elementary school’s ice cream social. It was the first American (read, not Vietnamese) baking she would do on a grand scale, and we both remember distinctly how beautiful the cakes looked, nestled in among the other parents’ baked goodies. And how horrible they actually tasted. Of course, the discovery of the culinary disaster (mistaken measurements yielded way too much baking soda) didn’t occur until the first few takers had dug into the baked treasures. Word rapidly got around, and the cakes went untouched for the rest of the social, when my folks and I noticed. Tasting the unfortunate cakes ourselves sent me spitting out salty, hard bits of carrot cake along the park lawn and my mother trying to hide the fact that she was the culprit chef, agreeing vehemently with others how odd the cakes were. Even now, close to two decades later, we look back on that story and laugh. Despite the predicament, ice cream socials have become one of my most cherished memories of childhood, and the lilting months of spring are the perfect time for you to host your own ice cream social and create memories and stories of your own.
In the case of the school ice cream social, the idea was to get students’ parents acquainted with one another and with the school faculty and staff. Loads of people didn’t know others, so it was a great way to meet and greet those who somehow crossed paths with the kids of James Madison Elementary. Use your party as a way to mix up the crowds of people you know. A meeting of one’s circles always proves entertaining and fun. Work friends meet college friends meet roommates meet softball teammates meet significant others…you know how it goes.
Pick your date. Friday evenings or any time during the weekend may be your best bet for prime turnout. Consider your friends’ schedules—that is, if you have friends who you know devote Fridays to barhopping, you might designate Thursday the most viable day for peak attendance. I’d also advise checking out the forecast to at least aim for a rainless day.
Send out a ‘Save the Date.’ A social will get maximum benefit if more people from different social groups attend. You might send out an email or invite about a week or two before your scheduled event date to get people in the know and give them time to think about what they’d like to contribute. In this bit of correspondence, let your intended guests know what the party entails (what things do you want them to bring? when will it be? etc.).
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