How to Make a Food and Movie Night

It's almost a tradition, eating some kind of food while you watch a movie. That's why theaters sell popcorn and candy. So when you're planning your next movie night, devise a menu to go with it.

Instructions

1. Select the location. If you're hosting this right at home, then it's easily accomplished. However if this is a community event, make sure that there's adequate seating, parking and electrical outlets for the movie screen. Also, if you do happen to be hosting a mid-size party, convince the person with the biggest TV to allow you to host it at their home.

2. Determine the movie selection and menu for the evening. In Hollywood, most premieres throw an "after" party. At that after party, the cuisine is usually something that was featured in the film. For instance if you are watching the Julia Roberts classic "Mystic Pizza" then turn your food and movie night into a pizza party.

3. Pick the movie and evening to hold the movie night on. If you're throwing this for a large group of people, make sure that it doesn't conflict with any town or school activities (like the town musical) or that there's a big sporting event (like the Super Bowl.)

4. Send out the invites for the movie night. After naming the place and time, make sure you place a synopsis about the movie as well as some of the cuisine that'll be served. You can also encourage people to bring their own favorite candies to munch on after the meal.

5. Arrange the seating beforehand so that guests are left to scramble when they arrive. You want the food and movie night to be completely set-up and resemble a theatre so that people instantly know where they're "supposed to go." This means aligning chairs, or laying down blankets on the beach. Whatever it is, make your setting work for you.

6. Test the movie before your guests arrive. There's nothing worse than having a food and movie night with equipment that doesn't work. Pop the DVD in and make sure that the television or movie screen is working properly several hours in advance of the party. That way if something is wrong, you have time to fix it.

7. Serve the food before the movie. When people arrive at a party, they like to eat. Having the food hot and ready is a great way to break the ice and allow people to converse and catch up with one another.

8. Dim the lights and watch the movie. You've done all of the hard work. Now it's time to sit back and enjoy the show.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid scheduling an intermission. When people go to the movies, they watch the entire movie. An intermission at your food and movie night only disrupts the flow of the evening.

• Make this a tradition by forming a movie club. Once a month someone else in the club can host it. Then after the movie, while people enjoy dessert, you can discuss it.

• Make sure the movie is age appropriate for all that are attending.