Put your party hat on

Stocked with crazy wigs, kinky headgear, fluorescent bangles and exotic party games in addition to the usual trimmings for Christmas and New Year's Eve, stores like Party Hunterz and the two-month old Mad Hatters allow Mumbai adults to indulge their fantasies (to the extent that the moral police will allow anyway). Pick up some of their party favours and decor elements, set up a digital photo-booth, get your canapés and Christmas cakes from the pros, and you're half way there - all that's left is to stir up the party spirit. And if you're lost for ideas on that front, event planner Viral Shah has a few suggestions.

He says the first thing to do is to chalk out a budget, "Then, based on this, select a venue and decide what food and drinks you can offer guests." The bar is integral to theu00a0success of your party, he adds. "New Year's Eve parties, in particular, are booze-centric," he says, telling us that drinking games are popular at such events. He recommends Liqueur Lotto, in which you pass around a tray of diluted shots with just one glass that contains unadulterated strong alcohol like Tequila or Jagermeister. Whoever gets the pure alcohol wins a prize.

For smaller groups, Shah recommends a game of Ping-Bong or variants. "Teams - formed by the host - stand at opposite sides of a dining table with shot glasses laid out in front of each person and a ping-pong ball is tossed across. If it strikes the glass in front of you, you drink up (either a shot, or you can use a bong) and the other team scores." Finally, there's entertainment and while your choice of music will set the pace, Shah says, "Hosts often hire professional jugglers and when there are kids around, it's a good idea to designate an area for them - a space where you can set up art and craft activity stations for instance."u00a0While you want to ensure all of your guests will have a great time, spare a thought for yourself too. The last thing you want is to end up working through your parties, so here are a few options to ease your workload:

Chill with snowmen
Flashing purple, blue and pink LED snowmen showpieces add an almost transcendental touch to the decor. Finally, a showpiece that kids can flay their arms around without worrying!
Price: Rs 350 each
At: Mad Hatters, shop No 2, Joanna Apt, Pali Road (Manuel Gonsalves Road), near St Joseph's School, Bandra (W)
CAll: 26424566, 9820121326

Bring in the New Year with a bang
This confetti-filled magnum-sized champagne bottle truly befits the festive spirit of the season. The ideal way to end the countdown to the New Year, this champagne bottle party-popper adds the perfect celebratory touch to weddings too.
Price: Rs 699
At: Mad Hatters, shop No 2, Joanna Apt, Pali Road (Manuel Gonsalves Road), near St Joseph's School, Bandra (W)
Call: 26424566, 9820121326

Do you see what I see?
Crazy shades are a party must-have these days, and it's the adults, rather than the children, who seem to enjoy these the most. The Party Shop has a huge range to pick from but these are part of their newest
collection.
Price: Rs 125 a piece
At: First floor, Umrigar Building (above Badshah Cold Drinks), opposite Crawford Market
CAll: 66348229, 66690747

Headgear with a difference
These single and double barrel bongs and two-can beer helmets will not only help your guests get in touch with their inner child but also make them look quirky. It's one way to curb crowding at your bar.
Price: Rs 650 (single bong); Rs 899 (double barrel bong); fur helmet (Rs 699); red, blue or yellow helmet (Rs 475)
At: Mad Hatters, shop No 2, Joanna Apt, Pali Road (Manuel Gonsalves Road), near St Joseph's School, Bandra (W) CAll: 26424566, 9820121326

Star light, star bright
The Party Shop at Crawford Market stocks the entire range of Christmas and New Year's Eve party essentials under one roof. We loved these little Santa tea-lights that emit star-shaped beams. Think ambient lighting... on a budget.
Price: Rs 75 a piece
At: First floor, Umrigar Building, (above Badshah Cold Drinks), opposite Crawford Market
Call: 66348229, 66690747

Lip-smacking delights
Outsourcing is a great idea while throwing a party. Indigo Delicatessen's Festive Season takeaway menu, comprising the traditional stuffed turkey with cranberry sauce and a wide range of desserts, breads, cookies and exotic hors d'oeuvres like Spicy Zucchini and Coriander Falafel and Prawns Wrapped in Bacon and Sage, helps you treat your guests to delicious cuisines.
Price: Hors d'oeuvres (Rs 315 for 12 pieces); American Butterball Turkey (Rs 2,950 per kg); Slow-cooked ham leg with mustard and honey glaze (Rs 990); Whisky Pate (Rs 1,400) (They need a day's notice for most of the items on the takeaway menu and two days for specialities like the turkey)
At: Indigo Deli, Colaba (call: 66551010); Palladium, Lower Parel (call: 43666666); Lokhandwala (call: 26336262); Bandra (call: 26438111)

Silver bells
No Christmas party's complete without bells, silver or otherwise and these super-sized bell-chandeliers spell out Yuletide like nothing else. Hang them up outside your door or in a corner of your living room to set
the mood.
Price: Rs 1,200
At: 1st floor, Umrigar Building (above Badshah Cold Drinks), opposite Crawford Market
Call: 66348229, 66690747

A stand for your cake
With just three days notice, this team can put together a customised cake or cupcake stand just for you, so pull out those digital cameras or Google some fun festive images and your buffet could be both amusing and appetising at the same time.
Price: Rs 500 for the cupcake stand; Rs 370 for the cake stand
Call: 9820515351 (Dhwani Doshi, Creative Chase)

Roll out the barrel
You can't have a New Year's Eve bash without drinking games - after all, you do want your guests to be happy. The boxed drinking games at this new shop are guaranteed to make your party just a little more fun than usual.
Price: Roulette, Shooters and Ladders and Tic Tac Toe (Rs 999 each); u00a0Darts (Rs 1,100);u00a0Ludo (Rs 1,200)
At: Mad Hatters, shop No 2, Joanna Apt, Pali Road (Manuel Gonsalves Road), near St Joseph's School, Bandra (W)
Call: 26424566, 9820121326

A coaster affair
Whether they love Hindi films or Hollywood, your guests are sure to appreciate these coasters that combine iconic Hollywood images with everyone's favourite Hindi film dialogues.
Price: Set of four (Rs 650);
set of six (Rs 750)
At: Mad Hatters, shop No 2, Joanna Apt, Pali Road (Manuel Gonsalves Road), near St Joseph's School, Bandra (W)
Call: 26424566, 9820121326