I had a friend who had a party that she charged for. She and her housemates basically needed to raise some cash. It was pretty expensive and open to anyone who found out about it. Fortunately the cops didn't, or at least didn't care. Knowing her, I'm sure that the party was great, but more than slightly illegal as they were flaunting liquor laws and I'm fairly certain there were some substances around that are illegal in any circumstance, at least in this country. Not that I'm in any way implying that this would be the case for the party in question here. But given that this was the only fee-based party I had heard of before, initially my thought was ew!spam. It sounds like this party will be much nicer!

I've seen mentions in books (fiction and etiquette) and in movies and TV about hostess gifts for parties. Miss Manners advises to err on the side of not bringing a gift, because that's one more thing that the host/ess has to deal with, especially when the giver expects the gift (flowers or wine or what-have-you) to be incorporated in the event.

I was not raised in a world that gave dinner parties--or at least, was never invited--so I am completely unindoctrinated on such etiquette.

I've been invited to parties that involved charges by friendly acquaintances who work in a restaurant ($100 a plate? Wow.... thanks for thinking of me, really), but I've never encountered it for a party in a private home.

Has anyone here ever used Expedia to buy tickets? Ten days ago, I bought my ticket to NY on American Airlines via Expedia, and the service charge (charged by expedia) has shown up on my credit card statement, but the actual ticket (charged by AA) has not. My big worry is that in the meantime, I got a new credit card, so I am worried that when AA try to actually charge me for my ticket, it won't go through and I will be screwed.

My itinerary on Expedia is confirming the ticket purchase by AA, but where's the charge?

I have. If there's too much lag time before the tickets arrive, I'd print out the confirmation e-mail from Expedia and take it to the airport just in case.

In my (limited, white, american Middle Atlantic) experience, only college students who can't BYOB have cover charges for a party. So a cast party with my students might have a charge, because there are plenty of people not over 21 who need the booze purchased for them, but a party with my colleagues would either have the host (or the theatre department) paying for the party, or ask us all to bring a 6 pack or abottle of wine.

Ball’s series is based on the series of novels by Charlaine Harris.

not crazy about the books.

Take a bottle of something or flowers or something for the host is pretty common at most gatherings or parties at a house I've been to in the city, but the only time there has been a charge has been when someone rents out a place for a big party.

caught up on some more tv.

Nip/Tuck continues to disturb, but also seemed clunky.

VM was enh.

I think bringing a gift versus "You have to pay me $10 to walk through this door" are completely different vibes, even if gift could concievably cost more than the cover charge.

For me, part of the difference is that the gift is not required, even if it's somewhat expected in some circumstances.

All this kind of makes me want to check out a paid party, only the one I described is the only one I've ever heard of before. Consuela, if you think about it, I'd love to hear how it turns out.

Like I said, it may be more common among some people than others. Midwestern usians? Newp. Food, sure. In excess. But not money. I wonder if you could extrapolate from the Puritains, or if it is a scandanavian thing. We did food among the swedish relatives as well. Of course, it was either jello or disgusting fish stuff.

Of course, in the rare instances I've been to a place where they washed my hair, it was done by the stylist.

See, I've been following my stylist, because she rocks (I just let her do what she wants, because I have no clue. She finds it fun to experiment on me. It's been something like 7 years now. I've never been disappointed.) She started out at a chain place (where she washed my hair) and is now at a classy salon that does weddings and spa stuff with the bigger prices and more people who do stuff (like having shampoo girls.) I now get scalp massages that make me cry, in a good way.

And I still don't know what the standard tip for them is.

Nip/Tuck has been disappointing this season. VM worked the best for me it has all season, and I chalk it all up to Percy Daggs being motherfucking brilliant.

I tried to read the first book, and put it down 70 pages in. I can think of lots more books more worthy of an HBO series. Even a vampire novel more worthy. Tanya Huff's vampire novels are fun.