Skip to main content

Futuristical Box Socials


In my mind, I've already skipped over Halloween (even before yesterday) and past Thanksgiving (which has lost all meaning since I moved to Germany). And while Christmas and New Year's are holidays that I'm looking forward to, it's more about seeing Frosty, C.Dub and the Mettigel Gangstaz (literally: Ground Pork Porcupine Gangstaz).

Crazy as it sounds, I'm already planning my 30th birthday. It should probably be noted that next year I'm only turning 29. That aside, I have some pretty ambitious plans that require a significant amount of pre-planning.

I am also considering a three-birthdays-in-a-row type of scheme. Twenty-nine would be the "pre-party", 30 would be the "party" and 31 would be the "after-party". However, that might just be too ambitious.

Still, I could use some feedback on my plans thus far.

Without revealing too much, I have my dream venue in mind. I've gotten in touch with the people there and it's definitely a possibility. I don't want to give it away here, but you can ask me in private.

I'd have to somewhat limit the guest list, since I'd be paying per person for the open bar. I imagine it's like planning a wedding, but I don't have to consider things like color schemes or dress things and whatnot. I'm even considering a bouncy house...

But more than anything, I'd like my guests (in lieu of birthday presents) to donate some money to a charity/non-profit organization of my choosing. Here's the thing, though. There's an element of "tackiness" that comes with asking people directly what you would like. Especially in an invitation. I think people prefer when you say, "Just show up, I don't care if you bring something." And it usually becomes this strange game of "Don't do as I say, just do what you're supposed to do".

The way I see it though is that I would like to treat my friends and myself to a fucking awesome party, no strings attached, I'll take care of all of that gladly (regarding the acutal partying) -- but really I would like to raise money for a good cause. And I figure the money that people would spend getting me a birthday present, could be used to getting some people something like drinkable water or some education, etc.

So this is just a pre-poll. Just to put some feelers out there about your impressions of this idea. I know you don't really have a whole lot of info about location and plans...but trust me on this one....it would be awesome. It would also take place about 4 months after my actual 30th birthday...

Let me know your opinion in the comments.

Comments

Darby O'Shea said…
That location would be feckin' awesome. Is there a bar or something up there?
lebrookski said…
there are a couple of clubs in there. the one i want is on the top floors and includes the terrace on the roof.
lebrookski said…
though, i must also add that i need to get a job to fund this shindig...and possibly also find a corporate sponsor. otherwise, i'll probably be celebrating in the clubhouse of the S.C. Union '03 with their two kegelbahnen. but that's plan b
katie said…
ain't no shame in planning your 30th way early. i'm in two minds regarding mine at this point: a)harrypotterland (not it's actual name, but soon to be a real place) or b)the joker by steve miller theme costume party. i want to be the gangster of love.

i think donating for the cause is totally miss manners approved.
Anonymous said…
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Gute Location, guter Geschenkeplan. :)

Toby
The Beech said…
Bunker. Spiffy. Donating to a good cause is also good. I'd also pay an entry fee for a nice b-day party. That means I would sponsor somehow the gathering, and if something is left at the end of the day, give it to whoever. I'm convinced that unless one is really rich the hassle of setting the whole thing up is enough contribution.

Popular posts from this blog

The Best Taco Bell in Germany

 Last weekend, I crossed off a major item on my bucket list. I went to Taco Bell in Germany. "But Raven, shouldn't you aspire to better, healthier things that have a measurable positive impact on society?" I know that's what you're thinking, but I don't really give a crap... because you are not the boss of me.  I wanted Taco Bell, because it's probably the one thing from back at home that I crave the most. Say what you want about it (again, I don't give a crap), but get at me when you've spent years away from your homeland and are unable to acquire whatever nasty-ass comfort food is available wherever you're from. For me, my nasty-ass comfort food of choice is Taco Bell...with Sonic a close second. However, you can't even find Sonic all over the U.S. and I don't find myself craving burgers and hot dogs all the time (plus, those urges are a lot easier to satisfy than a craving for Mexican or Tex-mex).

The One Who Got Away (Part 6): PLOT TWIST

Quick Translation: This confirms that German citizenship will not be opposed, if within two years it can be verified that the aforementioned person no longer possesses citizenship for Trinidad and Tobago e   and/or has fulfilled the requirements for the loss of this citizenship and that nothing has happened in the meantime, which would forbid naturalization.  I almost forgot what it felt like to receive a industrial size dose of 100% homegrown German bureaucratic pedantry. Luckily, the German authorities will never leave you too long without a fix. You can count on that. As you can see from the picture above (and from my previous posts), Trinidad and Tobago e  had only been mentioned once in passing up until now, when I finalized my application and paid the fee. Mr. S: Your mother was naturalized in the U.S. after you were born? Me: Yes, but she never applied for Trinidadian citizenship for me, which would have had to have been done by my 18th birthday.  Mr. S: Ok. (Ac

The One Who Got Away (Part 5)

Pro tip: Don't estimate the amount of time it will take to review your citizenship application based on the amount of time it took to get the results of your citizenship test. So far, this has been the area of the German-side of the process that ran a little closer to my bureaucratic expectations, namely, if an official expresses a length of time -- e.g. 3-6 months -- things will start moving closer to the six month mark than the three month mark. Getting down to the wire, I was (and still am) slightly concerned that this would drag on and I would have to renew my U.S. passport first, since it's getting kinda close to the point where it's only valid for six months. This would have cost me 1.) more money 2.) plus a trip to a consulate that actually does shit for U.S. citizens 3.) money and time off work for a trip to Bremen, Berlin, or Frankfurt. As luck would have it, I finally received notification that the Germans are letting me in! The full term is that they are