I host large cocktail parties, smaller cocktail parties, and other parties. Unless they request otherwise, those on my invitation list are also invited to parties and events hosted by other organizations. In the past, I maintained a social e-mail list, which I hope to resurrect in 2006.
I started hosting cocktail parties in November, 2002. The parties started small, with 20 people attending the first one. Attendance has increasing at an increasing rate (or as an economist would say, the second derivative is positive). The large cocktail parties now have between 250 and 600 people attending, depending on the venue.
The large parties are given in the Grand Ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel (this is the "old" Ritz on Newbury and Arlington Streets, not the "new" Ritz) and the Harvard Club of Boston. These parties are given once a month, on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, days when the Ritz and Harvard Club are less likely to be busy. Cocktail party dress is strongly preferred, business dress is acceptable, and more informal dress is not. I do ask that you RSVP promptly (yes, no or maybe). I keep sending invitations until you respond, and those who do not respond are eventually dropped from the invitation list.
Both the large and smaller cocktail parties start at 6:30 and wind down around 11:30 p.m. There is a cash bar and there is no admission charge for those who have written a descriptive tag and a description. These parties are not singles parties — both are open to married couples and couples in committed relationships, as well as singles, whether they are looking or not. Guests wear a nametag and a descriptive tag that they write themselves.
The large cocktail parties have been become popular, and most people prefer that. Some, however, long for the days when the large parties were smaller. In June, 2005, I started a separate series of smaller cocktail parties, with anywhere from 25 to 125 people attending. These take place 3 to 5 times a month at locations such as Jurys Hotel and Foundation Lounge.
For these, I also ask that you RSVP, but unlike the large cocktail parties, if you don't respond you won't be dropped from the invitation list.
I also give several "theme" parties, typically annual events, such as New Years Eve, Fourth of July and the Super Bowl.
I also distribute invitations for a wide variety of other events — black tie charity events, art gallery openings, game parties, movie parties, singles parties, and lots more. These events include the Boston Public Library gala, the Bastille Day party hosted by the French Library, the Winter Ball, the Consuls' Ball hosted by the United Nations Association of Greater Boston, and numerous other events. If the event is not starting early, in most cases I will host a pre-party. If you're on the invitation list, you can choose what kind of events you're invited to.
I used to operate a social e-mail list ("SEL"). As I received e-mails concerning various social events in Boston, I would forward them to the list. This list is different from the party invitation list. Almost everyone was on both, but there are some exceptions — i.e., some people were on the social e-mail list but not the party invitation list, while others are on the party invitation list but were on the social e-mail list.
After I rewrote my database in 2004, I've technical problems with the SEL. At some point in the future — most likely in 2006 — I will reactivate it.