Come into the light Carol Anne!!

April 30, 2009 6:44 AM

Help me plan a "Black and White" Fortieth B-day Party..

We are throwing a fortieth birthday for a friend with a "Black and White" theme. Basically, if you are over 40, you have made it in to the club and should wear white. Everyone under 40 is still "in the dark" and should wear black. The birthday boy is wearing red.

Aside from the obvious ideas, B&W balloons, B&W photos, etc. what else could we do to decorate and play on our theme? Looking for music (Other than Michael Jackson's Black or White), decor, food ideas, favors, any idea and brain storming is appreciated.

Thanks all!!

posted by pearlybob to society & culture (9 comments total)

Black and White cookies.
posted by JoanArkham at 7:02 AM on April 30

Two chocolate fountains-one dark chocolate, one white chocolate. To dip: nilla wafers, bananas, blackberries. And maybe some strawberries, for the birthday boy.

Maybe some prints from the De Stijl art movement as decor? They works are generally black and white with pops of primary color. Think Piet Mondrian.

Or, perhaps, blown-up black and white portraits of the guest of honor.

We probably have vastly different music tastes, but here is a huge list of songs with black in the name, & the same for white.
posted by Juliet Banana at 7:29 AM on April 30

I know you're not made of money, but if you wanted to really max-out the effect, you could dye everyone's hair a shade of grey/black (temporary dye?) and have everyone wear contact lenses that have black/white irises to match their dress.

Really, any kind of jazz would be excellent. Peggy Lee's Black Coffee is pretty classic and old-school.
posted by tybeet at 9:36 AM on April 30

Scotch!
posted by Thorzdad at 9:52 AM on April 30

Penguins and/or zebras would be useful themes for the favors/centerpieces.
posted by Oriole Adams at 10:27 AM on April 30

I'd go 2 Tone for the music. Ska of that era might be fun and familiar to your over 40 set, and who knows, maybe to the unders as well.
posted by gimonca at 10:33 AM on April 30 [1 favorite]

Oh, oh, oh, cream cheese penguins! Cutest food ever.
posted by Juliet Banana at 10:42 AM on April 30

Thanks all, come back if you think of any more. Great ideas!!
posted by pearlybob at 8:32 AM on May 1

Decorate with chess pieces randomly scattered about/ have a couple of chess boards set up for people to play?
posted by Lotto at 4:44 AM on May 4