How to turn East Village apartment into speakeasy joint

August 16, 2008 10:42 AM

How to turn East Village apartment into 'speakeasy joint' for dinner parties

I have a very small East Village apartment with one room where the bedroom / kitchen / living room are all in one space. The idea of having dinner parties came up amongst friends, and I want to deck the place out so it harkens back to an old 1920s speakeasy so more people will come over. Is there an easy way to do this? I have bare white walls, a bed, HDTV, and other small things (rugs, loveseat). Is it even possible to do this? What suggestions do you have? Anything is appreciated.

posted by dvjtj to Home & Garden (7 answers total)

What a wonderful Idea! I think you should find a photo and recreate it as close as possible (http://howdidyourpartygo.wordpress.com/2007/05/). First, find the 'bar' spot (the kitchen?), dim the lights and do candles/mood lighting, find some great jazz, serve cocktails in teacups, and organize the furniture so people can 'cluster' - put linens on your kitchen table to make it more of a dining table, cluster the seats in your living room (so people can have 'small, privatish' conversations).

Lastly, if you're goin' for the gold, I say have people dress to the 20s.

I hope you have great fun!
posted by anitanita at 11:07 AM on August 16, 2008

Best answer: Have you ever been to The Back Room in the LES? It's exactly what you are talking about if you want to visit to get ideas.
posted by Frank Grimes at 11:15 AM on August 16, 2008

Best answer: Get a record player. I think it would add that little something.
posted by All.star at 11:19 AM on August 16, 2008

That’s brilliant! I agree with anitanita dark lighting, jazz music, maybe even a password one has to say at the door. Also try not to take it too serious no one wants to go to a party where you’re ‘forced’ to have fun.
posted by hibery at 11:52 AM on August 16, 2008

Don't forget to require a password for entrance; you don't want any of Ness's undercover guys getting in!

(Yes, I know he was in Chicago, but you get my point.)
posted by TedW at 2:38 PM on August 16, 2008

Do you have a bathtub? Can you fill it with your 'bootleg'?
posted by mu~ha~ha~ha~har at 3:53 PM on August 16, 2008

Response by poster: thanks for the suggestions. Record players and passwords are a perfect start!
posted by dvjtj at 12:48 AM on August 17, 2008