Food.
You know what they want—hot dogs and hamburgers, grilled to perfection. Well, that’s not going to happen. Boil up some doggies in a pot with water, and then toss them on a hot skillet to add a little more flavor and color. Got a George Foreman grill? Fire that puppy up! (And by “fire,” I mean, plug in.) The bigger ones can do four hamburgers at a time, and even the smallest one rocks two patties at once. While your guests are waiting for the main course, let them nosh on chips and salsa or veggies and dip, always perennial party favorites. Salsa’s kind of red, actually, and a nice veggie dip tends towards white, so add some blue corn chips and consider yourself set! Grab some pre-made potato salad from a corner deli and a bunch of ears of corn on the cob from a street vendor, and you even have sides.
For dessert, buy a pre-made piecrust and fill it with blueberries and/or strawberries, apply liberal amounts of whipped cream, and voila! Instant perfection. If you’re in a baking mood, nothing’s as American as apple pie, or so they tell me. My dad was always partial to strawberry shortcake. Not your style? In the midst of the city, there is no shortage of bakeries, so get or make a dozen cupcakes iced in white, and provide red and blue decorating tubes for your guests to design their own festive treat.
Drink.
Some of your guests (heathens!) might not want beer. For shame! Have a bunch anyway, and why not stock up on some delicious Belgian White or Blue Moon? If you must, even a can of Budweiser is red, white, and blue. For more color, or for your more discerning guests, mix a pre-made batch of Blue Curacao martinis or keep your blender stocked with ice for strawberry daiquiris, virgin or no. Remind your friends of those long ago summers when we didn’t have to work with a pitcher or two of Kool-Aid. You know which colors to pick.
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