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Host a Radical '80s Party!

To be a radical 1980s party host, create a '80s ambiance with a '80s mix CD playing softly, '80s decor (i.e. '80s movie posters, etc.), and '80s movies without the audio (i.e. Pretty in Pink, Weird Science, 
etc.) if there is a television in the party room. 

 

Totally 
Tubular '80s

In the '80s, arcade games became the rave.  If you lived in the '80s, you likely had a Nintendo Entertainment System as it had 90% of the American video game market by the end of the decade!

Computers hit the scene in homes and as a complete industry as the  IBC PC launched in 1981.  Commodore 64 was another popular home item although it had minimal capabilities for home users.

The Music Scene was definitely unique as the use of keyboards came into play (New Wave or Synthpop) and MTV hit the scene.  The following artists were popular in the 1980s:

Madonna      

Queen        
Michael Jackson
Duran Duran    
Prince       
Queen
Guns N' Roses      
Bon Jovi     
Joan Jet

Clothing was colorful to say the least.  Sweatshirt dresses with matching bold-colored leggings, parachute pants, big plastic bangles, and member's only jackets were extremely popular!

MENU SUGGESTIONS

Always ask for nutritional requirements of your guests with the RSVPs to determine if they have any allergies or objections to particular ingredients.

Recipes courtesy of the Halloween Party Host Handbook

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APPETIZERS:
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TUBULAR STUFFED MUSHROOMS

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Garlic bread crumbs

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 package of large whole mushrooms with the stems removed and diced

1/2 cup of cooked, crumbled sausage

1 egg

2 tablespoons butter

Instructions:  Cut the stems from the mushrooms and carefully scoop out the tops without breaking them apart and dice the stems. Place the mushroom caps with the scooped side up on a baking sheet.

Combine the remaining ingredients with the diced stems and mix thoroughly.

Fill the mushroom caps with the mixture (save a little bit of the breadcrumbs for the top) and sprinkle with breadcrumbs and drizzle melted butter over the top.

Cook at 350 degrees until lightly browned (approximately 20-30 minutes).

*You can substitute the sausage for diced lobster. 

 

THE ATARI SALAD

Ingredients:

1 pound mixed salad greens

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

4 ounces crumbled blue cheese

1 cup raspberry vinaigrette dressing

Salt and pepper to taste.

Instructions:

Mix the ingredients together and drizzle the dressing on top.

ENTREE:

 

LONG CHICKEN DUCK DONG STUFFED CHICKEN (THERE IS NO DUCK IN THIS)

Ingredients:

2 cups of cooked white Rice

1/2 cup chopped mushrooms

1 can cream of mushroom soup

~3/4 stick of butter

1/2 cup chopped green onion

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

4 tenderized chicken breast fillets

1 cup garlic flavored bread crumbs

Mix the white rice, cream of mushroom soup, Worcestershire sauce, sautéed onions and mushrooms, 1/4 stick of butter, salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup of garlic bread crumbs.

Instructions:  Tenderize the chicken fillets with a meat tenderizer.  At the edge of one end of the chicken fillet, place about 1/2 cup of the rice mixture and roll the chicken fillet around the rice.  Place the chicken fillet into a baking pan with the free edge facing down.  Microwave the remaining butter for 10 seconds and drizzle over the chicken breast.  Lightly sprinkle the garlic flavored bread crumbs over the buttered breast.

Cook at 375 until done (approximately 40 minutes).  Check with a meat thermometer to determine if the meat is done.

 

RUBIK’S CASSEROLE

Ingredients:

2 bags of frozen broccoli

1 tube of Kraft garlic cheese

½ cup jalapeno jack cheese

2 cans of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup

1 can of Campbell’s cream of celery soups

½ diced onion

½ stick of butter

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: Heat the oven to 350F. Thaw out the frozen broccoli and drain the water. Melt the cheeses in a saucepan and add the creamed soups.  In a separate pan, sauté the onions with the butter until golden brown.  Add the browned onions to the cheese mixture.  Pour the cheese mixture over the broccoli in a 9 x 12 baking dish. Sprinkle garlic bread crumbs over the top of the casserole, cover and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until browned and bubbling.  Allow to cool on the counter for at least 10 minutes before serving.

 

DESSERTS:

 

PRETTY IN PINK CAKE

Ingredients:

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 large egg whites (3/4 cup)

3/4 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

White frosting with red food coloring (to make pink frosting). 

16 pink candles

Instructions: Set rack at the middle level in the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Butter the bottom of two 9-inch round or one 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan. Line the bottom with parchment or waxed paper. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar for about 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Combine egg whites, milk and vanilla extract. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture then add half the milk mixture. Continue to alternate beginning and ending with flour mixture. Scrape the bowl and beater often. Pour the batter into prepared pan(s) and smooth top with metal spatula. Bake cake(s) about 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean. Cool in pan on rack for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a rack, remove paper and let cool completely. If you are using white frosting, in a bowl, add one drop of red food coloring and mix thoroughly to make a light pink color.  When cool, cover the cake with the frosting and then place the 16 candles on the cake.

THE PACMAN GHOST (adults only)

4 oz. Hypnotiq® liqueur

2 oz. Malibu® coconut rum

2 oz. pineapple juice

Combine all ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain into a martini or cocktail glass and serve.

THE MEMBER’S ONLY (Adults only)

1/2 shot Godiva liquor

1/2 shot Bailey’s Irish cream liquor

Fill the coffee mug with 1/2 coffee and 1/2 milk to taste

Top with whipped cream

Mix the liquors together in a shaker and strain into a coffee mug. Fill the mug with coffee and milk to taste and top with whipped cream.

 *If this party is for teenagers, omit this drink and make hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream on top.  Then, top it off with chocolate sprinkles.

 

COCKTAILS FOR ADULTS:
 

THE LEG WARMER (adults only)

1 oz. vodka

1/2 oz. triple sec

1/2 oz. lime juice

1/2 oz. cranberry juice

Shake vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry juice vigorously in a shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass, garnish with a lime wedge on the rim, and serve.

* Note - if this party is for teenagers, simply omit the alcohol.

 

BONUS ACTIVITIES!

FOR 100 MORE PARTY GAMES AND MORE PARTY ADVICE, RECIPES, THEMES, ETIQUETTE AND MORE, PURCHASE THE OFFICIAL PARTY HOST HANDBOOK BY DR. BONNIE.

 

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BOTH AVAILABLE AT MY MYSTERY PARTY’S PROP EMPORIUM AND MOST ONLINE BOOK RETAILERS.

 

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BUBBLE WALK TEST

RULES: Purchase about 1.5 meters (~5 ft.) of bubble wrap packing material.  The guests take turns walking the length of the bubble wrap.  The first one to walk the length of the wrap without popping a bubble is the winner. If everyone does it without a pop – then change it up to walking on their knees, crab walks, front rolls etc.

PROPS NEEDED: strips of bubble wrapping material.

PLAYING TIME: ~ 10 minutes

 

 

TOTALLY TUBULAR ‘80S DANCE CONTEST

OBJECTIVE:  to be the most radical ‘80s dancers at the party!

RULES:   Pair the guests into groups of 2-3. Give the teams 10 minutes (or more) to create  a unique 30 second ‘80s dance routine to be performed to the song ‘Blinded me with Science' or other ‘80s song of your choice. Play the song repeatedly in the background so the teams have ample time to practice with the music.

When the time is up and / or the guests are finished creating their routines, one at a time, the guests are to perform their routines for the other guests. The host will judge or the guests will vote via a ballot for the best ‘80s dance routine. In the case of a tie, the host will be the tie-breaker.

PROPS NEEDED: any type of music playing source and a ‘80s song.

PLAYING TIME: approximately 30 minutes.

*We cannot say it enough…this is HILARIOUS!!!!  Do this side game for the love of the ‘80s!

  

 

TOTALLY AWESOME MOVIE CHALLENGE

OBJECTIVE: To be the team that answers correctly the most ‘years of release’ of the 1980s movies! 

RULES: Pair the guests into groups of 6. Give the teams 15 minutes (or more) to fill in the correct year of the listed 1980s hit movies using the ‘Totally Awesome Movie Challenge Answer Sheet’ (game attachment).  When the time is up and / or the guests are finished, collect the answer sheets and score them using the ‘Totally Awesome Movie Challenge Answer Key’ (game attachment). 

PROPS NEEDED: Printed copies of ‘The Totally Awesome Movie Challenge’ (next 2 pages).

PLAYING TIME: ~20 minutes

CLICK HERE FOR THE GAME SHEETS

HERE'S THE ANSWER KEY: 

TOTALLY AWESOME MOVIE CHALLENGE ANSWER KEY

Weird Science…………………….………………   1985

Pretty in Pink…………………………………….   1986

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade…………  1989

Valley Girl ………………………………….…….  1983

Fast Times at Ridgemont High…………………1982

Die Hard…………………………………………..  1988

Sixteen Candles…………………………………. 1984

Dirty Dancing …………………………………....1987

St. Elmo’s fire…………………….…………….... 1985

The Empire Strikes Back ……………………….1980

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1980'S SLANG  DICTIONARY
* 411 - information
* Ace - best; awesome; terrific.
* Airhead - A stupid or unaware person; moron, 
dim-wit.
* Amped -totally excited about something.
* B.F.F. - Best Friends Forever.
* Bag/Baggin Bag - to talk down on a person.
* 'Bag Your Face!' - Shut Up!
* Bangin' -  Awesome
* Barf Me Out- expletive  - you hate it
* Betty - girl
* Big Time - Awesome
* Bimbette - a girl who is stupid, an airhead
*  Bitch'n (Bitchin')-very cool
* Bite Me! - Get Lost, Go Away
* Bohunk -dumb, large jock.
* Bombdigity - awesome
* Bomb - Something favorable.
* Book - Leave, get out
* Bootleg - not the real thing
* Boss -excellent, superior.
* Bounce -Means to get out of here, leave
* Boy Toy - a cute guy that dates older woman.
* Skater-someone who acts like they're working 
hard, but they are hardly working.
* Buggin' - When someone is acting out or 
doing something stupid,loosing one's mind
* Bulk - very good
* Bunk - Not cool.
* Burn Out - A druggie; someone who smokes 
cigarettes/doesnt care about themselves i.e. in 
general a derogatory term
* Butt Ugly - Unattractive
* Can you relate? - Do you get it?
*  Chill (Take a Chill Pill) - Relax
* Choice - Extremely cool
* Clutch - cool
* Chillin' - Relaxing
* Cornchip - a punk or new wave look.
* Couch Potato - Someone who sits in front of 
the TV on their couch or sofa.
* Cowabunga - Surf term,get ready here we 
go/up for the challenge.
* Crunk -Somthing that is cool or hip.
* D.I.N.K. - To descibe a married couple. Dual 
Income No Kids
* Dag Spanky! - Wow!
* Dang Skippy! - Strong affirmation or 
agreement.
* Dank - Really good
* Deadly - Wickedly cool
* Dexter - Smart, kinda preppy, but not overly 
nerdy.
* Diesel -Cool, awsome, radical, basically 
something very good
* Ditz - A less harsh way of describing a person 
who is not very smart.
* Down - In agreement.
* Doy (Doi) - Short for "No duh" or "no doy".
* Dyno - Short for dynamite; a response to 
something one is looking forward to.
* Eat My Shorts - Phrase used as a comeback. 
Heavily in use in the 80's and also used on 
TV's 'The Simpsons'.
*  Fer Sure - Obviously, Of course
* Fine - cute, a hot guy or girl
* Flash - Cool, awesome
* Freaked Out (Freak Out) - scared, excited
* Freak - a hottie who likes to have fun
*  Gag me with a spoon - expletive - you hate it
* Gamer -avid video game player
*  Glam - An object or a person who is 
glamorous. Either for positive or negative use.
* Goth/Gothic - someone who likes the cure,  
skinny puppy & ministry
*  Grill - teeth, smile, or ask a lot of questions
* Grindage - food
*  Grody - Gross
*  Hacker -Computer genius. In 'WarGames', 
Mathew Broderick played a hacker.
*  Hairdog - Someone who sports a 'mullet' or a 
really big permed 'mall' hair doo.
*  Happen'n - Very cool; up-to-date or current 
in style.
*  Head Banger -Fan of heavy metal music.
* Metalheads - someone who listened to rock 
and dressed the part
* Homefry -a close, or best, friend.
* Hotdogger - surfer.
* In the Mix - Cool.
* Jams - Songs, Music
* Joanie -A boring, not-so-hip girl. From the 70s 
and 80s show 'Happy Days', specifically, Joanie 
Cunningham (Erin Moran), the unhip girl of the 
50s.
* Kicker -A kicker is a hick; a cowboy. they drive 
trucks with grill gaurds and wear wrangler jeans.

* Kirk Out -To really freak out, get super angry 
or crazy about something
* Legit -It means legitimate, legal, honest, or a 
sure deal, or the real McCoy.
*  Mega - cool, good
* Mental - someone or something stupid or 
screwed up.
* Mondo - Cool; nice; neat.
* Most Triumphant - excellent or above average.
*  Narc -Tattle tale or sell out. "Don't narc me 
out man." "He told the teacher, he's a narc."
*  New Wave -A type of heavily synthesized pop 
music performed by groups like A Flock of 
Seagulls, Duran Duran, The Busboys, 
Thompson Twins and Eurasure.
* Noob -A new person to a game; a loser.
* O-rama - Suffix you affix to a word to describe 
the whole spectrum of the meaning.
* Ooglay -Extremely ugly.
* Pac-Man -A person with a voracious (and 
often humongous) appetite; one that will eat 
EVERYTHING *edible* in sight!
* Ralph - To throw up.
* Righteous -Same as awesome or cool.
* Schweet -Sweet
* Shiz Nits (Schiznick) - awesome
* Shred/Shredding/Shredded - good music or 
skateboarding / surfing
* Sick - Cool
*  Skeezer - a girl who is always all over popular 
guys.
* Space Cadet - Airhead, Ditz.
* Spazzing - Overly excited. An exaggeration of 
being excited.
* Spiffy (Spiff) - cool, awsome
* Sportin' - To wear an article of clothing or to 
wear your hair a certain way.
* Sprung - Totally in love, infatuated.
* Stud -A very good looking guy.
* Tight -Really cool.
* Totally Tubular - awesome
* Trippin' - Verb, Acting in an unbelievable 
manner.
* Wastoid -a waste of space, a loser. Emilio 
Estevez calls Judd Nelson a wastoid in The 
Breakfast Club.
* What's Crackalackin'? -What's goin on. 
What's happening. Rhetorical greeting.
* Where's the Beef! -Expression used to show 
one is being ripped off or shorted.
*Wigging/Wig-out -Someone that is freaking out.

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