Holiday Parties Don't Have to Be a Bad Time

Dec. 8, 2014 — The first week of December has come and gone and pretty soon it will be holiday party time. Brickunderground.com compiled a list of do's and don'ts for hosts to ensure they don't tick off building staff and neighbors. Advice includes letting the doorman and immediate neighbors know ahead of time that you're having a party; covering floors with cheap carpet, so dancing shoes don't drive downstairs neighbors batty; quieting down by 10 or 11 p.m.; and making sure party guests don't spill out of the apartment into common areas. If you're the one throwing the party, you may think these rules are an 11 on a Scrooge scale of 1-10. Not so much if you're the poor soul on 6C being serenaded by cackling merry people clomping up the stairs, past his door, to smoke on the roof. 6C probably didn't sign up for three or more hours' worth of foot traffic and noise. So even if party rules are already covered in your bylaws, the time is ripe for boards to distribute gentle reminders to residents who plan to host parties, to make sure guests have a good time without disturbing the rest of the building residents.