It's My Party
Webster's Dictionary defines "party" as: "a group of persons organized for the purpose of directing the policies of a government." This week I've asked my fellow Toonstackers to share cartoons about parties. The other kind, the fun kind (definition number 6), the kind I don't get invited to because I say things like "Websters Dictionary defines..." (and then proceed to give the wrong definition).
So crack open a rosé and join my fellow “partyers” (noun - less commonly partier) in this party of a Toonstack, i.e. “a detail of soldiers” (definition number 5).
Someone please invite me to a party. Any kind.
Navied
Brendan Loper
Party hack: If you want people to remember your name, do something unforgettable. Whether it be holding your hand over an open flame, folding a dollar bill into a little shirt, or giving a bartender a black eye with your nose while displaying your fake ID.
Hilary Campbell
I think my energy here is already well known, so my love of parties precedes me. I go wild on party planning. I think there's nothing better than bringing people together and forcing them to talk (eventually dance). When I imagine myself in 30 years, I'm a woman who cannot stop throwing dinner parties, and it's not because I want to cook. The dinner party will consist of some person near me grilling hot dogs and me eating a bowl of chips because the fact of the matter is I just want to talk. I want to talk to people ALL THE TIME. I think the greatest thing that's ever happened to humanity is small talk. Other people don't go to parties explicitly to avoid this, but I'm on the hunt for it. I go to this one coffee shop in my neighborhood simply because I know there's 3 old guys that sit there all day and they will talk to me (haha am i lonely...?) and it's one of the main reasons I host as many parties as I do. The people, they need to get together!
As far as I'm concerned, the actual "How Are You?" Jackpot is 3 "Well..." in a row because that means you're REALLY gonna be in for it. You're gonna find out who has gout, who's mother-in-law has been in town way too long, and who recently took a trip upstate but ended up having bad weather so it was such a disappointment.
Drew Panckeri
When you find yourself at a party, here are some great ice breakers for meeting new dogs: “who’s a good boy? (or girl)”, “do you want a snack? I have thumbs and access to a tray of baby carrots”; or just ask to see a favorite toy or ball, show that you’re interested in what they like.
Emily Flake
Grownup parties are the fucking worst, am I right? Especially if they’re populated by literary types? Anyway, I hope this guy absolutely strikes out, or worse, it goes really well and they get married and wind up in a Park Slope co-op with two kids (boy-girl twins, natch) that they send to private even though PS 321 is great, really, it’s just so *crowded.* Fuck these dorks.
Jason Chatfield
I’m writing to you from Jolly Old England, where the skies are as grey as my skin. My body clock is on Tokyo time, despite leaving from New York and entering London via Paris. I blame the complimentary meth they hand out in Economy. (It could have been pink Himalayan sea salt, but my French isn’t good enough to ask.)
Partying in Europe is different than the US or my homeland, Australia. In the US we play beer pong with red Solo cups. In Australia we hang a bag of wine off a spinning clothesline and call it “Goon of Fortune”. (Google at your own risk.)
I asked several local Europeans what they do to party and was told everything from “champagne and cocaine” to “lashing out and getting custom party mugs made at Vistaprint”.
Right now, my idea of a party involves remaining on the hotel sofa, eating takeout, and figuring out how to remove a Snuggie.
Cheers.
News Stack!
NEW! Check out this page for a consolidated list of Toonstack contributors’ books!
Hilary is hosting a Dance Party in Bushwick on May 9th!
Want a cartoonist at your special event? Check out Hilary, Sofia, and Emily Flake’s new venture, The Line Up!
Amy teaches cartoon classes on Patreon! Sign up now to get the recording of every past class!
Jason Chatfield has a new Substack about making art called Process Junkie! And Subscribe to Jason’s regular weekly Substack at NewYorkCartoons.com
Sofia Warren's got an advice column! Read it here.
“and I draw if I want to…”