Good Hostesses Make Good Neighbors

The unfortunate downside of living in the middle of an exciting city is that spacial constraints often prevent the palatial estates a good hostess was born to occupy.

As such, having a successful party can be the best of times, and the worst of times.

It's great that your guests want to stay, that they play songs, that they shout, and laugh, and talk over each other.

It's not great that your downstairs neighbor is one high heeled-step away from calling the police.

Your party may not be a rager, but if it's more than you and the latest Ryan Gosling flick (and ain't nothing wrong with that kind of party), it may lean more toward "Let's Get Loud" than "The Sound of Silence."

So plan ahead.

I'm a Type-A Catholic with general anxiety disorder, so have a compulsory belief that everyone is mad at me, all the time. This makes me a very good neighbor. Having had very, very bad neighbors has also made me a good neighbor.

Here is how I keep my hallway cred:

• Plan ahead. Let your neighbors know that you're having a party. Whether it's dinner or miscellaneous libations, stop them in the hall to say, "Hey, just wanted to let you know that I'm having a few people over this Saturday. It won't be late."
• Make it not late. Take the show on the road if you're not planning on turning into a pumpkin at midnight. People get grumpy when their sleep is interrupted by Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" on repeat, even if you warned them. 
• Be mindful of heels. I don't like asking guests to take their shoes off, but if it's close friends and you have wood floors, it may lower your anxiety levels for the evening. If not, just ask gently when your guests walk in that they try and step lightly - blame your lame neighbors. 
• Invite them. If your neighbors aren't lame, why not invite them? You don't have to worry about the noise, and they might even help you clean up the yard after. 
• Give them a treat. Even if you were naughty, they can still have a treat. Cut a piece of the cake you made, or save them some chicken and drop it off the next day as a token of your infinite appreciation and expectation that they'll be as easy to entertain above next time.