FAQs for Guests
1. Is it hard to get into the dinner of my choice?
Part of the excitement of NN is the intrigue and anonymity of the hosts and dinners. Every two years, Pelham residents look forward to this event and to having the unique opportunity at the dinners to meet people with whom they might never cross paths. This is the original idea behind Novel Night and its core experience. Keep that experience alive!
As the invitation indicates, different dinners have different capacities. Some large dinners are easy to get into; smaller ones may fill up fast. We urge you to make your decision quickly and return your response card as soon as you can. Ticket sales go live September 13, 2018, at 8 p.m. All RSVPs must be received by October 1, 2018. When filling out the online form, indicate your first FIVE choices. Or indicate that you’re happy to attend any of our fabulous dinners! Dinner choices are not guaranteed, and are first come, first served, depending on availability. No refunds.
Sill have questions? Please e-mail the Friends @ friendsofpelhamlibrary@gmail.com. Thank you for supporting OUR town library. See you on November 17th!
2. What happens at the dinners?
What happens at the dinners, stays at the dinners. What we can tell you is that most hosts start with cocktails, and then serve a full meal. Some dinners are seated, others are buffet. Occasionally, the hosts will opt to do a cocktail-style party with heavy hors d'oeuvres. Look for that information on the invitation and on the Dinners page. Some hosts provide entertainment or other special treats that are novel-related. Please note that photographers will be taking pictures at the dinners, as well as at the After Party, to be shared by the Friends to promote and commemorate Novel Night.
3. How can I find out who's hosting the dinner that I might want to go to?
You can't. Part of what makes Novel Night so magical is the element of surprise. Step outside your ordinary circle; meet and mingle, drink and dine with people who share your passion for that certain special book. Then party with your friends, old and new, at the After Party.
4. I have special dietary considerations; will these be taken into account?
Although most hosts try to provide a broadly appealing menu, keep in mind that these dinners usually take place in private homes (and sometimes in restaurants) and there is a set menu. Depending on your dietary issue, some novels may be more suitable than others. For example, a vegan might not want to choose a Texas cowboy-themed novel.
5. What happens at the After Party?
After the dinners are over, all dinner guests, plus After Party-only guests, meet at the New York Athletic Club. There will be a DJ, dancing, desserts, an open bar, and a fabulous raffle. Come in cocktail party attire, or feel free to dress in your favorite costume. We won't judge you.
6. Does everyone really wear a costume?
Yes and no. Some dinners don't require a costume per se, but do require evening dress, or street clothes. Past examples of these non-costume costumes include Casino (evening dress), Father of the Bride (wedding-guest attire), High Fidelity (slacker wear), Sex and the City (you understand). Other dinners require much more elaborate dress, including things like togas; saris and kurta pajamas; costumes from the Elizabethan, Victorian, Edwardian, and Civil War eras and all decades of the 1900s; or characters from books like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. After Party-only guests usually wear evening attire. But if you just want to wear cocktail-party attire to a dinner, feel free. Again -- we won't judge you.
7. Where do people get their costumes?
Some people rent them from local rental shops. Others have costumes made professionally, or borrow components from friends.
8. Who chooses the novels?
The hosts choose the novels.
9. When will I find out what dinner I got into?
We realize that it takes time to plan and put together a costume, so we will try to let you know as quickly as we can.
10. Do I need to bring money to the After Party?
Yes, please. Although the desserts and open bar at the After Party are included in the ticket cost, we are planning an amazing raffle, special treats, and other new allurements that will require money. We will accept personal checks and credit cards. You might also want to have cash on hand to take a taxi home.
11. What happens to the money that Novel Night raises?
Novel Night is the main fundraiser for the Friends of the Pelham Public Library. The Friends contribute a substantial amount to the Library's annual operating budget through this biennial event; each Novel Night must earn enough money to enable the Friends to support the Library for two years. Please note that there are no refunds.
12. Why did my invitation not arrive/arrive addressed only to the man in (or formerly in) the house/arrive addressed to someone who is deceased or has moved?
We are sorry for these issues, but our printer mails the invitation directly, using a list that it purchases from a third-party vendor. Since we do not own the mailing list, we cannot make any changes to it. Please try to ignore these slights and just open the invitation anyway! If you did not get the invitation at all, you may pick one up at the Library, or print out the RSVP card and raffle ticket on this website.
Part of the excitement of NN is the intrigue and anonymity of the hosts and dinners. Every two years, Pelham residents look forward to this event and to having the unique opportunity at the dinners to meet people with whom they might never cross paths. This is the original idea behind Novel Night and its core experience. Keep that experience alive!
As the invitation indicates, different dinners have different capacities. Some large dinners are easy to get into; smaller ones may fill up fast. We urge you to make your decision quickly and return your response card as soon as you can. Ticket sales go live September 13, 2018, at 8 p.m. All RSVPs must be received by October 1, 2018. When filling out the online form, indicate your first FIVE choices. Or indicate that you’re happy to attend any of our fabulous dinners! Dinner choices are not guaranteed, and are first come, first served, depending on availability. No refunds.
Sill have questions? Please e-mail the Friends @ friendsofpelhamlibrary@gmail.com. Thank you for supporting OUR town library. See you on November 17th!
2. What happens at the dinners?
What happens at the dinners, stays at the dinners. What we can tell you is that most hosts start with cocktails, and then serve a full meal. Some dinners are seated, others are buffet. Occasionally, the hosts will opt to do a cocktail-style party with heavy hors d'oeuvres. Look for that information on the invitation and on the Dinners page. Some hosts provide entertainment or other special treats that are novel-related. Please note that photographers will be taking pictures at the dinners, as well as at the After Party, to be shared by the Friends to promote and commemorate Novel Night.
3. How can I find out who's hosting the dinner that I might want to go to?
You can't. Part of what makes Novel Night so magical is the element of surprise. Step outside your ordinary circle; meet and mingle, drink and dine with people who share your passion for that certain special book. Then party with your friends, old and new, at the After Party.
4. I have special dietary considerations; will these be taken into account?
Although most hosts try to provide a broadly appealing menu, keep in mind that these dinners usually take place in private homes (and sometimes in restaurants) and there is a set menu. Depending on your dietary issue, some novels may be more suitable than others. For example, a vegan might not want to choose a Texas cowboy-themed novel.
5. What happens at the After Party?
After the dinners are over, all dinner guests, plus After Party-only guests, meet at the New York Athletic Club. There will be a DJ, dancing, desserts, an open bar, and a fabulous raffle. Come in cocktail party attire, or feel free to dress in your favorite costume. We won't judge you.
6. Does everyone really wear a costume?
Yes and no. Some dinners don't require a costume per se, but do require evening dress, or street clothes. Past examples of these non-costume costumes include Casino (evening dress), Father of the Bride (wedding-guest attire), High Fidelity (slacker wear), Sex and the City (you understand). Other dinners require much more elaborate dress, including things like togas; saris and kurta pajamas; costumes from the Elizabethan, Victorian, Edwardian, and Civil War eras and all decades of the 1900s; or characters from books like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. After Party-only guests usually wear evening attire. But if you just want to wear cocktail-party attire to a dinner, feel free. Again -- we won't judge you.
7. Where do people get their costumes?
Some people rent them from local rental shops. Others have costumes made professionally, or borrow components from friends.
8. Who chooses the novels?
The hosts choose the novels.
9. When will I find out what dinner I got into?
We realize that it takes time to plan and put together a costume, so we will try to let you know as quickly as we can.
10. Do I need to bring money to the After Party?
Yes, please. Although the desserts and open bar at the After Party are included in the ticket cost, we are planning an amazing raffle, special treats, and other new allurements that will require money. We will accept personal checks and credit cards. You might also want to have cash on hand to take a taxi home.
11. What happens to the money that Novel Night raises?
Novel Night is the main fundraiser for the Friends of the Pelham Public Library. The Friends contribute a substantial amount to the Library's annual operating budget through this biennial event; each Novel Night must earn enough money to enable the Friends to support the Library for two years. Please note that there are no refunds.
12. Why did my invitation not arrive/arrive addressed only to the man in (or formerly in) the house/arrive addressed to someone who is deceased or has moved?
We are sorry for these issues, but our printer mails the invitation directly, using a list that it purchases from a third-party vendor. Since we do not own the mailing list, we cannot make any changes to it. Please try to ignore these slights and just open the invitation anyway! If you did not get the invitation at all, you may pick one up at the Library, or print out the RSVP card and raffle ticket on this website.
