A soiree is the opposite of a
matinee, that is, a gathering held at
night, instead of in the daytime.
Usually, this was after the dinner hour, say, from 8:30 onwards. Depending on the local custom, one might wear
black tie or dressy dinner wear, and it is expected that drinks would be served and a
Midnight Supper would ensue around midnight. The overall atmosphere was similar to a
salon, in that the evening was supposed to be "pleasant, but educational", but different in that there was usually an informal entertainment (the classics might be
Oscar playing
Gershwin on the piano,
Einstein,
Oppenheimer, or a disciple of
Freud giving a short talk with Q & A, and/or suitable games) along with the chatter. Unlike a classic Midnight Supper, the activities would be strictly in-house. In terms of
Breakfast at Tiffany's, this is the kind of thing
George Peppard would be doing with his literary patron, or that Pete characterizes as "wine-cup and word games" in the end of
A Clockwork Orange.
As you might think, this was a prime activity for New York's elite in the early to mid 20th century, who found it a great way to entertain at home (during
Prohibition,
the Depression, and of course,
both wars), without the formality and expense of a full-dress
dinner party. A soiree is the quintessential "small, select, gathering"(no more than the Muses, yet more than the Graces) and is just a little decadent (fancy, grownups staying up late!). You wouldn't introduce your sweetheart to your parents at a soiree, nor would you expect keg
beer (though this is possibly one of the best pot and/or coke venues, should you be so inclined).
Should you decide to try this kind of thing for yourselves, you might underline the
Art Decoish or even
Mad Men feeling for the event: come in
vintage clothing (or at least dressy), provide
retro snacks and cocktails, and should your home be without a
grand piano, or you can't woo a local graduate student, arrange a viewing of a classic
film,
opera, or
play, or one of the TED talks, for general discussion. (For extra credit, try
Botticelli,
Charades, or an equally sophisticated word game, or invite people to display their creative works, whether literary, visual, or simply inventive.)
Food, since there aren't that many people who need to be fed, can be as simple as soup and crackers, or as lavish as a
Bird & Bottle (Whole cornish game hens with individual splits of sparkling wine -- or water). Other ideas are Hot Sandwiches (make ahead of time, warm up while everyone's finishing their drinks),
Fondue,
Welsh Rabbit, Creamed Mushrooms, Chicken, or Seafood on Toast (make in
chafing dish, offer bread and use of the toaster), or an elegant cold buffet.
With the food eaten, the evening is effectively over. Smile graciously, and see if you don't want to have another one, soon, while you're handing out coats.
And so, to bed!