Author Topic: Housewarming question . . . what do you think of this? OP #22  (Read 2720 times)

jpcher

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I received an e-vite from my niece and her husband entitled "Punchbowl"

First question is what is a Punchbowl?


The invitation is worded:

You're invited!
The LastName's Housewarming!
Stock the Cellar
date, time 2:00 (no end time), address.


Additional wording on the side of the e-vite says:

We would love to welcome you to our forever home! Come enjoy friendly company while touring our new house. In lieu of traditional gifts, we are asking those who wish to bring something to bring your favorite bottle of wine or liquor to help stock our 700 bottle capacity wine cellar!


I have some thoughts, but would like to hear your take on this type of invitation before I share.

What say you?

« Last Edit: August 30, 2019, 04:04:11 pm by jpcher »

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Aleko

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A punchbowl is a large bowl in which to mix and serve punch. (Which, historically and in Britain to this day) is a strongly alcoholic mixture of five (which in Sanskrit is pancha) ingredients: spirits, sugar, lemon, water, and flavourings (eg tea, spice, fruit); but I gather in the USA is a soft drink. What this has to do with your friends' housewarming is moot.
« Last Edit: July 18, 2019, 01:32:24 am by Aleko »
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gramma dishes

A punchbowl is a large bowl in which to mix and serve punch. (Which, historically and in Britain to this day is a strongly alcoholic mixture of five (which in Sanskrit is pancha) ingredients: spirits, sugar, lemon, water, and flavourings (eg tea, spice, fruit); but I gather in the USA is a soft drink. What this has to do with your friends' housewarming is moot.

In the U.S. punch can be either alcoholic (as strong or mild as you want it) or totally non-alcoholic.  The non-alcoholic version is often served at wedding receptions in church activity rooms right after the ceremony.
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Sheena

First question is what is a Punchbowl?

Punchbowl is a site that does online invitations - it's a competitor of Evite.
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Hmmm

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I wouldn't be offended by the invitation. I think mentioning the size of the wine cellar comes across as braggy.

While we are not supposed to mention gifts on invites, I think it's become very common to give guidance when you know people will bring gifts.
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Rose Red

I'm actually happy when people tell me exactly what they want. Yeah you're not suppose to mention gifts but I personally never cared. If I like them and know they are basically good people, I'll give them a pass for this faux pas. If I'm offended, I'd just turn down the invitation.
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silversurfer

Punchbowl is also a town near Sydney, Australia. (just for random info).

I don't see a problem with the invite. I don't think I would bother mentioning the capacity of the cellar, but I can give them a pass because they are probably excited about their new house.


Runningstar

I think that the invitation is great - and it doesn't ask for a gift, it says for those wish to bring something to bring a bottle.  Really you could show up empty handed if you wanted to. 
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gramma dishes

Gifts really shouldn't have been mentioned, but I am favorably impessed by the wording which specifies that if you are going to bring something, then a bottle of YOUR favorite wine or liquor would be most appreciated.  In other words, it sounds like they aim to have stock on hand that will please you, their guests, at some future date.  That makes it kind of sweet.

Rho

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Punchbowl is most likely the site the invitation came from.

Niece would be sad if I brought my favourite bottle---cheap fruity moscado or perhaps three buck chuck.  I have poor taste in wine.
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Luci

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Fine with me. I would just give a bottle of Riesling and enjoy the party.

Aleko

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Quote
In the US punch can be either alcoholic (as strong or as mild as you want it) or totally non-alcoholic.

Ah - in that case it more or less equates to the British "fruit cup", which always has chopped fruit and often mint in it, which frequently makes it impossible to tell by the taste if its base is just fruit juice and soda water or is 50% vodka  (:o)

Punch isn't much favoured these days, outside old-fashioned Masonic lodges and the like; it is distinguished from fruit cup by being always strong and not full of bits of fruit.
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Chez Miriam

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I agree the '700 bottle' bit does sound a bit braggy, but am equally open to it being excitement.

Because of the way my mind works, I was immediately wondering how big that cellar would have to be, and found this.

I'm another one whose offering probably wouldn't make the grade: (when I'm drinking) I love cheap fizz.  I've found some champagne I get on with, but I'm often happier with the EUR <2 bottles that live on the bottom shelf of French supermarkets.

I would, of course, take something nicer!

Unless they're really entitled people, in which case they could have what they asked for.

I'm guessing/hoping that they're not gimme-pigs, otherwise jpcher would have mentioned this?
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."  - Julian of Norwich

Miss Cathy

I don't read the mention of the 700 bottle cellar as braggy, more like "isn't this insane? Wait 'til you see it! We'll feel a bit more like it belongs to us if we have at least something to put in a tiny part of it."
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wolfie

I thought housewarmings were not gift giving occasions. or if you give a gift it is a small token like a plant or salt.
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