I've never been to, but have heard Murder Mystery Dinners can be fun.

My favorite hosts, Frasier and his brother Niles have had "your favorite literary figure" and "your favorite hero" themed parties. Both went terribly wrong...but had great potentional

If I were giving a theme party, I would choose a Great Gatsby theme. I love that era and that movie.

I did a quick google search and there are many sites that give party ideas, including food, costume, games, etc.

How about everyone coming as their favorite artwork? Folks could either dress as a character from a painting or as a statue or something. Your parties must be a lot of fun!

How about a Global Warming party?

How about a Las Vegas theme? Guests could dress as their favorite Vegas entertainers. And you could play Black Jack, Roulette...things like that. And if you specified headline singers or comedians, you could have a microphone so you could sing or have a comedy routine presented by each guest.

Or a musical dinner where every couple must make up a song about the dish they bring. Sung to a familiar tune, each couple must serve their own dish while singing their song.

I was thinking of bingo night, dressing crazy with nails painted to read bingo on each hand or eye shadow that says bingo. The guys can make Bingo hats, shirts or belts etc. that say things like "Bingo Man" with felt tip pens, etc.

Each card costs a dime and the winner keeps all, ending the night with blackout, where the cards cost a quarter.

Sounds like fun! I have never been to a theme party other than Halloween.

Have you done Mardi Gras? It falls on February 16 this year, so the timing would be perfect.

Or Chinese New Year, which is February, 28. It's the Year of the Tiger. Each guest can dress like their zodiac animal, and personality profiles and horoscopes can be given for each guest. Party favors can include fortune cookies presented in "take-out" style containers. If you & your friends like Chinese food, & haven't had the chance to eat it together as a group, this could be a most auspicious time to do so!

Or pick an era. say the 80s. Have everyone come in their fav 80s look or whatever era you pick 60s is fun and easy.

Choose a favorite film, or film series - Gone with the Wind, 2001, The Devil Wears Prada, Star Wars, James Bond, The Godfather, Lord of the Rings, etc.

Or a favorite tv show - The Simpsons, The Jetsons, The Flinstones, Friends, Cheers, Lost, etc.

Thanks for all the great ideas! I'm going to save them all for future reference. I talked to a couple of friends who are in the group, and they reminded me that we're doing this on a Fri. night instead of Sat. (usually it's Sat.) so the 'theme' needs to be pretty simple -- it's just harder on a Fri. night. So we're sticking with the Apres Ski idea (realized we actually have not done it before).

Glad you came up with something. You could also do a superbowl tailgate party since it isn't that far from superbowl if ya'll are into football.

Oh! Don't you think a cheese fondue dinner would be fun for your theme? Fondue's history lands squarely on ski slopes.

golddust, funny you mentioned that -- one of the guests is bringing fondue for dessert! Main course will be chili two ways -- one meat, one vegetarian. Someone else is making cornbread... etc.

For my apres-ski outfit, I'm thinking I'll have my arm in a sling or a big bandage on my head. ;)

Remember 'white parties' in the '80s? They can be fun again. Everyone owns quite a number of white clothing pieces that they can put together in an outfit.

Serve punch made with tonic so that it glows. Serve creative glowing drinks. Jello can glow too.

Use some Depression glass or Vaseline glass serving pieces that glow if you can.

So glad you posted this, I am always looking for dinner party ideas!

Great ideas everyone!