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Now, I know I just blogged about throwing the ultimate Kentucky Derby party, but trust me--the Preakness is way different. Baltimore and Louisville don't have that much in common, and it shows in the way they cele ate their Triple Crown races.
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So, if you want to throw a Preakness party, wipe the slate clean. Okay, now put betting and a big TV back on there. Sorry; it had to be done.
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While the Derby is known for its glitzy big hats, the Preakness is known for its Maryland pride. Deck your house out in all the yellow, black, and red that you can find, and fly those state flags proudly. Even with the warm winter, it's a little too early for black-eyed susans, but some other yellow flowers (tulips, marigolds, roses, or wildflower) tied with black ribbons will do nicely in their stead.
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Naturally, you're going to want to Maryland up your menu. Crab cakes, Maryland crab soup, cream of crab soup, crab dip--I think you see where I'm going here. Finish it up with some Berger cookies, Smith Island cake, or Otterbeins. And don't forget to mix some black-eyed susans and stock up on the Raven, Heavy Seas, Resurrection Ale, and Natty Boh for your non-cocktail-drinking friends.
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Perhaps the best part about the Preakness, though, is that you can actually go to it. There's the race itself, the infamous InfieldFest, headlined this year by Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa, and some really fun pre-Preakness events, like Black-Eyed Susan Day. Black-Eyed Susan Day benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and includes a number of specialty races, a cele ity jockey autograph session, book signings, and live music by Edens Edge.
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So whichever cele ation strikes your fancy, grab your planner and a pen, and get going!
