Chicago Parties: The Bean

If I learned anything at college, it was how to hit a party theme over the head. From impersonating a fellow classmate each spring at Bizarro Beloit (complete with clothes stolen from their room) to affixing strings to my chest to become a harp during an "H" party, I graduated with a love of high- and low-concept fetes alike -- but nowadays, I love nothing more than a simple theme and the license to brutally overdo it. Behold: the Bean, a party and self-referential jokefest for Chicagoans all in one. Read on for decorations, activities, snacks, and more after the jump.

Bean Party: Decor by amelioratory on polyvore.com

Decor:
 * Play up--and create!--any and all shiny surfaces in your apartment. Cover doors, windowpanes, picture frames, hell, entire swathes of walls with aluminum foil. Do you have mercury glass, you lucky so-and-so? Bust it out forthwith.
 * Find cheap mirrors at the thrift store, or borrow your friends' dusty floor-lengths leaning against their closets, and place them all over the party space, preferably above eye level. And don't forget: no mirrored space is complete without a camera (disposable or digital, if you trust your friends) for taking pictures of your reflection. Better still if your mirror/camera placement gets in the way of the entire flow of the party, making everyone stop and wait while folks take photos.  
* Why not go to the party store with a crisp ten dollar bill? There you'll find silver balloons, sparkly garlands, and other silver things. For heaven's sake, just make it silver. Make everything silver.  

Bean Party: Snacks, Props, Etc. by amelioratory featuring tops

Food, drink, and costume:
 * Dress as the tourists dress. Where are your fanny packs? Where are your strap-it-to-your-body passport holder things? What do you own that says "Chicago" on it? Put it all on.  
* All snacks should be silver and/or bean-themed. Jelly beans. Bean dip. Coffee. If your friends are fancy and your party is small, try making everyone a silver fizz.  

A bean is a bean is a bean. Have fun!