As a remedy for a life of seclusion, I have a bit of advice - bring the bar to you. With some simple preparation, you can have a bar right in your home. There are many advantages to this. First of all, the guest list can be as selective as you want it. This weeds out obnoxious, random bar patrons. Second, you do not have to fumigate your entire wardrobe after an evening surrounded by stale cigarette smoke - unless you choose to let your guests smoke. Third, you can pick the music and atmosphere you are in the mood for. And finally, having your own bar is much more cost effective in the long run. By mixing your own beverages, you do not shovel out an average of $5 a drink, tip for the bartender or fare for the cab ride home.

Having a bar in your home is a great alternative to the regular routine of bar hopping - it mixes things up. But if you're feeling pressured at the thought of hosting a group, enlist the help of a friend and the night is sure to be a blast.

Here are some tips I found helpful, as well as some common and fun drink recipes.

• Don't feel as if you need to play bartender all night - leave the liquor and mixes out buffet style and let people help themselves. This way you are able to circulate and mingle with friends, and your guests are more likely to feel at ease if you are having a good time as well.

• Don't be afraid to ask friends to help foot the bill for the alcohol. You are being gracious enough to host the party, let others help pay for the booze. When inviting the guests you do not have to have a set cover charge, but you can let them know donations are accepted - and needed to keep your bar in business!

• Classy glasses are fun, but you don't have to ditch the plastic cups in order to have a great time. Disposable cups are cheaper, will serve more people, and make cleanup easier. However, if you have the sleek martini/cocktail/hurricane/collins glasses, use them. They certainly add to the ambiance of your at-homebar.

• A tip for cleanup: have trash cans available, and make sure they don't get too full. People will gladly dispose of trash in the correct way if it is right in front of them - so you can make your own job easier if you keep the trash accessible. It is also great if you have a separate bin for cans or bottles, so recycling is simple.

Good mixes to have on hand: • Grenadine • Rose's lime juice • Carbonated beverages: coke (vanilla and cherry are sometimes fun alternatives), sprite, or tonic water • Juice: orange juice, cranberry, lemonade, or grapefruit • Coffee, cream or milk, good for cold nights when hot drinks are appreciated

Staple liquor/liqueurs to have around: Commercial bars have six liquors in their wells that are always within reach - these are the most commonly used liquors that you may consider having in your own bar: Tequila Scotch, Bourbon, Gin, Vodka, Rum

Liqueurs that spice things up: Amaretto Kahula Crème de Menthe Peppermint Schnapps Bailey's

Garnishes that make things fun: • Fruit is an easy and festive way to make any drink special. Lime, lemon or orange slices Pineapple wedges Cherries • Umbrellas help add a tropical feel • Olives and onions are also used for some drinks

Recipes: A speed bottle pourer makes serving drinks extremely easy, with no mess or measuring. Pouring to a count of 4 = one shot or one ounce.

For those sophisticates out there, try martinis and manhattans Martini or Gibson 6 drops Dry Vermouth 2 oz. Gin or Vodka Olive garnish (for a Gibson replace the olive with an onion) * For a dry martini use less vermouth

Manhattan A few drops Sweet Vermouth 2 oz. Bourbon Cherry Garnish

Easy favorites Cuba Libre – a rum and coke with lime 1 oz. Rum Coke Squeeze and garnish with a lime

Screwdriver or Greyhound 1 oz. Vodka Orange juice (grapefruit juice for a greyhound)

Tequila Sunrise 1 oz. Tequila Orange juice A splash of Grenadine Cherry garnish

Sex on the Beach 1 oz. Vodka 1 oz. Peach Schnapps Equal parts orange, pineapple and cranberry juice * Some people like to add a splash of cream

Fuzzy Navel 1 oz. Peach Schnapps Orange juice * For a screaming fuzzy navel top with 1/2 oz Vodka

Cream Drinks and Hot Drinks It is best to mix the cream drinks before pouring in the serving glass Grasshopper 3/4 oz Green crème de Menthe 3/4 oz White crème de cacao 3/4 oz. Light cream

Dreamsicle 1 oz Amaretto 1 oz Orange juice Cream

Snuggler 1 oz. Peppermint Schnapps Hot chocolate Top with whipped cream

Mexican Coffee 1 oz. Kahula Hot Coffee

Italian Coffee 1 oz Amaretto Hot Coffee Top with whipped cream

There are many ethnic drinks that can be made with coffee and liquor. You can make it more exciting by adding whipped cream and various flavored liqueurs.

There is a lot of equipment on the market, but I have found that as long as you have two of the essentials, you can easily get by: a speed pourer, about $2 each, and a stainless steel strainer, around $9.

These are just a few tips on how to can take a break from the routine Friday/Saturday night bar scene. There are hundreds of books available that provide many more recipes for making drinks. There are also stores and on-line sites where you can get equipment that will help make your at-home-bar experience entertaining and easy.

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