“Most etymologists believe that barbecue derives ultimately from the word barabicu found in the language of the Taino people of the Carribean. The word translates as sacred fire pit and is also spelled barbicoa or barabicoa. The word describes a grill for cooking meat, consisting of a wooden platform resting on sticks.”
(from wikipedia )

Have Plenty of Beer

Get a keg, or else fill one of those plastic buckets with ice and bottles of MGD (Champagne of Beers!) but whatever you do, make sure you don’t run out.

I also advise against Tecate.  If must go Cheapest Possible, at least spring for PBR.

Invite Someone that will Want to Man the BBQ

If you’re throwing a party, you want to be able to mingle and make sure there is plenty of salsa.  You don’t want to spend the entire time sweating over a fire and flipping burgers.  This is why you should invite at least one control freak (who is probably a man) who will take control of the BBQ and not relinquish it until everyone is full.  And maybe not even then.  As long as you are prepared for this inevitability and embrace it you won’t feel like punching him when he tells you you’re doing it wrong – you’ll just gracefully step aside and refill the punch bowl.

Have Plenty of Water

This water can take many forms:

ice
drinking water
squirt guns
water balloons
kiddie pool
or, my personal choice, SLIP N SLIDE!

But if it’s BBQ weather, it’s hot and people will get dehydrated, and then they – will start getting cranky.  No fun.  Stay hydrated.

Don't Invite Vegetarians

I know/tolerate a lot of vegetarians.  I might invite them to a cocktail party – or a salad party if that existed – but I wouldn’t invite them to a barbecue.  No one wants to accidentally bite into a “Notdog” or “Boca Burger” when they expected real meat.  And no doubt they’ll complain that one thing or another is contaminated.

Don’t even get me started on vegans.  They don’t get invited to ANY parties.

Have Awesome Tunes

Now that everyone has an ipod, everyone thinks they are a DJ.  Just make sure you don’t include Bright Eyes or Mariah Carey on your Party Shuffle or everyone will know that you secretly suck.

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