Do manners matter? Well, yes, of course. White gloves may not be relevant in most circles these days, but a little courtesy never hurt anyone. I'm not sure where I got "White Gloves and Party Manners," because my mother wasn't terribly concerned with rules for situations that would likely never happen. (Her advice on complicated place settings: use the silverware from the outside in and, when in doubt, do whatever the oldest lady at the table does, because manners dictate that she's always right.) I teach my own children manners, constantly and without drama, just like my mother taught me.

Do you have entertaining anxiety? I did (and I still come down with a touch of it every now and then, especially if someone important is invited). How did I get over it? It dawned on me that I had never once resented being invited to someone's home. I never wondered, "Chips and dip? BYOB? Really? That's it?" or "Wow. Look at that stain on the sofa. These people are real slobs." Nope. I'm flattered and happy to be invited to mingle with old friends and meet new ones. Huge bash or intimate soiree, four course dinner or potluck — thank you for having me! This was even more clear on my recent trip to Cange, Haiti.

There is always that awkward moment at the beginning of a dinner party — the one that happens right after you've all found drinks and are now standing in loose clusters smiling tentatively at one another. Eventually, some brave soul will clear their throat and break the ice. And often, that's all you need. With that first ice breaker, the conversation is off and running! Are you a brave soul at dinner parties? What's your very best ice breaker?

Even if you don't send them, you're probably familiar with the concept of writing thank-you notes to dinner party hosts. But what about sending cards to guests, thanking them for attending? 

At dinner parties outside of your circle of colleagues, work tends to be fair game for conversation. In fact, it's often depended upon. "What do you do?" is about as common a conversation-starter as they come. But what about when you're hosting or attending a dinner party that's primarily made up of co-workers? To keep the conversation from turning into just another day at the office, there a few things that can be done.

"Can we bring kids?" Everyone has an opinion about children at parties. I have fond childhood memories of attending grown-up gatherings, for just a few minutes. I had to be reasonably polite, and I could snag a few delicious snacks, maybe even a glass of ginger ale. The rules were clear: children were welcome, only to a point. But things have changed.

The only thing worse than hounding your friends to show up at your shindig is not hounding and having one or two lone wolves in attendance. How do you avoid the fall out? Here are a few tips to make sure your party isn't picked last in the game of life. 

At a dinner party, where you sit and who you sit next to can make the difference between a fun-filled two hours and an evening of awkward conversation and polite boredom. Choosing the right seat isn't as easy as you might think; you have to consider the shape of the table, the number of seats, and — heaven forbid — what if there are two tables? Lucky for us, designer Alex Cornell has created a helpful (and funny!) infographic on finding the right seat at the table.

This week we're launching our Gatherings from The Kitchn series, with my Italian polenta supper the first of many dinner parties we'll share with you this year. What makes a great dinner party? Besides food, wine, and friends, what are the easiest ways to set a dinner party atmosphere? Here are my own top 5 habits for setting a dinner party atmosphere; these are all really simple things -- you may do them too without even thinking about them! -- but I'm curious to share, and for you to tell me if you do things differently! Here are my top 5 tips for creating a really good dinner party atmosphere...