Ah, Memorial Day. The smell of barbecue smoke perfumes the air and you can taste the promise of a three-day weekend. American flags wave in the afternoon breeze. Every hometown is putting on a parade. Your neighbors are probably making hamburgers and hotdogs in the backyard, putting away a few Miller Lites while they talk about their wasted youth. You sigh and think, “Wouldn’t it be nice to be a bit more creative and invite 20 of your closest friends to sample your casual, yet impressive spread?” And, yes, we think that precisely.

You start with pitchers of Tom Collins – the essence of summer on ice. Then you pass around little cups of gazpacho to sip while you smoke a little Chicago-style Italian beef on the grill for a couple of hours. Just as your friends start salivating ou pull out a cold roasted vegetable salad of green beans in an orange vinaigrette, and watermelon wedges from the fridge, all of which you have prepared in advance. Round it out with some decent crackers and cheese or crudite, maybe some chocolate cupcakes from the bakery, and you’re set.

Well, all it takes is a little planning, a little shopping and — as Susan Niemann of Ridgewells Catering advises for all parties — a signature drink. DCist has composed a menu to get your party started. Ladies and gentlemen, start your grills.