Using family events to network is unseemly, if all too common. It leads to awkward interactions such as you describe, when really the focus should be on the children. Social value should not be ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m hosting a party with my best friend. We used a social networking site as our form of invitations; it’s a really informal event. My best friend’s ex-girlfriend saw it and has ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was invited to a dinner party and to watch an awards show on TV. One of the hosts yelled repeatedly about the results, complained about just about everything and dropped a lot of ...

A host of an annual Kentucky Derby party is frustrated that most guests don’t respond to invitations, making it difficult to ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am planning a birthday party for my 3-year-old daughter. Last year, for her second birthday, we did a small event at home, and she was pleased about it. I only invited friends ...