The venue

If you've got a half-finished basement in your home, this is the perfect location to host your anti-social. The small windows, exposed piping and few pieces of furniture will have you feeling like you're really in your local community hall. If you're in an apartment, choose a room where you can easily draw the blinds and turn the lights down low. Finish the room with minimal decorations, pull the old lava lamp or disco ball out of storage or string up the Christmas lights to add a bit of fun lighting to your venue.

The music

The music at a social really sets the scene. A good social playlist has the power to keep people dancing for an hour then give them a break with a slow song at just the right moment. One thing is for sure when it comes to socials, you need a large variety of songs that everyone can enjoy. We've put together a Spotify playlist for you to get up and groove to in your own home. Get up and start dancing or use the playlist to inspire a more personalized list for your solo dance party.

The food

Throw a plastic table cloth over your kitchen table and lay out the "late lunch" spread. Here's the menu:

• Rye bread
• Kubasa and sliced deli meats
• Cheese – three types of cheddar: orange, white and marble
• Pickles
• Crackers
• Vegetable platter – carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and celery that no one will eat
• Condiments – mayonnaise, mustard and ranch dressing

If you want to up your "late lunch" game while at home, consider making chicken fingers and homemade honey dill sauce. It's still finger food and will make your anti-social extra Manitoban.

Pro-tip: if there's more than just you in your household you can practice the art of meat shouldering. Bizarre though it is, this is a gag that's often pulled at socials. The goal is to stealthily place a piece of deli meat on the shoulder of your unsuspecting victim. Then, you simply wait to see how long it takes for them to catch on.

The drinks

Socials don't always have a selection of the best drinks. Luckily, when you're hosting a party for yourself you can get exactly what you like. I recommend something local. You can now get local, wine, cider and spirits, as well as beer from a few different breweries, delivered right to your door.

We also recommend a classic Manitoban Rye & Sev. Just two ingredients – made-in-Manitoba Crown Royal and 7-Up – make this an easy yet tasty drink for an at-home party.

Traditionally, a social is designed to raise money through entrance tickets, raffle tickets and liquor sales. Obviously that's hard to do at a party for one! But please consider how you can give back to the community at a time like this.

Many of us may not have the ability to give right now, but for those of us who can, there are many ways we can help out. Even something as simple as shopping local at restaurants and businesses that are offering delivery or donating to local businesses through Local Futures helps support people from our community and ensure that when this is over, we still have strong local businesses.

If spending money isn't an option, consider spending time instead. Help Next Door MB is a platform that connects volunteers with those who need help. You can sign up to help pick up groceries, phone someone to offer moral support, or help virtually with technology questions.

That's all you need to host your own anti-social at home! Enjoy your isolation and thanks for staying home!