Friendsmas do's and don'ts with Montreal's hospitality experts

With the holidays come Friendsmas parties, those ideal and intimate events where you can get together for good times with everyone from loved ones and acquaintances to total strangers you're meeting for the first time.

But good party planning is a skill in itself, and it can be difficult to know how to do it right. We thought it best to leave it to the professionals, people who know the ins and outs of hospitality, what it means to be a good host, and who have good social common sense.

So we spoke with four experts in the field—Tavern on the Square co-owner and Bromellier co-founder Jon Cercone, Bistro La Franquette co-owner and general manager Renée Deschenes, Tuck Shop co-owner Jon Metcalfe, and Nolan host and server Tiffany Golarz—for a do's and don'ts guide to Friendsmas that covers everything from the logistics of hosting and food & drink options to creating the right atmosphere, entertainments, gift-giving, how to make nights memorable, and faux pas to avoid.