Mad Men’s final chapter airs May 17. Bid everyone’s favorite chain-smoking, martini-swilling ad men and women a fabulous, boozy farewell with a lavish cocktail party and mid-century flair.
[savories]
>> The best cocktail parties serve food easily eaten with one hand—and it doesn’t take much research to see that iconic finger foods of the ’60s and ’70s make 
perfect accompaniments for a stiff martini. Serve a lavish spread of retro nibbles, including shrimp cocktail, pimento cheese ball, Ritz crackers, Swedish meatballs, deviled eggs, crudites, blue cheese-stuffed olives and pigs in a blanket.
>> For a fancier bash with a sit-down dinner, consider serving beef Wellington or chicken a la king paired with white dinner rolls, potato casserole and string beans. Or, ask guests to bring their favorite ’60s-era dish for a nostalgic potluck.
[sweets]
>> For desserts, why not go delightfully kitsch? Serve mini pineapple upside-down cake, ambrosia salad or a Jell-O fruit salad ring (etsy.com has great mold shapes).
>> Celebrate the show’s excesses in a fun way: offer each guest a box of candy cigarettes, available at oldtimecandy.com, or locally at Kirkwood Sugar Shack (151 W. Argonne Ave.).
[scene]
>> Check out amctv.com for decorations, including Mad Men masks, posters, door hangers, and even the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce company logo.
>> Ban all (OK, just some) modern electronics from the party area—hide cell phones, remotes, laptops and tablets. Put out a rotary-dial phone (check vintage shops) and black-and-white family photos.
>> Do a bit of treasure-hunting in local vintage stores—see if you can find era-appropriate serving trays, barware and household decor.
>> To get everyone in the ’60s mood, have back-to-back episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show (available for streaming on Netflix) playing in the background.
[sips]
>> This one’s a no-brainer. Keep it simple with martinis (vodka or gin, dirty or with a twist) and Manhattans (bourbon, vermouth and bitters).
>> Also have on hand some quality tonic water, so picky drinkers can sip on something simpler, like gin and tonics or vodka tonics. Fever-Tree tonic, available online and at most liquor stores, is always a good choice.
