My spouse and I regularly do a Wednesday night dinner. One person cooks, everyone eats, and the cook rotates. People get a small break from the weekly grind while leaving early enough to work the next day. People get a nice social conversation, and most of them get a night off of cooking. It works quite well if you can get your friends to commit to it.

Neither are possible for me. I live in a small bedroom flat. The biggest dinner party I could have is two guests and I can't sublet a room when there is only one.

from my perspective, both require way more disposable income and time than is reasonably available. perhaps i'm not being charitable and full disclosure: i don't live near many friends.

Not the same person, but in my case:

- I don't have friends nearby, so I'd be mostly having a "come one, come all" potluck with strangers in my building.

- All the units in my building are the same, so no one is curious to come over.

- About half the units are corporate apartments rented by Google for visiting employees and applicants.

- No one uses the online message board, except the leasing office employees.