Buffalo wings stew inside an old army helmet. Bacon sizzles on a handsaw. Pancakes and eggs cook in the well of a shovel. And over one bin, a rake grills cheese sandwiches and hot dogs. Adding to the spectacle, the Ketchup Dude perches on the roof of the car and  squirts ketchup onto people's hot dogs.

"Pinto Ron is probably the most unusual tailgater I've seen," says Joe Cahn, who ought to know. Cahn, founder of the New Orleans School of Cooking and the Louisiana General Store, was so impressed by the atmosphere and the people he met while attending his first few tailgate parties in 1995 that he left the restaurant world to become the "Commissioner of Tailgating." Every football season, he logs up to 30,000 miles in the JoeMobile, a 40-foot luxury mobile home, traveling from stadium to stadium in search of the perfect party.

 "Tailgating is the last great American neighborhood. It is the new American social. It replaces going to the park and having a picnic," Cahn says. "At a tailgate party, you get to meet the community � people of all economic groups, all backgrounds and all ages. People of every persuasion sit and talk."

Cahn and Pinto Ron are serious tailgaters. But you don't have to charbroil the hood of your car to throw a great tailgate party. In fact, you don't even have to be a football fan. Even people who find ballgames a snore can have a blast at a tailgate party. All that's needed is a little planning and a dash of creativity.

The Game Plan
Despite the transient nature of tailgating, these are well-organized affairs that benefit from invitations, RSVPs and a good amount of planning.

� Confirm in advance exactly where to park the car, which is the nucleus of the party.

� Arrive for the game early. Normally, parking lots open four to five hours before game time and stay open two to three hours after the game. But policies vary by stadium. Find out where you can set up your grill and how early you should arrive to get a parking place.

� Create theme invitations by photographing your car with the tailgate down or the trunk open. Spread out a blanket or checkered tablecloth topped by a picnic basket and ice chest.

� For a casual get-together, go potluck. Ask each guest to bring a dish or a supply, such as the grill or lawn chairs. Make specific assignments, if necessary, to ensure that you don't end up with 18 platters of chicken wings.

� Tailgate foods and decorations range from lobster and linens to bologna sandwiches and a boom box. It all depends on your tastes.

� The best tailgate decorations sport the colors of the team you're rooting for. Theme the food to the afternoon's competition: gumbo and jambalaya for New Orleans, seafood or New England, ribs for Kansas City.

� Focus on simple recipes that can be completely or partially prepared before the game. Cut, dice and marinate the night before, and have everything ready in plastic bags to reduce the amount of dirty dishes you have to lug home.

� Always bring extra food. Part of the fun of tailgating is meeting new people. Your party will likely swell beyond the ranks of invitees, including fans from surrounding cars.

Serving Essentials
� TV trays
� Blankets and folding chairs
� Plenty of paper towels and/or a wet rag placed in a plastic bag to keep it moist
� Plenty of ice
� Hand sanitizer
� Garbage bags
� First-aid kit
� Jumper cables
� A radio or TV for pregame music or the game itself
� A football to toss around