Happy Hours.

The Art of the Drive-by

The Art of the Drive-by Even the most well-mannered among us are guilty of the ten-minute party hit-and-run. You might as well do it right. * Map it out. Once you've figured out how many parties you can hit in one night, make a plan. Karella bases hers on geography: "I start at whichever one is closest, then drift outward -- that way I'll at least be on time once." And Lansing always saves the best for last. "The final stop of the evening allows me to stay the longest." * Honesty is an option. If the hostess is a good friend, call ahead and let her know that you won't be able to stay. "Be gracious and ask her, 'When do you most want me to be there?'" Shriftman says. * be seen. Jill Kargman, coauthor of The Right Address (Doubleday), claims that, "as long as you get in the hostess's line of vision three times, you're golden." * Pace yourself. Obey the one-drink-per-party rule. "You don't want to get too drunk, especially if you're driving," Zegarelli says. * Dress for departure. De Kanavos slips on a cropped jacket: "A J. Mendel fur is light enough to wear indoors on my shoulders, so I can skip the coat-check line." * Be the first to exit. If you've been at a party less than half an hour, it's best not to call attention to it with a good-bye. "I'm a master of the 'French exit,'" Kargman says. "The hostess is always too busy to notice you slipping out." Gerber reminds that it's important to be the first to do it, though: "Because people will follow -- and if you're the last couple at the table, you're stuck." * Tell a white lie. If you get caught sneaking out, Ervin says the only thing you can do is fib. "Explain that you tried to find the hostess, but you were rushed," she says. Gerber blames her early exit on the babysitter, while Lansing lays the onus on an early meeting. "Work is always a great excuse," she says. * Or tell the truth. "I'm always home for Jon Stewart," Kargman says. "I'll say, 'I'm sorry; The Daily Show is starting in ...