You guys are killing me. I don’t have enough money to buy all these games I now want. 
Dude, is Rio Grande the best game maker out there?
No kidding! Fortunately Atlanta has such a vibrant gaming community that I have many opportunities to learn other people’s games before deciding to buy them myself. I hardly ever buy anything anymore that I’ve not tried at least once already.
If you’re interested in trying out Eurogames, check both meetup.com as well as the geographically-organized game group forums on BoardGameGeek for announcements of play groups. Most gamers are all too happy to teach their favorite games to newcomers.
If Rio Grande isn’t the best game maker, it’s one of the best game publishers out there. Most everything Rio Grande publishes here in the States is a localization of a game that was created in Europe, often Germany. According to their Wikipedia page Rio Grande is just now starting to publish original creations in the U.S.
Z-Man Games is another U.S. publisher that does the same sort of importing and translating, and they’ve got some really good titles under their belt. The company owner comes through Atlanta every few months to play and schmooze.
I’d suggest Qwirkle for a couple of reasons. First, it’s a very fun game, with simple rules, but surprisingly deep strategy. Second, it was created by a good friend of mine, who even as I type, is on her way to Germany to see if it will win the prestigious Spiel das Jahres award.
(And since I know her husband does regular Google vanity searches for “Qwirkle:” Hi, Chris!)
A friend of mine just recommended http://www.cardsagainsthumanity.com/ which is free to download. You’ll have to print it out on cardstock to play it.
So Spifflog, has your dinner already happened? What did you play?
One thing - if you want it to be more party and less game a lot of the games mentioned, like Cranium, can be played without the board and stuff. When our friends from LA visit we often play this kind of game. A great advantage is that you can end it when you want, and not when someone wins.
As for the more traditional game, I like Scotland Yard, since all players but one get to cooperate. I also like the logic involved, but it is a bit intense for a party game.
Qwirkle has indeed won the Spiel des Jahres. Congrats to your friend, Miller! I’ve never played it, but I’ve heard good things about it (like aforesaid award). I really should go grab a copy now.
This year, the SdJ jury has inaugurated the “Kennerspiel des Jahres” or Gamers’ Game of the Year. The first-ever award went to 7 Wonders. This one I have played and it’s quite deserving of the award, I think.
Oh, yes. A friend once used Thoth as her “celebrity”. We were like, “Do you mean Thor?” No, she meant Thoth. There was mockery, and it was vicious.
A standard card deck is an excellent multitasker - here is a very long list of different card games.
Hearts is the stand-by for me and mine, but it can get very cutthroat (might just be us, though, we’re competitive like that)
Munchkin is also fun, if very silly and geeky 
Every family seems to have its game. My grandmother’s was Spite and Malice. My brother’s wife’s was King’s Corner. My wife’s is Hand and Foot, but that takes multiple decks. Can’t wait to meet the family whose standard game is Spoon…