I missed the race thing. And the not knowing everyone's names. This is where twice daily dog walks come in handy: you get to nod hello and build up acquaintances. Having no dog and being a minority... I'd substitute very obvious workout gear for the dog and do regular walks for the same effect. Is it too intrusive to ask what tribalities we're talking here? Because it's always more than race.

Here's a funny for you: so my family is ostensibly Chinese, but we don't know squat about that. My uncle advised us to study up on Chinese menus... ahaha! So we could talk not only to non-Chinese about Chinese stuff, but Chinese as well... ahaha!

I thought I had already commented re: the cocktail party aspect but I guess not so here goes.

Seconding the advice to disregard pressure/feeling like you have to do a cocktail party because your predecessors did. My parents entertained often (and still do) and always served alcohol. They have had ONE cocktail party ever. They hired a bartender and also engaged teenaged me and a friend to pass around the hors d'oeuvres. This is not the way to dip your toes in for the first time...