birthday get-together - social etiquette

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What is your version of a birthday get-together over a Friday or Saturday and the way to handle it? You would be the one that was invited. You don't know anybody except the person that invited you. The person knows your social awkwardness and the invite was with the idea to get to meet more people. (I don't think this belongs in Love & Dating).

From what I searched on the web so far, it seems to be a social event that happens usually at a bar or restaurant and is an informal setting. I was also wondering if one should buy a drink for the birthday person, but then wouldn't the other people also be buying the person a drink. So that idea doesn't seem to gel.

What do you actually do? It is pretty much easy to stand like a statue and observe but then I'm not really being social. Anybody got experience with this?

where i live, most birthday gettogethers start out where the one throwing the party lives, although this is not required.
at any rate, the inviter supplies an initial amount of drinks and snacks, and when the supplied alcohol is depleted, the party moves to a bar (or everyone starts paying for themselves if you are already there)
if you go to a birthday, you are supposed to bring a gift (or at least share the costs of one with others), which is usually some special alcohol: a bottle of whiskey, a special type of beer or something like that.
at other parties, there is usually a (semi-volentary) tip-jar or an entry fee, or you are asked to bring your own drinks.
the best way to find out what the situation is in your specific case: ask the person that invited you; since he knows about your social awkwardness, he should understand.

as for the mingling. i usually start out talking to the one guy i already know, usually he is in a group already.
of course, if new guests arrive, the inviter leaves the group, but at that point, i am already in, so i stay there, identifying a few people that i can fall back to in new groups, if and when the current one falls apart. i keep up that tactic untill either the party ends or i reach my limit of social interaction.

this person, said that it will be drinks somewhere in the city. I assume for now until I get more details, that it will be at a bar or restaurant. Then also mentioned afterwards there will be a party for who ever is keen. So not sure if I should get that gift of expensive alcohol.

I didn't write back yet, because I didn't know if that would seem clingy. I wanted to say that I will join for drinks but then not be joining the partying part. I guess that would be enough socialising for me.

any thoughts?

Stalk,
The best thing to do when you are first attend is let the other person who invited you introduce you to the host.

1. Start out with the small talk
(What do you do? I like your place, Happy Birthday etc.)
2.Start up a conversation that goes in both ways.
3. Relax

The next thing you do is let the host introduce you to other people in the party that they are talking too and repeat steps 1,2 and 3.

It is your choice if you don't want to attend the party part if you feel that things are going to be too overwhelming for you. What I would do would be to talk to your friend who invited you and say, "Hey, I am coming later." However, steps 1-3 will be a big help no matter where you go.