Hint #1 for beginning DM's: Starting a campaign out in a bar may seem cliche (and it is!) but often it's a lot easier than trying to convince all the characters to meet up later individually! It's not ALWAYS a cop-out, just most of the time.
Alrighty then. Here you go, yes, another list...
If you're having trouble with the little fun details that lend reality or pseudo-reality to your game, look for them in my inventory lists...I have created them at length for just such a purpose...and they've come in useful for many people.
My traps on the other hand...eek! They make being the DM fun...