OK Roy - we missed it - but you have to admit that it is not often you would encounter a random poster here who claims ignorance of VP who would be willing and able to buy a flight of 42's for a birthday party
That said, it's great to see more people posting questions here.
I tend to drink my VP without food. I enjoy food with VP, but not the other way around.
My advice would be to enjoy great VP's with no interference from food flavours. Lesser VPs' I would drink with food because each can improve the other. High quality food or high quality wine should stand on their own feet.
No problem, if your ever in the L.A. area let me know.
As for food, I've had Port with food numerous times with no problems. Truth be told I often have a glass of Port with dinner (ok, I'm more a Port geek than wine geek 8) ) Most of those glasses are LBV's, tawny's or ruby's. I try and save the older VP's to drink by themselves. Just sitting back with friends and family, talking, and drinking a bottle or 2 or 3 or.....
I agree with the above recommendations — Taylor 1948, Fonseca 1955, Noval or Nacional 1963 — but add Taylor 1970 as a great joy. And, again like too many others above, I am available that weekend and would love to join your father on his sixty-fifth birthday.
Great to see you here at FTLOP. I hang out here as well, as it's a great site and a bunch of friendly folks.
I would recommend the 1942 port be enjoyed by itself at the end of the meal, as part of a toast to your dad on his big day.
As far as sourcing it, I would highly recommend giving a shot to The Chicago Wine Company in Niles, IL. They not only do auctions but also source a lot of wine from Europe. Their website is http://www.tcwc.com. You can call Simon Lambert there at 847-647-8789. They were very successful in sourcing some 1950 Bordeaux and Sauternes wines that I needed, in addition to a great Niepoort 1950 Colheita port.
Let's get together some time a pop a few bottles. We'll get you turned on to Madeira too. Then there's no turning back!
I echo Roy's suggestion on the 1942 Vintage Port. I've tried the Croft from 1942 and it was fantastic. The only trouble is they are damned difficult to get hold of. Winesearcher will be a must.
BUT, I have a real concern (and not the same of Derek's, that your Dad won't invite him to the party). You have a stunning list of wines that you have put together for the evening. Are you convinced that by the time you reach the end of the meal that everyone will be able to savour and enjoy a port that is so unique?
I must admit that I enjoy my port with a meal, but I seem to be a freak on this forum in that respect. Personally, I would probably spread the list of stunning wines you've mentioned over 2-3 days so that the earlier ones don't dull the beauty of the later ones. I always think it such a shame that so many people are not able to fully appreciate the beauty of properly aged VP at the end of a meal. So my contribution to Roy's strapline competition would be "Vintage Port - Drink Before The Meal!
If money really is no object then the best VP in the world and one of Wine Spectators top 10 wines of the last century was the 1931 Quinta do Noval Naçional - if you can find one at auction it will go for around $10,000 per bottle, but finding it will be a real challenge. The people who have them are not generally people who will sell them.
Best of luck and please tell us how the party goes and what you think of the ports.
- but you have to admit that it is not often you would encounter a random poster here who claims ignorance of VP who would be willing and able to buy a flight of 42's for a birthday party 
