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be the perfect host/ess
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Mood
lighting is essential if you want to get that sexy, low-lit ambience
going. Green-tinged fluorescents and glaring overhead lights are
universally unflattering, and pretty much have no place at any party.
Replace your regular lighting with red bulbs (orange, yellow and pink
bulbs are fine as well, though I’d stay away from green or blue) or
low-wattage white bulbs. Strategic smatterings of candles here and there
– safely ensconced in glass hurricanes, or otherwise protected, of
course – are also a good idea, and strings of Christmas lights are a
quick and easy way to get some festive mood lighting going. The center
of any cocktail party is, of course, the bar. Have two bar areas: a
do-it-yourself area, where guests can make their own quick-and-easy
drinks – gin and tonics, vodka tonics, whiskey and cokes, and as
inevitably happens once debauchery really sets in, tequila shots -- and
a space where you, the cocktail expert, will hold court. Remember,
there’s no reason in the world that the bars need to be set up in the
kitchen. All you need is an ice bucket, cutting board, and a little
table-top space, and you can set up bar just about anywhere your little
heart desires. Naturally, you’ll want to make sure you have the necessary cocktail accoutrements. It’s always a big dilemma in my household, deciding whether to take the risk of losing all our nice stemware by serving drinks in real glasses, or taking the safer, and much less chic, route of disposable plastic. I tend to figure that there’s no point in having all these lovely martini glasses if I’m never going to actually let guests use them – although I do find that it minimizes on glassware loss if I’m the one who’s mixing most of the drinks, rather than letting guests grab whatever they need (I keep the self-serve bar area stocked with disposable plastic cups – the not-as-ugly, short, clear kind, not the cheap-o Styrofoam sort). In the end, do whatever you feel comfortable with. It’s far better to have a relaxed host/ess serving drinks out of plastic cups than it is to have a frazzled, stress-ball of a host/ess freaking out every time a poor guest happens to set down one of those beloved cocktail glasses the wrong way. If you want to serve drinks in real glassware but don’t happen to have any on hand, head to the thrift stores and go the eclectic route, or try a restaurant supply store. You’ll also need plenty of toothpicks and cocktail napkins. And for a fun kitschy touch, stock up on a few of those tiny little drink umbrellas. Totally tacky, terribly popular, always a good idea. Tune
in in two weeks ... part
two of our guide to cocktail parties: food and drink o ---------------------------> lounge . nourish . host . laze . home .
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