Thanksgiving side table prep The turkey may be resting. The table may be set. But the details most likely to send a Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving host back into the kitchen are usually much smaller. There is not enough ice. The wine glasses are still in a cabinet. No one can find the pie server. The kitchen trash is already full—and guests are asking what they can use to take leftovers home. One hour before everyone arrives, stop thinking about the menu and walk through the g

Friendsgiving Table Setting What to serve, how much to prepare, and how to divide the dishes so everyone brings something useful—and the host actually gets to enjoy the evening. Friendsgiving has a way of becoming one of the best gatherings of the season. Good friends, familiar food, a table that gets a little crowded, and nobody particularly eager to leave. But figuring out how much food to make can be surprisingly complicated. Do you need a whole turkey for ten people? How

For this Mediterranean-inspired gathering, I wanted the plan to support the evening itself. Twelve friends. Shared plates. A relaxed setting. Something a little unexpected to get things started.

Wines at a store If you’re invited to a dinner party but don’t know what is being served, bring a versatile, food-friendly wine with good acidity. Sparkling wine, dry rosé, Pinot Noir and Riesling can all work across a range of dishes. If you’re also bringing dessert, choose a wine that complements it and is at least as sweet as the dessert. That’s the general advice. But when I recently found myself standing in the wine aisle with this exact problem, I wanted a more specific

A little mischief in your glass. Blueberry Lavender Margarita A blueberry lavender margarita combines tequila, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, and blueberry-lavender syrup. Its rich berry color makes it a festive cocktail for Halloween or a Día de los Muertos gathering. This recipe includes instructions for one drink or a batch of 50 cocktails for 25 guests. Some cocktails arrive at the party. This one makes an entrance. Deep berry color. A bright pink rim. A dried citrus w

Table with bottles of wine, wine glasses and a large acrylic ice bucket with ice and wine A thoughtfully arranged wine station keeps drinks organized, helps guests feel comfortable and gives the host more time to enjoy the gathering. Hosting often becomes a series of small interruptions. Someone would like a glass of white wine. Another guest needs a corkscrew. Someone else asks where the water is. A guest sets down a glass and cannot remember which one was theirs. Before lon

A practical guide to planning a Halloween dessert bar that feels abundant, sophisticated and easy for guests to enjoy. Halloween dessert tables have a way of getting out of control. A host buys several bags of candy, adds cupcakes, cookies and a cake, and still wonders whether the table will look full. The result is often far more sugar than guests can eat—and a display that feels crowded rather than intentional.

Pool Party Drinks Three cocktails, 20 people and one less thing to figure out before the party. A Labor Day pool party should feel like the last glorious exhale of summer—not an afternoon spent wondering whether you bought enough vodka. So what should you serve? And, just as importantly, how much do you actually need? We gave the Clever Parties Bar Planner a very simple brief: Labor Day pool party. 20 people. Late afternoon. Just cocktails. That was enough to start building t

Building a charcuterie board You do not need to make every appetizer from scratch to create a table that feels thoughtful. Some of the best party food begins with something already prepared: good cheese, sliced prosciutto, frozen appetizers, bakery desserts, prepared dips or a container of olives. The difference between food that looks hurried and food that looks beautifully considered is often not the recipe. It is how you serve it. With the right board, a few small serving