Offbeat Parties

My adorable nephew Ev turned three the weekend before last. He’s such a big kid already! My sister hosted a genius low-key morning party that was just right for what pre-schoolers want in their social engagements. The party started at 10:00 am on a Sunday, so gourmet bagels and coffee were provided for parents. For…

I’ve thrown dozens of bridal showers, a handful of weddings and even more baby showers but, by chance, had never hosted a bachelorette party until Margaret’s last weekend! I was nervous to put together something really fun, budget-friendly and very San Francisco for the group of fairly non-party-animal types in our mid 30’s. So Saturday night, we headed out…

We had a such a great time at Margaret’s spa night bachelorette party over the weekend! I’ll be sharing all the details of the event – from our sunset session at Nob Hill Spa to dancing up a storm at the Tonga Room. But, first! Let’s take a closer look at the party favors for this elegant evening.…

My friend Sarah has a wonderfully odd, historic sense of humor. For example, one of her favorite weekend activities is a “consumption day” where you sit out in the cold on a deck chair wrapped in blankets, reading and drinking bloody marys. She’s the best, obviously, and great things happen when her whimsy is combined…

A four-foot-tall pink jellyfish chandelier…three courses of delicious seafood…one ridiculous plastic crab hat…nothing less would do for the birthday celebration of my great friend Margaret!  The night’s menu included Spanish and Moroccan flavors – two of her favorite places to travel. Enchantment Under the Sea Menu  Castelvetrano olives Black rice tabouli salad with cranberry bean…

A highlight of my birthday weekend in Pescadero was making dinner for our 15 guests using local ingredients and a blazing hot campfire! Nothing tastes better than what you’ve cooked with friends over a wood fire under the Milky Way. Menu: Grilled Harley Farm goat cheese Artichoke garlic bread from Arcangeli Grocery  Chile verde pork loin…

I’m the luckiest duck there is to have had such a wonderful birthday party this year! To celebrate my (gulp) 35th – Rob and I invited 12 friends down to Pescadero for a weekend of elegant camping at Costanoa Lodge. Beach hikes, mountain biking, adorable kids, gourmet s’mores, goats, cake for breakfast, midnight saunas, impromptu…

Last night’s dinner party was probably the best in terms of food that we’ve hosted so far. A delicious spread of homestyle Mexican food focusing on fresh seasonal produce straight from farmer’s market. Menu Chips and homemade salsa Pollo en salsa chile de arbol tacos Rice with fresh cranberry beans and cilantro Pickled onions Mini…

My good friend Shane came to see us in San Francisco this weekend and we got together with a whole group of old friends.  We spent Saturday hiking along the Marin coast, eating out in Lower Haight and going to a jazz performance in a small cafe. Sunday was a good chance to relax before…

I went to a fancy-pants Silicon Valley garden party last night and a few of my favorite cocktail party pro-tips came into play. Many of these work just as well at weddings – in case you don’t have a networking event on the horizon: Wear a name tag-appropriate outfit. Same idea as the tech conference…