Offbeat Parties

In a few weeks, Rob and I will be host to the final party in the “Tour de Awesome” series for my friend’s 30th birthdays. Tour de Shane has a Scottish theme, with the main event being a big dinner party! Here’s what I’m brainstorming so far: Food – A hearty menu with some kind…

We had a fun party last night with about 15 people for the launch of a friend’s autobiography, Daveland. It was a great event with a lot of creative San Franciscans who had contributed to the project – writers, journalists, poets, artists and musicians. The best part is that the whole party came to us,…

The weekend got off to a rocky start when I woke up Friday feeling rotten from a fresh cold. With the big party on Sunday, I had to get better, stat. I hibernated immediately. Homemade chicken soup, tea with honey and 20 hours of sleep. I woke up on Saturday miraculously cured! Immune system FTW!…

The Black & White Ghouls Ball was so much fun! So much, in fact, that most of my photos from the night are blurry! I’ll do my best: Decorations: A canopy of black and white streamers, skeleton picado garlands, twinkle lights, white tablecloths, silver candelabras, black rats in white bows, white porcelain bust in a…

Rob and I decided to host a Black & White Ghouls Ball this year. Black and white costumes of all kinds! Black and white food. Twinkle lights, polished silver and black linens. Halloween and my birthday all wrapped into one. Here’s what I have so far: a Skeleton tuxedo costume, inspiration for a vintage gown,…

The ocean can be plenty scary…all those depths, leagues and mysterious creatures tickling your legs while swimming. This Halloween party idea is part Life Aquatic, part Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters. Wear: A pleated dress that can easily pass for seaweed paired with a chunky turquoise necklace. And spooky, creature-of-the-sea hair and make-up. Davey Jones…

Here’s one halloween party idea with an elegant-edge: Zombie cocktail party. Ghoulishly glamorous! You just need your fanciest party dress, gloves and gems to wear. A skeleton bow tie for the beau. And plenty of fake blood and zombie make-up to share. Drinks? Guinness champagne cocktails. Food? Black macaroons, small sandwiches, canapes and dry ice.…

This was probably the best and the easiest dinner I’ve ever cooked – a nice combination! Appetizers: A trio of cheeses – havarti dill, tomme de savoie and cambazola – with seeded crackers. Small bowls of dried apricots, cranberries and raw almonds. Guests: Nine altogether – requiring a borrowed chair. Two pregnant women, three engineers,…

This event never disappoints! The 2010 Black & White Ball was another classic evening in San Francisco, an amazing time for a great cause. We took the subway down to civic center – being mistakenly congratulated as a bridal couple a few times along the way! Arrived at nine, met with our group on the…

One of my favorite parties of the year and certainly the most educational! Our earthquake commemoration party is always a blast. This was our first time hosting the party at our new apartment. The new space worked out perfect for the candlelit evening. Guests: We were 13 all together, starting at 7:00pm. Just in time…