Anatomy of a Dinner Party: a day in the life of a hospitalityaholic
 

December, 2010

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Fun Find Friday-Christmas at Callanwolde

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Whew, this week has been a whirlwind of parties – and we have not even started the weekend. Last night found Eric and me at a palatial mansion in Buckhead where every real estate fantasy was brought to life and Tuesday night I was lucky enough to be Kerry Howard’s date for the Callanwolde Christmas preview party. Incredible.

My dear friend Kerry was chosen to design the dining room and oh, what an amazing job he did! No detail was overlooked. The room was bathed in lush blue and champagne colors, accented by a gorgeous large print by Artaissance and framed by our friends at Larson-Juhl. Two huge trees flank the end of dining room (one of which fell over during the night and Kerry had to redecorate all over again, with unflappable grace, I might add). The fabulous furnishings were supplied by The Foundry (formerly World of Rugs and also our party hosts from last night’s shindig), with lots of Kerry details and beautiful orchids. It is the house show stopper and the first room you notice when you enter the mansion.

The preview party was all about fun. And boy, did we have fun. The food was incredible (catered by Affairs to Remember), lots of lovely libations, a live band and dancing, an organist playing Christmas tunes and just the most lovely setting imaginable.

Photos!
Come on in!

The Game of Ice

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

I am so excited to share what my friends at The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta are up to. It is so special and fabulous!

In fact, it’s two surprises in one – at Lumen, their fantasy lobby bar.

One – for all your football fans, Lumen has created two cocktails made specifically for the Auburn/South Carolina match up this weekend. So come on by Lumen (it’s right on Peachtree Street, of course…) and sample each of these libations and decide on a winner! Both cocktails are being offered for $12 each. After the recipes, I will show you the dazzling decor you will be enjoying as you sip your beverage.

WAR EAGLE WHAMMY
2 oz Crown Royal
Splash of Triple Sec
Pineapple Juice, Sour mix, Crushed Blue Berries
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into glass filled with crushed ice.

GAMECOCK GOTCHA
2 oz Southern Comfort
1 oz Amaretto Liqueur
Splash of pomegranate juice
Splash of orange juice
Shake all ingredients with ice and pour into a highball glass.

Yum, yum, yummy! And now, when you think it could not get any cooler, may I present to you, The Ice Bar at Lumen? Oh yes, my friends, a bar made entirely of ice, with an ice luge that the vodka is poured into and ends up in your martini glass! There are also special cocktails that are being whipped up just for you. Drinks like the Cranberry Martini and the Winter Solstice.

You have got to see this, so I am offering a sneak peak right here! Right now!

All of these gorgeous photos are straight from my friends at The Ritz-Carlton. You will find me getting chilly tonight there after I attend the Pop Up Shops in Midtown.

I hope to see you there, too.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Foreigner – Cold As Ice

Transported to Morocco

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Last week my sweet friend, Patricia Tinsley, who knows everybody, invited me to a tasting at Atlanta’s own Imperial Fez. Of course I jumped at the chance to visit the emporium of low seated booths draped in silk and filled with exotic belly dancers. I picked out an appropriate outfit (no shoes necessary, you take them off when you get there so you could show up with flip flops on and no one would notice), realized I was the first from our party to get there and was led to our gorgeous seating area.

Just like being in the movie Casablanca, without the long flight.

Enjoy an exotic evening with me!