For Labor Day - fireworks in your mouth

Normally I pride myself on being slightly ahead of the curve when it comes to trends and such.  However, pop rocks martinis seems to be one that I missed.  Yes, Pop Rocks.  The exploding candy that you're not supposed to mix with soda (I never did that, but I did give some to my dog when I was about 7...hey, I figured if enjoyed them, she would too!  She didn't.)

But apparently it's not just me.   At last week's BizBash conference, I attended a seminar called "45 trends in 45 minutes" which featured some great event ideas from around the country, including the aforementined martini.  When that photo came on the screen, everyone oohed and ahhed.  So, if some of the best event planners in the city are new to it, I must be in good company.  Here are two recipies:

Red, blue, and explosive - just in time for Labor Day!  photo source

Boston Pops Martini (pictured above)
lime wedge
package cherry Pop Rocks
2 1/2 oz. cranberry vodka
1/2 oz. Blue Curacao
1. Start with a chilled cocktail glass and rub the rim with a lime wedge
2. Open a pack of cherry flavored Pop Rocks candy and spread on a small plate or napkin. Press rim of the glass into the candy to coat rim.
3. In a shaker filled with ice, add cranberry vodka, shake and strain into prepared glass.
4. Slowly and carefully pour blue curacao in the middle of the glass, allowing it to settle in the glass. You should have two distinct layers
5. Add a small splash of lemon/lime soda.
By Joe Perdicaro at Zebra Bistro and Wine Bar, Medfield, Ma.

Le Pops Rocks Martini
3/4 ounce Skyy berry vodka
3/4 ounce Skyy citrus vodka
1 ounce Mango Fruja liqueur
1/4 ounce cranberry juice
1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with honey and Pop Rocks.
By Payman Khania at Bistro 111, Chicago

Coating the rim with honey seems to make more sense, as I think the lime would make the Rocks dissolve more quickly, thus taking away from the explosive enjoyment.  Either way, both sound delicious.

GiveForward Launch Party

Last Thursday was the launch of a new giving web site, GiveForward.org. I was fortunate to be part of the team that planned the launch party, held at NV Penthouse Lounge on Hubbard. We had about 200 in attendance, and NV's space was just right for that number. Remember the Party Killers? You don't want people too spread out, or too cramped.

So what is GiveForward? It's a new approach to micro-financing, similar to Kiva. Basically, it enables people to set up a fundraising page, but unlike other fundraising sites, GiveForward encourages users to donate to other causes using the site. In fact, before you can set up your own page, you must donate at least $1 to 3 other causes. Cool!

Speaking of cool, you'll be able to watch scenes from the party on Bravo's Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. No, Tim wasn't there, but we were able to celebrate a GiveForward family member's "coming out" party with her smashing new look! I believe it'll air in October. If you can't wait until then, here are some party pics from Chicago-Scene:

Just the right mix of space and light...no party killers here!

Delicious gazpacho shots from Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba. You lick your hand, sprinkle some seasoned salt onto the licked spot, do the shot, and follow with a lime. It's the ritual of a tequila shot without the hangover!

BEYOND FABULOUS Chocolate-Caramel pastries from Blue Water Grill! They were just the right combo of sweet and salty. Note that they are bite sized...you never want to force your guests to juggle utensils and cocktails. 

When to hire help

Manicurists, hairstylists, accountants, personal trainers, housecleaners...chances are you have at least one professional on your bankroll. But how do you know when to call for reinforcements from the party professionals?

There are three factors to consider - time, money, and talent. Namely, how much of all three you have. Unsurprisingly, money is the primary factor. If you're short on cash, you'll need to spend more hours and your (or your friends') skills in executing the perfect party.

Time and talent are tied for second. If you've got a little more in the bank, are taking a week off before the party BUT are the world's worst cook, you should probably call a caterer. Likewise, if you're a whiz in the kitchen but will be putting in a 60 hour work week, do you yourself a favor and leave it to the pros. It's all about reducing stress!

Let's look at the various options in detail:

Caterer
Can't cook? Don't want to spend hours in the kitchen? Want unique offerings that aren't obviously from the frozen-food section of your local warehouse store? Then hire a caterer! Know your limits. I know I can provide appetizers for a party of 25. Any more than that, and I get stressed out. Your threshold may be different. Depending on the food, expect to pay a bare minimum of $10 per person for a cocktail party with light appetizers. Most parties will cost more than that.

Party Staff
Ah, it's SO freeing to have someone else do all the little things during your party. You know, collecting discarded plates and glasses, emptying garbage cans, refilling the ice, clearing empty hors d'oeuvre trays, tending bar...you can truly be a guest at your own party if you hire someone to take care of these tasks. And really, who wants to handle trash when you're all gussied up? Not me! Average cost is about $30/hour. For a party with under 50 guests, you'll need two people if you want one to be a bartender. Otherwise, one person can handle it.

"Day of" event coordinator
This is for a bigger event with a lot of little details to cover, for instance, a charity fundraiser or a wedding. If you don't want to be the point person for all the vendors ("Flowers over here?" "What time should the band start?" "Um, the police are outside...something about the elephant getting loose?") then hire a DOC. You'll probably meet with them once or twice to cover all the details, and from there, you can concentrate on mingling with your guests! Cost varies widely, but is typically under $1,000.

Event planner
Time to call in the big guns! If you want all the assistance of a DOC plus professional guidance on vendors, etiquette, trends, design, etc., hire an event planner. Again, costs vary widely but even the cheapest will be upwards of $1,000. Note that some event planners don't do design, and some event designers don't do logistical planning. Be aware of what you can expect from your event planner.

Theme idea - Grown-up Pajama Party

Perhaps it's a holdover from sorority days, but I'm still a sucker for a good theme party. I've found that people get into them because (whether consciously or not) they recognize that anyone can throw a party, but throwing a good theme party takes extra effort.

One of my favorites is the Grown-up Pajama Party (I suppose you could also call it an Adult Pajama Party, but just be aware that "adult" carries certain connotations with it....then again, maybe that's what you're going for). The thing to remember with this theme is to play with the juxtaposition of Adult vs Child. Here are the elements:

Decor: Decadent lounge. I was working with a cold basement that had those cinder block walls, but luckily, also had fabulously cushy red carpeting. To cover up the walls, I bought inexpensive red polyester and hung it to the walls with looped duct tape (Ah, duct tape...is there anything it can't do?). Candles spread about the room (AWAY from the polyester!), and pillows on the floor created the finishing touch.

Food: The greatest hits from childhood, dressed up. The menu included little gourmet pizzas, organic hamburger sliders, and Rice Krispie treats dipped in dark chocolate, but I also went old school with offerings such as cans of EZ-Cheez (you know you want to squirt some directly into your mouth) and Triscuits. I also set up a "Make Your Own (Grownup) Cocoa" bar, complete with hot chocolate and a variety of schnapps and liqueurs. The peppermint schnapps and Godiva liqueur were especially popular.

Music: This was a lot of fun! The majority of the crowd had come of age in the late 80s, so I borrowed heavily from that era. Lots of early Madonna and Janet Jackson mixed in with some current hits. You should have seen the reaction when "Lucky Star" came on - good times!

Guests: Everyone was instructed to wear sleep attire. Some were a little fancier than others, but for the most part the guests relished the opportunity to be comfortable at a party. I'm reminded of a quote from the movie Clueless...something about Cher preferring to stay home and veg, as her party clothes are quite constricting. So true, so true.

Activities: Board games were scattered throughout the party space, including Twister. The winner of the Twister contest was adorned with multiple candy necklaces, hers to wear for the rest of the party. There's always a queen bee, you know.

All in all, a fantastic time was had by those in attendance. This is one theme I'm happy to recycle!

Anyone for Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board?

Vodka, vodka everywhere!

Vodka has certainly enjoyed quite the renessaince over the past 15 years or so. Of course you know that flavored vodkas started appearing en masse several years ago (yes, I know the Absolut flavors have been around longer than that, but things have certainly gotten more exotic lately, no?). Here are a few that interest me, and with which you could make some intriguing cocktails. New this summer is Firefly's Sweet Tea Vodka. I don't think it's in Chicago yet, but I imagine you could have some fun mixing it with lemonade, or perhaps lemon-lime soda or ginger ale.

For warmer weather, I like coffee vodkas such as Vincent Van Gogh Double Espresso. Mix it with some Voyant Chai Cream Liqueur, and you have a reason to stay in!

I saw this mentioned on a message board this spring, and have been dying to make it ever since. I think bacon-flavored vodka could be just the thing for Bloody Marys while tailgating...