entertaining

Richard Leach, the head of the cocktail department at New York’s Polynesian supper club, The Hurricane Club told us how to make his delicious banana, rum and fresh mint cocktail while Matthew Silverstein, the bar manager at Mario Batali’s Del Posto gave us the recipe for his famous XO Champagne Cocktail. Olivier Flosse of New York’s A Voce, shared his “Whisky del Frante” recipe while Chef Jon Ashton, in-house chef for Relish magazine, gave us his “Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake Dessert Shot”. Finally, Kara Newman, author of Spice & Ice, a zesty book brimming with cocktail recipes, gave us the secret for making her “Spiced Caramel Apple” cocktail (check out our related story that features Kara’s best tips for throwing a cocktail party).

From Van Gogh Vodka’s “Candy Cane Lane” to the “Sugar Cookie”, your guests will love these festive cocktails. Try out a few recipes and let us know us which ones you like the best in the comment field below.

• Candy Cane Lane (seen above)
  2 1/2 oz Van Gogh BLUE Vodka
  1 oz White crème de menthe
  1/2 oz Peppermint schnapps
  Cream
  Splash of Grenadine
  Peppermint candy for garnish

Add a dash of grenadine into the bottom of a chilled martini glass and set aside. Pour the rest of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into the glass with grenadine to create a “swirl” effect. Garnish with peppermint candy.

For more holiday cocktail recipes, click on any of the images in the gallery below.

Cocktail Recipes for Holiday Entertaining originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Seybert is widely credited with being the creator of “fashion for the table”. She successfully translated her skills as an evening gown and cocktail dress designer to the home with the creation of Kim Seybert, her namesake company, for which she designs gorgeous and elegant placemats, napkins, napkin rings, table runners, tablecloths, glasses, bath accessories and home decor accessories. Seybert’s extensive line of table wear and home accessories is available for purchase on the Kim Seybert website as well as at such luxury retailers as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Barneys New York, and Horchow.

Seybert’s designs often feature the same techniques she used when designing glamorous evening gowns. As a result, her designs are so stunning, they present an easy alternative to re-decorating a home. Seybert’s spectacular napkin rings (see image below), for example, feature extensive beading and are so gorgeous they are often referred to as “jewelry for the table”.

Continue reading Holiday Entertaining Tips from Designer Kim Seybert

Holiday Entertaining Tips from Designer Kim Seybert originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Seybert is widely credited with being the creator of “fashion for the table”. She successfully translated her skills as an evening gown and cocktail dress designer to the home with the creation of Kim Seybert, her namesake company, for which she designs gorgeous and elegant placemats, napkins, napkin rings, table runners, tablecloths, glasses, bath accessories and home decor accessories. Seybert’s extensive line of table wear and home accessories is available for purchase on the Kim Seybert website as well as at such luxury retailers as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Barneys New York, and Horchow.

Seybert’s designs often feature the same techniques she used when designing glamorous evening gowns. As a result, her designs are so stunning, they present an easy alternative to re-decorating a home. Seybert’s spectacular napkin rings (see image below), for example, feature extensive beading and are so gorgeous they are often referred to as “jewelry for the table”.

Continue reading Holiday Entertaining Tips from Designer Kim Seybert

Holiday Entertaining Tips from Designer Kim Seybert originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Don’t sweat the small stuff. Plan and prepare the little details till your heart’s content (they can really make a party) but if something goes wrong or doesn’t turn out just right don’t panic. If you stay relaxed and happy your guests will be that much more comfortable (and a few imperfections can be endearing).
• Know your guests If you’re serving food find out ahead of time if there are any special guest requirements (vegetarian diet, allergies, etc). Also make sure the music is appropriate for everyone, and plan ahead for special guest groups like the elderly (plenty of seating) and children (places to play). You don’t want to be scrambling for extra chairs as the guests arrive.

Continue reading How to Throw the Perfect Party

How to Throw the Perfect Party originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hardcover, 240 pages | Bantam | Cooking – Courses & Dishes; Cooking – History; Performing Arts – Television | $35.00 | May 29, 2012 | 978-0-345-53449-1 (0-345-53449-2)

Ever wonder what it’s like to attend a feast at Winterfell? Wish you could split a lemon cake with Sansa Stark, scarf down a pork pie with the Night’s Watch, or indulge in honeyfingers with Daenerys Targaryen? George R. R. Martin’s bestselling saga A Song of Ice and Fire and the runaway hit HBO series Game of Thrones are renowned for bringing Westeros’s sights and sounds to vivid life. But one important ingredient has always been missing: the mouthwatering dishes that form the backdrop of this extraordinary world. Now, fresh out of the series that redefined fantasy, comes the cookbook that may just redefine dinner . . . and lunch, and breakfast.
 
A passion project from superfans and amateur chefs Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer—and endorsed by George R. R. Martin himself—A Feast of Ice and Fire lovingly replicates a stunning range of cuisines from across the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. From the sumptuous delicacies enjoyed in the halls of power at King’s Landing, to the warm and smoky comfort foods of the frozen North, to the rich, exotic fare of the mysterious lands east of Westeros, there’s a flavor for every palate, and a treat for every chef.
 
These easy-to-follow recipes have been refined for modern cooking techniques, but adventurous eaters can also attempt the authentic medieval meals that inspired them. The authors have also suggested substitutions for some of the more fantastical ingredients, so you won’t have to stock your kitchen with camel, live doves, or dragon eggs to create meals fit for a king (or a khaleesi). In all, A Feast of Ice and Fire contains more than 100 recipes, divided by region:
 
• The Wall: Rack of Lamb and Herbs; Pork Pie; Mutton in Onion-Ale Broth; Mulled Wine; Pease Porridge
• The North: Beef and Bacon Pie; Honeyed Chicken; Aurochs with Roasted Leeks; Baked Apples
• The South: Cream Swans; Trout Wrapped in Bacon; Stewed Rabbit; Sister’s Stew; Blueberry Tarts
• King’s Landing: Lemon Cakes; Quails Drowned in Butter; Almond Crusted Trout; Bowls of Brown; Iced Milk with Honey
• Dorne: Stuffed Grape Leaves; Duck with Lemons; Chickpea Paste
• Across the Narrow Sea: Biscuits and Bacon; Tyroshi Honeyfingers; Wintercakes; Honey-Spiced Locusts
 
There’s even a guide to dining and entertaining in the style of the Seven Kingdoms. Exhaustively researched and reverently detailed, accompanied by passages from all five books in the series and full-color photographs guaranteed to whet your appetite, this is the companion to the blockbuster phenomenon that millions of stomachs have been growling for. And remember, winter is coming—so don’t be afraid to put on a few pounds.

eBook, 240 pages | Bantam | Cooking – Courses & Dishes; Cooking – History; Performing Arts – Television | $17.99 | May 29, 2012 | 978-0-345-53554-2 (0-345-53554-5)

Ever wonder what it’s like to attend a feast at Winterfell? Wish you could split a lemon cake with Sansa Stark, scarf down a pork pie with the Night’s Watch, or indulge in honeyfingers with Daenerys Targaryen? George R. R. Martin’s bestselling saga A Song of Ice and Fire and the runaway hit HBO series Game of Thrones are renowned for bringing Westeros’s sights and sounds to vivid life. But one important ingredient has always been missing: the mouthwatering dishes that form the backdrop of this extraordinary world. Now, fresh out of the series that redefined fantasy, comes the cookbook that may just redefine dinner . . . and lunch, and breakfast.
 
A passion project from superfans and amateur chefs Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer—and endorsed by George R. R. Martin himself—A Feast of Ice and Fire lovingly replicates a stunning range of cuisines from across the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. From the sumptuous delicacies enjoyed in the halls of power at King’s Landing, to the warm and smoky comfort foods of the frozen North, to the rich, exotic fare of the mysterious lands east of Westeros, there’s a flavor for every palate, and a treat for every chef.
 
These easy-to-follow recipes have been refined for modern cooking techniques, but adventurous eaters can also attempt the authentic medieval meals that inspired them. The authors have also suggested substitutions for some of the more fantastical ingredients, so you won’t have to stock your kitchen with camel, live doves, or dragon eggs to create meals fit for a king (or a khaleesi). In all, A Feast of Ice and Fire contains more than 100 recipes, divided by region:
 
• The Wall: Rack of Lamb and Herbs; Pork Pie; Mutton in Onion-Ale Broth; Mulled Wine; Pease Porridge
• The North: Beef and Bacon Pie; Honeyed Chicken; Aurochs with Roasted Leeks; Baked Apples
• The South: Cream Swans; Trout Wrapped in Bacon; Stewed Rabbit; Sister’s Stew; Blueberry Tarts
• King’s Landing: Lemon Cakes; Quails Drowned in Butter; Almond Crusted Trout; Bowls of Brown; Iced Milk with Honey
• Dorne: Stuffed Grape Leaves; Duck with Lemons; Chickpea Paste
• Across the Narrow Sea: Biscuits and Bacon; Tyroshi Honeyfingers; Wintercakes; Honey-Spiced Locusts
 
There’s even a guide to dining and entertaining in the style of the Seven Kingdoms. Exhaustively researched and reverently detailed, accompanied by passages from all five books in the series and full-color photographs guaranteed to whet your appetite, this is the companion to the blockbuster phenomenon that millions of stomachs have been growling for. And remember, winter is coming—so don’t be afraid to put on a few pounds.

Includes a Foreword by George R. R. Martin

Hardcover, 336 pages | Doubleday | Performing Arts – Television – History & Criticism; Business & Economics – Industries – Entertainment; History – United States | $27.95 | May 1, 2012 | 978-0-385-53374-4 (0-385-53374-8)

Seinfeld, Friends, Frasier, ER, Cheers, Law & Order, Will & Grace…Here is the funny, splashy, irresistible insiders’ account of the greatest era in television history — told by the actors, writers, directors, producers, and the network executives who made it happen…and watched it all fall apart.

Warren Littlefield was the NBC President of Entertainment who oversaw the Peacock Network’s rise from also-ran to a division that generated a billion dollars in profits.  In this fast-paced and exceptionally entertaining oral history, Littlefield and NBC luminaries including Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Kelsey Grammer, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Julianna Marguiles, Anthony Edwards, Noah Wylie, Debra Messing, Jack Welch, Jimmy Burrows, Helen Hunt, and Dick Wolf vividly recapture the incredible era of Must See TV.

eBook, 304 pages | Doubleday | Performing Arts – Television – History & Criticism; Business & Economics – Industries – Entertainment; History – United States | $13.99 | May 1, 2012 | 978-0-385-53375-1 (0-385-53375-6)

Seinfeld, Friends, Frasier, ER, Cheers, Law & Order, Will & Grace…Here is the funny, splashy, irresistible insiders’ account of the greatest era in television history — told by the actors, writers, directors, producers, and the network executives who made it happen…and watched it all fall apart.

Warren Littlefield was the NBC President of Entertainment who oversaw the Peacock Network’s rise from also-ran to a division that generated a billion dollars in profits.  In this fast-paced and exceptionally entertaining oral history, Littlefield and NBC luminaries including Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Kelsey Grammer, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Julianna Marguiles, Anthony Edwards, Noah Wylie, Debra Messing, Jack Welch, Jimmy Burrows, Helen Hunt, and Dick Wolf vividly recapture the incredible era of Must See TV.

Unabridged Compact Disc | Random House Audio | Performing Arts – Television – History & Criticism; Business & Economics – Industries – Entertainment; History – United States | $40.00 | May 1, 2012 | 978-0-449-00941-3 (0-449-00941-6)

Seinfeld, Friends, Frasier, ER, Cheers, Law & Order, Will & Grace…Here is the funny, splashy, irresistible insiders’ account of the greatest era in television history — told by the actors, writers, directors, producers, and the network executives who made it happen…and watched it all fall apart.

Warren Littlefield was the NBC President of Entertainment who oversaw the Peacock Network’s rise from also-ran to a division that generated a billion dollars in profits.  In this fast-paced and exceptionally entertaining oral history, Littlefield and NBC luminaries including Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Kelsey Grammer, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Julianna Marguiles, Anthony Edwards, Noah Wylie, Debra Messing, Jack Welch, Jimmy Burrows, Helen Hunt, and Dick Wolf vividly recapture the incredible era of Must See TV.

Unabridged Audiobook Download | Random House Audio | Performing Arts – Television – History & Criticism; Business & Economics – Industries – Entertainment; History – United States | $20.00 | May 1, 2012 | 978-0-449-00942-0 (0-449-00942-4)

Seinfeld, Friends, Frasier, ER, Cheers, Law & Order, Will & Grace…Here is the funny, splashy, irresistible insiders’ account of the greatest era in television history — told by the actors, writers, directors, producers, and the network executives who made it happen…and watched it all fall apart.

Warren Littlefield was the NBC President of Entertainment who oversaw the Peacock Network’s rise from also-ran to a division that generated a billion dollars in profits.  In this fast-paced and exceptionally entertaining oral history, Littlefield and NBC luminaries including Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Kelsey Grammer, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Julianna Marguiles, Anthony Edwards, Noah Wylie, Debra Messing, Jack Welch, Jimmy Burrows, Helen Hunt, and Dick Wolf vividly recapture the incredible era of Must See TV.

Teens can be a tough audience to entertain. Their free time is precious, especially for those loaded with AP classes, sports and music commitments, work, and extra-curricular obligations. For many, down time is spent looking at screens, interacting with friends via social media and Skype, or both. So coming up with ways to engage them without resorting to digital devices is hard. (See also: Timeless Money Lessons From Teens)

But even the most restless and demanding teens will enjoy these frugal activities.

1. Learn Family Secrets

Your kids have most likely been protected from family information or just were bored or confused by your stories when they were younger. But now that they are teens, they are ready for greater honesty and more grown-up tales. Intrigue them with explanations of how grandma paid for college, why great-grandma got divorced, how family members lived during the Depression, what unpopular stances your parents took on controversial topics, and why a distant cousin ran away from home.

2. Enter a Contest

Teens like working with adolescent companions, being inventive and competitive. A contest that is neither sponsored by the school nor graded by school officials is especially inspiring to this age group. The research, collaboration, and execution of ideas involved in winning a competition are great sources of entertainment for extended periods of time.

For example, my oldest son assembled and entered a team in a church-sponsored dodgeball tournament. He especially wanted to win first place for uniforms and so coordinated concept meetings, shopping trips to Goodwill, and uniform construction sessions. I think he spent more time planning and executing his uniform design than he did filling out college applications. (Epilogue — his team won “best uniform,” and he got into the university of his choice.)

Similarly, I envision teenagers happily and eagerly getting together to do science experiments, create engineering marvels, practice for mud runs, etc. in hopes of winning a competition. Not only is contest preparation a frugal activity, but this kind of entertainment could reap financial rewards as well as bragging rights.

3. Get Away From It All

Arrange an outing that you enjoy and invite one of your child’s friends. At first, the teen will probably not get excited when you mention hiking in the woods, camping at the lake, or picking berries on a farm. But if a teenage buddy or a colorful friend of the family accompanies you on the trip, then they may actually look forward to such activities.

Many teens who are otherwise sullen and whiny on a family only trip often become polite and even fun people when they are around those who are not mom, dad, and sibling. Friends provide both a distraction from what the teens might consider boring and serve as entertainment through conversation, humorous insights, and funny stories.

4. Go Bargain Shopping

Shopping is entertainment for many people, including teens. But rather than seeing how much your teen can spend, set a budget and let her have fun putting together outfits for nearly nothing while perusing fashion apparel and accessories at discount stores, consignment shops, and thrift shops.

5. Eat Outside

Teenagers will go wherever the food is. Serve a meal outside on your patio or deck to get them out of their element. Take a picnic to a nearby park, careful to find a spot where friends or classmates are unlikely to appear. Linger to spot wildlife (we have squirrels, rabbits, and the occasional deer in our backyard), enjoy the view of a pond at the park, or watch the sunset.

6. Attend a Play

Catch a theater performance at one of the local high schools, colleges, universities, or community centers. Many of these are free or cost $5 or less, though it’s wise to check the ticket prices and suggested arrival times instead of making general assumptions. Plays can be frugal sources of entertainment for teens, especially if their friends are performing or helping stage the performance.

7. Listen to a Concert

Free or low-cost concerts are also often available at area schools and community gathering places. If friends of your teens are performing, they may like to see and hear the concert band, jazz band, orchestra, chorus, or choral groups.

In addition, look for times when professional groups perform at low-cost venues, such as college campuses, street festivals, and community events.

8. Go to a Sporting Event

Go to a ballgame, track or swim meet, or other sporting event at the local high school or college. Most are priced reasonably, and some are free. Athletic competitions are often gathering places for teens, so they can enjoy being a spectator and hanging out with friends.

9. Visit the City

For those who live in the country or suburbs, visiting a large city can be an adventure. Teens may like to do simple things that city dwellers find tedious, like ride the metro, commuter train, or light rail to the city center. They may enjoy just walking around, doing some window shopping, analyzing architecture, and sampling treats sold by street vendors.

10. Visit the Country

If you’re looking to entertain city kids, take them to the country. Many rural areas and small towns offer attractions that teens find entertaining even if they won’t admit to having fun.

Plan ahead to make sure there is something to do. Look for outings to natural attractions like waterfalls and mountain vistas; quaint downtowns with full-service stores, fine art shops, and old-fashioned diners; and interesting historical sites.

11. Ride a Bike

One of my son’s friends recently got a low-priced road bike to ride around town and in the mountains near his home. When students were asked to submit photos to the school newspaper to show what they did over spring break, he was featured smiling broadly with his bike and helmet next to photos showing teenagers in much pricier locales such as the Caribbean, ocean cruises, and amusement parks in Florida.

Take teens on a spin on lightly traveled roads. If you don’t want your teen on the road, visit mountain bike trails or multi-use trails.

12. Take Photos or Videos

Another friend of my son’s is an aspiring filmmaker. I’ve seen him recording quirky teen activities (such as the aforementioned dodgeball tournament) and imagine that he spends much of his free time in this pursuit. Likewise, teens with strong visual or storytelling abilities will be entertained by capturing images on camera.

13. Visit a Museum

I know that a lot of teens find anything that might involve learning to be painful. But some museums are so well designed that even boredom-prone teenagers may consider them entertaining. Newer and updated museums with lots of ways to interact (watching video, listening to audio, playing trivia games, touching stuff, etc.) as well as zoos, aquariums, and art galleries can be enjoyable.

14. Tour College Campuses

Many teens will eventually go to college and, though visiting campuses is most prominently featured on the parent’s to-do list, such a trip can be entertaining for adolescents. There are campus tours focusing on academics as well as those highlighting architecture. Plus, there is usually free or inexpensive entertainment, such as plays, concerts, and sporting events along with lectures and campus festivals.

15. Make an Art Project

Creative teens are entertained by participating in artistic endeavors, particularly those not associated with academics or grades. They especially enjoy working with other teens, either on the same project or side by side (just like when they were younger). Challenge them to make art out of trash for a fun project.

16. Go to the Park

Teens can enjoy going to parks without being loiterers or worse. There are lots of fun and frugal activities for teenagers, such as renting canoes and paddleboats, swimming, playing tennis, or strolling in the rose garden.

17. Take a Walk at Night

Add a bit of mystery to an otherwise dull activity — teens will love walking at night. Look at the stars and planets, planning evening outings in sync with astronomy events.

Choose a safe, preferably out-of-the-way place. Be careful, carry a flashlight (or wear a headlamp), and wear reflective gear.

18. Let ‘em Play Pick-Up Ball

Pick-up ball and similar spur-of-the-moment games were a mainstay of my childhood, but my children never wandered miles from home to an open lot to play with neighborhood kids. Such things just didn’t happen because well, kids rarely walk around neighborhoods unattended, and an open space without organized sports is rarely available. By the time they are teens, though, they should be fine playing pick-up basketball games or working out in public areas accompanied by friends. 

19. Volunteer

Most of the teens I know are involved in an organization that requires community service. Though many of these hours are spent fulfilling obligations, volunteering can be entertaining, particularly if the teen is pursuing an activity that he really enjoys, working alongside friends, and getting a free meal. My sons, for example, like the country ham biscuits at the church’s yard sale and pizza at community recycling days.

Beyond regularly scheduled volunteer activities are even more intriguing and engaging opportunities. For example, one of my sons enjoys hanging out with younger kids in the inner city and their adult teachers in a childcare setting, which syncs (partly) with his career goal of teaching at-risk high school students. A friend’s son loves serving at the animal shelter. Find meaningful volunteer gigs to entertain them while helping others.

By the time they are 13, your children ought to be able to entertain themselves. But, sometimes, they can use a prod toward a healthy, wholesome, and frugal activity.

What do the teens in your life do for cheap entertainment?ShareThis