Q: I am hosting a networking event for friends and friends of friends from different circles. I would like to have a nice little tray of "mandatory" shots near the door, ready for everyone. At this kind of of event a little social lubricant is necessary and I thought shots would be the perfect vehicle.

More

Kids know how to party! Check out the latest festive celebrations from the Apartment Therapy's Family channel, which posts kids' parties every day. We'll be bringing you a roundup of these inspiring parties every week.

• The Gaines Brothers' Vintage Carnival Party
  
• Laelia's Pink Ombre Party
  
• Bird's Easter Bunny Party
  
• Ethan's School Bus Party
  
• Logan's Sock Monkey Party

The first time I saw mini grilled cheese sandwiches sticking out of a small glass of tomato soup, I thought: what a brilliant idea. Take a favorite food pairing — crudites and dip, shrimp and aioli, milk and cookies — and put it all in an easy-to-handle shot glass (or other small container). No fiddling around, just fun all-in-one finger food that make perfect party appetizers. Here are a few ideas:

More

A good serving tray is an essential piece for any host/hostess. Besides saving you the trouble of making multiple trips to and from the kitchen, serving trays are also a nice decor element when set up on a sideboard or coffee table to corral appetizers, drinks, or dishes. Here are five handled versions we really like:

More

I'm definitely of the "throw some great albums in a playlist and hit Random" mindset when it comes to party tunes. Much like my attitude toward dinner party dishes, I figure that if I put enough good music in the mix, it will all come out just fine. Which is how I end up with such strange musical bedfellows as The Heartless Bastards with Mumford & Sons, or Andrew Bird right after Cloud Cult. But hey, once the wine is open and the snacks come out, it's all good.

More

Our first house, a perfect 1927 bungalow, had an enormous yard, easily twice the area of the house. "We love the outdoors," we said to ourselves, envisioning croquet parties on the lawn, along with more athletic pursuits. And picnics! We would have picnics. As it happens, we do love the outdoors, but the maintenance? Not so much. The lawn overwhelmed us. Even the minimal upkeep of the mower was challenging. Our next house was twice as large, with less than half the lawn.  More

I'm not ashamed to admit it: the dream of the '90s is alive in my kitchen. But when I'm done cooking and guests start to arrive, I play it a little cooler with a mix of current indie favorites and older R&B, soul and funk music. Want to hear for yourself?

More

I have to admit, I long for the day when I can plan my dinner parties well and have enough kitchen space to plate individual courses. For now, family style portions help keep the meal moving quickly from kitchen to table. How does it work in your home? More

Much like training for a 10k, planning a dinner party looks manageable from afar. Decide on the menu the week before, clean on Tuesday, buy groceries on Wednesday, and so on until Friday night rolls around and the party has practically come together on its own. However, just like that first long training run that leaves you huffing and puffing, wondering if you'll ever see the race start, let alone the finish line, more than once I've found myself an hour into the menu planning, surrounded by cookbooks and blogs, having underestimated the feat ahead. This is why I turn to braised beef. 

More

Even before I lived in the music capital of the world, I loved music. It has a way of quickly elevating a particular mood or emotion, and it can do the same thing for your dinner party (and party prep)! Here's a peek at what I'm grooving to as the meal and evening all comes together.

More