Party InkTM 2010 Shannon Velasco

It’s all down hill now

stages of mourning

Halloween is over. I am no longer in denial and I am no longer angry. I have resigned myself to the slow creep of Christmas.

So I was thinking about Christmas. We see it everywhere all flash and glitter. So little of it is thoughtful or unique. Plus we must see it in October. I always feel as though my Halloween has been violated if Christmas is stacked on the end-caps when I am in the market for sculls and entrails.

As a fan of off color everything Christmas initially proved confining until I discovered Simon Doonan (Then Barneys NY star window dresser) in high school. I have entertained magenta and orange, aqua and lime, white on white, feathers, disco as the scheme-o-the-season. I am currently not inspired by anything except the fact that Doonan and Jonathan Adler have a Prince head in their home. I heart random artifacts. AND Prince!

Perhaps we could have a Purple Rain theme and Simon and Johnny could loan me the Prince head? You know Mr. Adler finds the head kitschy and disconcerting. We could cut the ass out of Santa’s suit, make Apollonia Mrs. Claus and concentrate on black lace and purple glitter. Have Jay Z remix Perry Como with “I would Cry 4 U”…I am kind of getting excited now. We could write the lyrics of “Purple Rain” in fake snow on the windows….

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Photo Credit: The Reveler

what fun Capri


What fun Capri! Such a turn out! I love our friends and family!

Where do I start? The simple Caprese blue and Limoncello yellow invites? In Italian! “Una Festa fantasia a Capri”. A fabulous party in Capri. I hope it says that. That’s what my source told me…we got a lovely response, with those invited RSVPing like the pros they are. We had family in from Massachusetts (staying with us), friends from the big apple (staying with us) and more friends from Sacramento (staying with us)! All traveling near and far to frolic with us in The So. Cali! All total, 13 overnighters.

The weather was perfect and surprisingly balmy. I begged borrowed and stole every huge class enclosed (it’s windy here) candle I could! (Thanks Libby!) Our friend from Huntington Beach surprised us with an entire sound system, lights and the Ipod to run the tunes all night! (Thanks Christopher!) I had sous chief Annie all day, helping to put together the Menu while the brawny men folk picked up borrowed furniture and stray groceries.

Every event should have a signature cocktail. For Capri, what better than -

a Limoncello Martini? Quite the popular potable, even with the men folk! Check out the recipe and download it for your next party! I had a few friends help a sister out with the nibbles.  My gastronome friend Bill brought a lovely ceveche; my Greek goddess Nola brought Tziki, caprese salad and a lovely lamb roast, Heather her world famous cheese ball! I know what you are thinking, cheese ball? Yes but this isn’t your mothers freaky orange ball with nuts. This is an all natural ball of heaven. Yours truly made her word famous artichoke crustini, multicolored heirloom tomato brushcetta and crudités, Italian bread sticks (skinny) and tapinade.

For desert I made a lemon scented mascarpone trifle with raspberries and crème de casis. (Thanks Giada De Larentis). Gorgeous!  And some dark chocolate on the side. I have made this recipe several times now and had great success with it. It cuts much neater than a regular trifle, none of the oozing pudding so common in the traditional recipe. This cuts clean like a cake. Yummy.

The real highlight of the evening was the acoustic performance of o…

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