tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post5961873870982980904..comments2023-10-11T09:03:55.209-04:00Comments on Lindaraxa: How To Give A Successful Dinner Party...The Guest Listlindaraxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15721286284279902181noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-38412963130470942792012-02-13T16:44:54.649-05:002012-02-13T16:44:54.649-05:00Toby,
A round table is ideal and I have a couple ...Toby,<br /><br />A round table is ideal and I have a couple of those which are set up for bigger dinner parties rather than put more leaves on my Sheraton table in the dining room. I do agree with you a long table can be such a trap! I have been in the middle more times than I care to remember.<br /><br />Joseph,<br /><br />Oh those crashers....what a nightmare. I wonder whatever happened to them?!!!lindaraxahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721286284279902181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-44987101168953029022012-02-13T14:07:34.667-05:002012-02-13T14:07:34.667-05:00oh P.S. No, I would not like the Crashers at my n...oh P.S. No, I would not like the Crashers at my next party. Vapid brashness is never a good company to keep.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-63178002733626875032012-02-13T14:06:09.199-05:002012-02-13T14:06:09.199-05:00Wonderful images, and great information. People f...Wonderful images, and great information. People forget that hospitality is about sharing who we are with our friends and those who may become our friends. Too often that focus is lost on the details of the table or the food or what everyone is wearing. Give as generously as you can, show appreciation and relax--those are my guidelines for a good party.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-45329856772807878912012-02-13T10:02:13.875-05:002012-02-13T10:02:13.875-05:00There's a large round table in the dining room...There's a large round table in the dining room, and<br />I realized years ago that I much preferred an odd number of guests (say, five, seven, nine) to the more<br />expected even number. My reasoning is simply that<br />an even number positions guests directly opposite<br />one another. This can inhibit conversation, which arises from a kind of self consciousness, a certain geometric tension if you will. Well, at least in my mind! And the sight of a long, narrow dining table fills me with dread~because you're pretty much trapped, staring ahead at the same faces for better or worse the whole night long.Toby Worthingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05887066048372484464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-15043375570331552672012-02-13T07:45:27.071-05:002012-02-13T07:45:27.071-05:00i like all the b & w images. they look timeles...i like all the b & w images. they look timeless<br /><br />happy monday<br /><br />Mariadesign elementshttp://design-elements-blog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-50424016041823563312012-02-12T11:43:00.723-05:002012-02-12T11:43:00.723-05:00Ah Reg leave it to you to think of a new twist in ...Ah Reg leave it to you to think of a new twist in this ongoing process. What a great idea, sitting a giver in the middle of the side of the table. Of course when I thought of "givers" my first thoughts went straight to you.<br /><br />Now that I'm getting older and forget names at the drop of a hat (including those of my grandchildren on occasion) I rely more and more on placecards lest I have the embarassing senior moment and mess up the dinner myself!lindaraxahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721286284279902181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-47452297958316096812012-02-12T11:13:49.386-05:002012-02-12T11:13:49.386-05:00Roxie: You, of course, nailed it here in this mos...Roxie: You, of course, nailed it here in this most thoughtful and well-written post. I am a fan of dinners for ten at Darlington, as I have sometimes found that at dinners for eight, the person seated in the middle of the side of the table, where three are seated, can--at times--become isolated by conversations at either end of the table. But that is only a concern when a "taker" is seated there. Now, when we have dinners for eight (which we do now more frequently for many reasons), I am sure to seat a "giver" there. And I am a firm believer in placecards at dinners for eight or more. One doesn't want to leave these things to chance! When placecards are not in use, for whatever reason, the host (or hostess) should always inform his (or her) guests where to sit, as the placement of one's guests at a table (as you note) is a key ingredient to a dinner party's success.Reggie Darlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04044215790585354363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-32974099396747780732012-02-12T10:17:18.938-05:002012-02-12T10:17:18.938-05:00Parnassus,
I'm glad the Welsh Rabbit was a su...Parnassus,<br /><br />I'm glad the Welsh Rabbit was a success. It is a great recipe for a hangover too!lindaraxahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721286284279902181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-4898604905059520772012-02-12T10:15:27.017-05:002012-02-12T10:15:27.017-05:00Parnassus,
When I have a large mixed group, such ...Parnassus,<br /><br />When I have a large mixed group, such as the one you refer to, I usually pick a fun occasion such as the Kentucky Derby, Fourth of July or an Oscar party and serve buffet style. It's a great way to fit in a wide assortment of guests!<br /><br />Classicist,<br /><br />That is the perfect recipe for a nightmare of a dinner party!<br /><br />Martha,<br /><br />You are so right. I have found that mixing age groups can be a lot of fun, particularly now that my "children" and their friends are over the hill.<br /> <br />When I have more than 8 people, my favorite number also, and have a couple of extra tables, I make everyone switch tables at dessert time and also make sure that some of the fun guests are scattered between main, down and up tables.lindaraxahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721286284279902181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-17189155493444985942012-02-12T08:00:16.531-05:002012-02-12T08:00:16.531-05:00We like a mix of ages and interests for, we think,...We like a mix of ages and interests for, we think, it gives more interesting dinner conversation. And we like no more than 8 (although on occasion we have had 10 or 12) because then everyone can be part of the conversation and you don't have an "up table" and a <br />"down table" conversation going.<br /><br />We like husbands and wives not to sit together (although if we have a shy one we'll "forgive" that rule) -- <br /><br />Since we live in a small town, we often have "the new kids" on the block for dinner along with old friends -- it's a great way for newcomers to meet people -- dinner parties!Marthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18114417561785860122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-27570041163339539892012-02-12T07:43:20.611-05:002012-02-12T07:43:20.611-05:00Not long ago, I went to a dinner party and the hos...Not long ago, I went to a dinner party and the hostess said, "Oh, just sit where you like." Most couples sat together and that was NOT a successful arrangement. It reminded me that placecards can be helpful, even in the most casual seated dinner party.The Devoted Classicisthttp://tdclassicist.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-52288045468819488362012-02-12T02:01:00.842-05:002012-02-12T02:01:00.842-05:00These are all very wise guidelines. I think an oth...These are all very wise guidelines. I think an other element of success is to vary the type and scale of the entertainment, to accommodate different kinds of people, and those who perhaps didn't fit into a previous plan. For example, buffets can alternate with sit-down dinners; they are less formal which will make some people more comfortable, and they make it easier to accommodate people with special dietary needs, etc.<br /><br />By the way, I owe you thanks; your Welsh rabbit recipe that I made last week was a big success. <br />--Road to ParnassusParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.com