Today's Current Events

Getting your Cinco de Mayo on: Tequila, Tacos, and Technicolor

Right away when I hear Cinco de Mayo I think tequila, tacos, and technicolor.  I know it's shallow and not really what Cinco de Mayo is about, however, I enjoy a good excuse for a party and what better reason to serve up great margaritas, food, and color saturated decor. 

Last year, Courtney Cachet did a great story for the Huffington Post on throwing a last minute Cinco de Mayo Party. Her ideas can easily be carried over year after year and I'm sure Party City is filled with updated versions of last year's decor. 

photo via Huffington Post

My favorite part of the celebration are the margaritas!  There's nothing like a little tequila to keep a party going. Here are two simple margarita recipes courtesy of Aretsky's Patroon.

Traditional Margarita

 2 oz. Silver Tequila 

1/2 oz. Cointreau

3/4 oz. Fresh Lime Juice

1/4 oz. Simple Syrup

If you like salt on the rim of the glass like I do be sure to run a lime along the edge of the glass and roll in salt. Put the rest of the ingredients with ice in a shaker and do your thing. Pour into glass and bottoms up! 

If you're feeling confident about your mixology skills you can add 1/2 oz. of strawberry, edelflower, thyme puree to the above recipe for a twist on the traditional margarita.

If this seems like too much for you, then I'd suggest a few of my favorite places that have the best ingredients and barkeeps that will be sure to be serving up some of the best margs in town. 

You won't find any sombreros here but you can take advantage of drinking under the stars at Aretsky's Patroon Rooftop bar. Their ingredients are always made in-house and served with a smile. Not to mention the roof always attracts a good looking after work crowd.

Another one of my faves is El Toro Blanco in the West Village with over 100 tequilas to choose from. You must have the Guacamole which comes with the most amazing trio of salsas. Watch out one will burn a hole in your stomach but challenge yourself not to go in for a second time.  Seriously, you can't not do it even though your eyes are watering and smoke it coming out your ears. 

I also love Empellon and their amazing tacos. If you're planning on being seen at this well known spot you better saddle up next to the bar early otherwise, you'll find yourself on the curb looking into the window wishing you'd planned ahead.  With that said if you don't have a ressie you probably won't be making it in! Trust me you won't be the only one trying to grab a table to get your hands on some of the meanest tacos in town.

Don't be upset if I didn't name your favorite spot to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. There are way too many places in NYC to name. These are just a few that I happen to love 365 days of the year! In case, you're wondering what you're celebrating check out the history of Cinco de Mayo here.

 

Chuppahs and Arches: Design for Your Wedding

How will you decorate your chuppah or arch for your wedding ceremony? The chuppah is still considered a basic requirement for a Jewish wedding and sybolizes the home that the bride and groom will create together.  Similarly, walking under an arch is symbolic of the couple's safe passage into their new life together. Chuppahs and arches have become opportunities for the couple to put their own design stamp on the ceremony.  

Whether you decide to keep the decor simple with beautiful flowing chiffon fabric and uplighting, lightly decorated with seasonal blooms just on the corners, or going all the way overflowing with flowers and blooming branches, remember to consider your ceremony location, lighting and time of year. Add some lightly fragrant flowers to heighten your guests sensory experience or add reflective crystals and beading for a bit of oppulence. Use an heirloom tallit for the chuppah or incorporate flowers from your parents wedding into your arch for a bit of nostalgia.

Let Blank Slate Events help you with the design for your wedding.  We can work with you to make sure the backdrop for your ceremony is everything you've been dreaming of and more.    

 

It's Spring. Let's Party!

The weather is warming, the birds are chirping, and the trees and flowers are blooming. The signs of Spring!  It makes us all a little restless and wanting to be outdoors as much as we possibly can. While walking from one appointment to another this afternoon I felt like I stumbled upon Candy Land. Look at all the pink fluffy snowball like blooms.

If I could have I would have sat down on the bench and just taken it all in but instead I quickly snapped a picture and moved on.  Spring always makes me want to throw a great party.  It feels like a good excuse to have a drink with old friends and new ones.

When throwing a party it's important to be a good hostess. You want to make sure your guests feel at home and are enjoying themselves. Be sure to plan in advance. Preparation is key. This party is for you as well, and you need to be able to enjoy it. Remember guests are there for you and a good host/hostess never leaves his/her guests alone for an extended period of time. Take out glassware and serving pieces in advance. Spot clean and dust them off the day before. Fill vases with fresh cut stems of seasonal blooms such as tulips, peonies and hydrangea. Fill taller vases with flowering cherry blossom branches or quince. Have some background music playing before guests arrive. Set the mood with candles and dim the lights if possible.  Lighting is everything (after a well stocked bar)!

A good bar is always stocked with vodka, gin, tequila, rum, whiskey and scotch.  You should also have dry and sweet vermouth, bourbon and triple sec. Don't forget the mixers and garnishes like club soda, tonic, lime juice, cranberry juice, (cocktail mixers), olives, lemons, limes and onions. For those that like to skip the mixed drinks make sure to offer wine, beer and champagne.  If this sounds like too much choose a few signature cocktails such as this fun margarita made with Orange Blossom honey. 

Don't discuss politics. Keep conversation light and to topics everyone can join in on like travel, restaurants, music and movies.  You know your guests best and should be brushed up on current affairs that you think will keep the conversation moving.  Make sure you mingle!  Don't spend too much time with one group or person in particular. A good way to help move yourself around a room is to pass a tray or two of hors d'oeuvres yourself.  This way you get to say hello to everyone and give your guests a chance to thank you for hosting a great party.  

Knick's Legends Night Dinner Celebration

Blank Slate Events was so honored to design flower centerpieces for a very special celebration, Knick's Legends Night dinner at Aretsky's Patroon. The main dining room was set-up last night for a private event hosted by Madions Square Garden and Senator Bill Bradley for the 40th Anniversary of the 1973 New York Knick's Championship.

We kept the design simple with white and green which are always a chic and classy choice.  The varying hues of green give the table a nice fresh look.  We used beyond beautiful Mondial roses, green roses, green hydrangea, white fringe tulips and lily grass knots adding an interesting texture to the overall design.

The staff at Aretsky's Patroon is absolutely amazing!  They are always the consummate hosts offering nothing less than perfection.

 

Spring Flower Bridal Shower

Lately we have been busy with making brides-to-be all over Manhattan happy.  With wedding planning season in full swing that means bridal showers. One of our cutest flower centerpieces was this Spring arrangement with mini daffodils, watermelon hued fringe tulips, lavender lisianthus, baby green hydrangea, hot pink roses and pale purple tulips.

We were asked to design the arrangement so that it coordinated with their invitation designed by Bird and Banner for Wedding Paper Divas. They chose the beautiful "Painted Garden" which has this amazing floral print in very Spring colors. I just love it!

Here's how it turned out!