Potluck means sharing. Sharing with my swim class friends. I put together a soup and salad bar, and the others guests provided appies, drinks…
Potluck means sharing. Sharing with my swim class friends. I put together a soup and salad bar, and the others guests provided appies, drinks…
Summer entertaining is simple if you plan ahead. Follow the Golden Rule and treat others in your home the way you want to be…
There are only three scenarios: the man pays, the woman pays, or the meal is Dutch, that is, both participants pay their way. On a “traditional” first date, where the man has invited the woman to a meal, he should always pay. Among friends, checks are usually split, or people take turns paying for…
When was the last time someone in your party asked for a separate restaurant check? Well, it’s still done every day, but it’s a pain for the servers, and some restaurants won’t do it at all. Splitting the check by each person handing over his or her credit card is much more common now,…
As a former music major, classical music is emotionally overwhelming for me. So naturally my experience is spoiled when a performance is interrupted by a cell phone ringing or someone unwrapping candy. Fortunately, at live performances we are reminded that phones and pagers must be turned off before the concert begins. But it never hurts…
Downton Abbey, here we come. Those addicted to the PBS drama, like me, can’t help but notice that a large part of the series is centered around food. Many scenes feature formal dinners where the dress is black tie or white tie, and the Crawley family and their guests are served à l’anglaise, with…
If you need dinner party ideas, you’ve come to the right place. Entertaining at home is one of my favorite things, and planning ahead is what makes it work. Here’s a list of my most important to-do’s: • Guest list: Eight to ten is the maximum number of people at the dinner table, or…
Learn the right things to say to get the item you want at the best possible price. There are certain rules of etiquette that should be respected when shopping for antiques at flea markets, garage sales, antiques stores, and market stalls. Antiquing is a fun way to spend an afternoon, but remember that the…
And the winners are? It’s that time of year: the Academy Awards. If you’re like many, you’ll want to see all the films nominated before the show. Here are some rules to make your movie theatre experience more enjoyable: • Validate your parking ticket before the movie begins so you won’t forget after the film…
It’s that time of year: the opening of the ballet season. Common sense and courtesy will vastly improve the enjoyment of everyone’s theatre experience if the basic rules of etiquette are followed: • Don’t arrive late or leave early. It’s disruptive to the artists and audience. • Don’t talk during a live performance. All attention…