Events & Culture Etiquette

The Long Walk in Windsor Great Park.  I had a front row seat when the “newly” wed rode by.
Departure: With little sleep, lots of…

(My home stay mom Hazel, my home stay brother Steve, and granddaughter Courtney)
If you think living like a royal is easy, think again.  Being…

The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.

—William Wordsworth

The month of October and natural disasters are synonymous, at least in the Bay Area. Historically, many have occurred during this month, from the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 to the East Bay fires of 1991, and now, the worst wildfire in recorded history. At the time of this writing, at least 42 people are dead; 330 square miles have been burned as a result of 17 fires; and 11,000 firefighters are still battling. Tubbs, Adobe, Atlas: fire names and locations that I will long remember. Before last week, terms such as controlled lines, defensible space, and containment were heard only in the movies. Now, seeing hazy red sunsets and smelling smoke in the air seems almost normal.

Dinner parties are nervous-making events for many people—so many questions, so many rules! Here’s a short Q&A to help make your next dinner party fun for both you and your guests.

Should dinner guests be assigned seats?
When I’m the hostess, I always assign seats, for one very important reason: it’s human nature for us to gravitate to our comfort level, which means sitting next to people we already know, such as our spouse or good friends. A dinner party is an opportunity to mix things up a bit and make the evening more interesting.

What is the biggest faux pas people make when planning a dinner party?

‘Tis the season. September marked the opening of the San Francisco social season. First came the opera and then the symphony. Both were glamorous black-tie, see-and-be-seen events. Unfortunately, evening gowns and tuxedos don’t always equal good behavior. Great Britain’s authoritative bible on social etiquette, Debrett’s Correct Form, clearly spells out the right behavior for social…

Don’t laugh at the subtitle “Party Tips.” If I had a dollar for every mistake I’ve made throwing a party, I’d be rich. There really are ways to make your next party memorable in a good way. Here are some questions and answers that sum up what I’ve learned about entertaining others: • What is…

Dorothy Draper, an American interior decorator, wrote a book entitled Entertaining Is Fun: How to Be a Popular Hostess. It can be fun to entertain, although many people find giving a party daunting. To do it right, you need just one basic component: lists, lists, and more lists. Even if you’re lucky enough to have…