In honor of the start of summer cocktail season, I’ll be sharing the recipes for my most successful food and drink items from the vanesscipes launch party in upcoming posts. But first I’m going to give back a little more, make everyone’s summer party throwing a little easier, and bump the current standard of party living up at least a half a notch. Without further ado:

Vanessa’s Dos and Don’ts for Throwing a Summer Cocktail Party:

Let’s start with the Dos:

• Do enlist help – a big thanks to three (3) of my sisters for chopping, cleaning, coping and other fabulously helpful “c”-words during setup of the Vanesscipes Launch Party. Even if you’re the hostess with the mostest, it’s great to have another hand or six to help do the dirty work and keep you sane.
• Do ask a few well-chosen guests to arrive “on-time.” That way, by the time everyone else shows up you’ll already be on your second drink and having a great time.
• Do use seasonal ingredients – fresh herbs, fruit, and veggies make great quick appetizers, desserts, and drink garnishes while keeping to the summer theme. They also pack a bunch of vitamins to help keep tomorrow’s hangover to a minimum.
• Do have a “specialty drink.” It’s a great icebreaker to introduce and talk up your signature drink (mine is the ever-popular Mintessa.) Make something fun, silly, and creative, or just copy my Strawberry Basil Baumers (recipe in a forthcoming post) and just pretend it was your idea.

And then the Don’ts:

• Don’t get too elaborate with the menu. Fancy appetizers are time consuming to make, hard to pick up, and aren’t worth the effort. Make some of the aforementioned fruit or veggie crudités and a dip or two, buy some chips or make homemade pita wedges and you’re set. You just need something yummy to put in your guests stomachs to keep them from passing out. Also, it’s nice to give guests an excuse to go grab a nibble if they’re trapped in a conversation with one of your crazy neighbors.
• Don’t get exclusive with your guest list. Remember: everyone likes a party. Not everyone shows up. And people that do show up don’t want to talk to the same group of people they did last time.
• Don’t stress! Don’t worry about getting your apartment perfectly clean - no one’s going to be looking at that ring around your bathtub when they go to the bathroom. They’re too busy snooping through your medicine cabinet.

Please email me or add a comment if you have any further summer party tips to share with the world.