How To Throw A Stylish Cocktail Party

Guests in elegant clothing, soothing background music, indulgent food and superb drinks – these are all the things that spring to mind when you think about a cocktail party. Read on to find out how to get this essential mix of ingredients just right.

Consult your diary

Decide on the time and date of your party. Make it an evening social event as it will be the perfect way for friends to wind down after a day at the office. Cocktail parties are normally held between 6pm and 10pm but if it is in full swing there is no need to cut it off at that time.

Little Black Dress

We all love to dress up but rarely get the opportunity. A sophisticated dress code will help to create the right mood. Make sure you stipulate on your invitations what the dress code is going to be.

Food

An eight course banquet is not required – Hors d’oeurves (canapés) and small portions of food are the order of the day. To match the occasion you will have to look beyond bowls of nuts and offer small quantities of indulgent foods.

Go for caviar on toast, sushi, fresh oysters, strawberries dipped in chocolate etc. About 5 to 10 bites per person would be ideal.

Drinks

Of course the cocktails will be the main attraction. Unless you are a confident mixologist, get an expert in to do it for you. Always make sure you have plenty of ice and suitable glasses; martini in a pint glass won’t really be appropriate. Champagne is always well received either as it is or used in cocktails.

Seating

It is important to provide some seating but don’t go mad. You want people to mix and not sit down in their set social groups. Approximately 1 seat for every 2 guests will be about right.

What else? Well, don’t forget the background music and low lighting. And remember that smiles are contagious so, as the host, smile and relax. This feeling will spread throughout the party.

That’s it, in a nutshell. Go on, have some fun and throw yourself a cocktail party!

The SaVVy Club® – an exclusive social events club always delivering events that are intimate, stylish and memorable, allowing you to quickly meet a whole variety of people whilst exploring London’s finest places and enjoying the best and exclusive events.

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The SaVVy Club announces its September Monthly Cocktail Party

The SaVVy Club® (www.savvyclub.co.uk) – an exclusive social event club invites you to join them at Bureau on Friday 19 September for their monthly Cocktail Party Night.

As well as providing members with a bespoke calendar of exceptional events we would now like to extend an invitation to you to join us for our new glamorous cocktail evenings at Bureau. It is the perfect place to try our own exclusively created cocktail – savvystication (complimentary first drink). This top secret recipe was created exclusively for us in 2007 by Tony Conigliaro, the UK’s no. 1 top mixologist.

Whether you want to learn more about The SaVVy Club® or catch up with old friends and members, our monthly cocktail party is the place to be. If you are not yet a member but would like to come along, apply for your Guest Pass today – don’t forget the full cost of the pass is refundable when you upgrade to full membership.

Based in London, The SaVVy Club® is an exclusive social events club always delivering events that are intimate, stylish and memorable, allowing you to quickly meet a whole variety of people whilst exploring London’s finest places.

See you there!

Kim Rix

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Instant (Summer) Polo

“Instant (Summer) Polo” is deliberately written in the style of an aide
memoire to fast-track someone unfamiliar with the game.

Game Object: to score more goals than the other Team
(NB Ends are changed after each goal, there is no offside rule)

o Biggest (300yd x 200yd) ground of any ball game (9 football pitches)
o One of the three Fastest games in the world (others are squash & ice hockey)
o Oldest (about 1000 BC in Persia) ball game in the world
o Most addictive
o First match in England: 1869 on Hounslow Heath; now over 60 Clubs in UK
o Only game where half-goals appear on the scoreboard (handicapping system)
o All Players must play right-handed for safety reasons
o Spectators are encouraged to go on the ground at half-time (treading in) – at other times keep behind the safety line, polo balls are hard and fast!

YOU WILL SEE
o 1 Timekeeper monitoring each period (chukka) of playing time; should be 7 min 30 sec, usually elapsed time is more like 15 min allowing for stoppages due to Fouls
o 2 Umpires (sometimes only 1) administer the Rules; they wear shirts like pyjama jackets and carry objects like toilet-plungers (for retrieving balls)
o 2 Goal Judges, they wave a flag to show a goal is scored
o 4 Players a Team, often numbered 1 to 4 on their backs
o 4 Chukkas a Match (usually); however a player’s handicap represents the number of goals they are worth to their team in a 6-chukka match (historical)!
o 5 virtual lines or marks parallel to the goal lines: at the centre of the ground and at 30, 40 and 60 yards from each goal line

To minimise danger and ensure fairness there are strict Rules, because of the speed of the game; both the play and the clock stop when a whistle is blown by an Umpire.

Basically, if you are following the “line of the ball” then you have “right of way” over everyone else. If that is infringed, then Penalty hits may be awarded, or the decision may be “no foul” and the ball is then “thrown in” to restart play.

You may “ride off” an opponent but may not “sandwich” them and you must not use your elbows.

Guest blogger: Roy Law, www.Soft-SpokenWords.com

© 2007-2008 Soft-Spoken Words, submitted to The SaVVy Club^®

The SaVVy Club^®: London’s first boutique social events club

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A Review of Marguerite – Theatre evening hosted by The SaVVy Club

We met for champagne in the Brumus Bar before the main event of the evening. The atmosphere amongst us was one of excited trepidation. We had gathered to watch the third performance of the new musical Marguerite. None of us had heard or read any reviews about it so we weren’t sure what to expect.

We were handed our programmes before making our way to the theatre and taking our seats. The auditorium was full. Being only the third performance there were obviously still a few gremlins in the wings as the show was ten minutes late starting. But as the lights dimmed, silence fell across the audience.

The opening scene was very solemn and the story unfolded and moved quickly. Marguerite (Ruthie Henshall) is the French mistress of a high-ranking German officer in Nazi-occupied Paris. She is very popular because she can get petrol coupons and nylons and so forth. But at her fortieth birthday party she meets musician Armand (Julian Ovenden) who falls hopelessly in love with her. The musical follows their secret affair and the ensuing tragedy.

Unlike other musicals, Marguerite is not full of high octane dance numbers. It is altogether far more solemn and intense. By the time the interval came we all felt quite emotionally drained and were pleased to be escorted down to the stalls bar where champagne and a lovely selection of sandwiches were waiting for us.

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The SaVVy Club^® London’s first Boutique Events Club where members experience VIP Social Events unavailable elsewhere.

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Top Tips for a Stress Free Dinner Party

Social events can come in many guises – from the extravagant VIP experience at Glyndebourne to the more intimate and personal dinner party. A quiet evening at home entertaining those we hold most near and dear can be one of the most enjoyable entries in our social calendars.

However there is a slight snag with these evenings of sociable conversation – there is no one to do the organising for us. I don’t know about you, but I always thought a stress free dinner party was a mythical entity. It is something that everyone else seems able to achieve, but not me. No matter how prepared I am something always goes wrong sending my stress levels into orbit.

However help is at hand. After a bit of research I have come up with a few pointers that will ensure that the cook enjoys the evening as much as the guests. By following these simple tips you will be able to entertain with confidence and style.

Keep it simple

We all want to be the perfect hostess or host. But is it necessary? If you are stressed your guests will be stressed and that will lead to an evening of tense conversation and everyone leaving at the earliest opportunity.

Keep the dinner party informal. Forget gourmet catering and smart dress codes, if you want relaxed guests go for an informal, comfortable format.

Plan it!

No one can conjure up a dinner party without planning. Prepare as much as you can in advance. Go for soup or a cold starter that can be made earlier in the day (or even the day before), you could do the same with the desert. Don’t forget to plan what you are going to wear and make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get ready.

Eeny, meeny, miny, mo

The guest list; think carefully about how many people you are going to invite. Eight people is manageable, any more than that and your stress levels are likely to go through the roof. Choose people who will compliment each other, this will help the conversation flow and help create a sociable atmosphere.

Fake is good

Many people seem to be under the misconception that having a dinner party means that everything has to be made from scratch. Of course it doesn’t! We all lead busy lives and don’t have the time to spend all day slaving away in the kitchen (even if we wanted to). There is absolutely nothing wrong with using pre-made pastry, sauces, frozen vegetables or even entirely pre-prepared courses. Your guests accepted your invitation because they want to spend time with you! So get out of the kitchen and enjoy their company rather than the cooker’s.

No food mountains please

This is when it is good to remember the old adage ‘it’s the quality that counts not the quantity’. Don’t go overboard on the number of courses – a few well prepared dishes will go down a lot better than a vast array of thrown together ones.

Your guests don’t want to be uncomfortably stuffed by the end of the evening. Go for three well prepared and presented courses. Whatever you do, choose simple dishes. It is very tempting to reach for that new gourmet cookery book you bought in the sales and find the most complicated menu imaginable. Simple dishes with simple flavours made with good ingredients will impress more.

Everyone makes mistakes

Even the best trained chefs in the world have off days. If you have a minor (or major) calamity, don’t panic. If you don’t tell your guests about it, they won’t know. If it’s a mistake that can’t be hidden, laugh it off. I can assure you it will lead to a new strand in the conversation as all manner of dinner party confessions come out of the woodwork. (Remember Bridget Jones’s blue soup?)

Ah, didn’t I tell you?

Your table is set, your guests have arrived. While you lay out the starters your partner is topping up everyone’s glass. After one last quick glance to make sure everything is perfect you call your guests through. As they take their seats and look at the wonderful dish before them you hear a nervous cough followed by ‘Ah, sorry, I forgot to mention. I’m a vegetarian now.’ ARGH!!!

Don’t leave anything to chance. When inviting your guests ask if they have any particular likes, dislikes or allergies it will save a lot of blushes later.

Ta-Daaa

As my old Home Economics teacher always said, it’s all in the presentation. A clean table cloth, your best cutlery and tableware will show your guests that you value their company. Use fresh flowers to enhance the table. Be relaxed about the seating; allow your guests to decide where they want to sit.

Well, there you have it, a few simple points to remember when you plan your next dinner party. Now all you need to do is grab your diary, find a suitable date and invite your friends. Shall we say next Saturday at 8pm? Lovely; looking forward to it.

Sally Ormond
The Editor, www.savvyclub.co.uk

The SaVVy Club – London’s first Boutique Events Club where members experience VIP Social Events unavailable elsewhere.

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Social Networking

Social networking, much like business networking, is a phrase which often leads to raised eyebrows on the part of people hearing about/experiencing someone engaged in it.  It is also, however, a phenomenon that is growing in popularity.

 

The reasons for this popularity are not easily listable, but probably stem from the fact that people are increasingly busy with their careers, and are also often living in big cities where the sense of community we used to count on no longer exists.  It is unlikely now that you know your local butcher/baker/candlestick maker and their families, but we all still feel the need to reach out and make friends. 

Another factor to consider is that social and business networking are not necessarily mutually exclusive, although many people maintain that they should be.  I, however, am one of those who maintain the opposite: they should be intertwined, for the very reasons that make both forms of networking so reviled in some sectors. 

Networking is not, or rather, should not be, a purely selfish attempt to bulk up one’s address book.  Rather, it should be a genuine reaching-out to people with similar interests, and is therefore inherently mutual.  That is, the people who come to events, conferences and so forth with the express purpose of “networking” are invariably those who get none done.  Why?  They are the people who’re easy to spot: the shifty eyes, the obvious half-paid attention to conversation while they scan the room for someone who may be more useful to them. 

Rather, networking is simply about reaching out to those around you – never expect someone to do you a favour, but be willing to help out anyone you can – you’d be amazed at how small acts of kindness are rewarded later, although not necessarily by the same person you were able to help.  Certainly, the “you help me and then I’ll help you” approach is one doomed to failure.

 

In short, when networking in any form, remember you are primarily there to meet people – be friendly, polite, and above all, open-minded.  The person you snub now may prove to be someone you wish had reached out to later.

 

For a great book on networking, read Andy Lopata’s “…and Death Came Third! The Definitive Guide to Networking and Public Speaking”, which received global kudos and reached no. 2 on Amazon.co.uk when it was launched.  He also has a blog, which can be found at http://networkingandreferrals.blogspot.com/

 

It is also very likely that there will be more blog articles based around this subject, so keep your eyes open!

 

aimée whitcroft

The SaVVy Club’s members enjoy a unique calendar of bespoke social events organised just for them. They can enjoy the company of fascinating people and relax in the knowledge that everything is taken care of.

 

 

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