Share the Affair

In honor of the Affair Event and Expo (Nov. 7-8), we're offering readers a chance to share stories and win prizes.

Tell us about your most outrageous "affair" - in terms of entertaining, that is. We're looking for (very!) short stories about kitchen mishaps, faux pas, wacky theme parties, decadent cocktails or anything else that suits the theme of entertaining in style.

Email your entry to contest@heavytable.com. Contest runs until October 26.

GRAND PRIZE: $100 basket of Bistro Blends premium balsamic vinegars and oils.

10 Runners Up: A pair of tickets to the Expo at the Affair (value: $50)

the Flare

Color Your Party Purple (or Pink or Green or Blue...)

There are so many unique party themes out there, it's hard to choose one to highlight. But every time I see a great color themed party, I am always drawn in by how the hosts create such a cohesive vibe without necessarily having to spend a lot of money. So it's time to celebrate the single color themed party! P. Diddy made the White Party a Hamptons signature event. Or maybe you want to honor the late director John Hughes with a Pretty in Pink party.

Start with a specialty cocktail that ties in with your palate and give it a clever name (a purple cocktail could reference a classic Minneapolis rocker, Prince, with the moniker Purple Rain, or make a Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze). Be sure to have a non-alcoholic alternative for your guests that is just as creative. Even water bottles can be customized easily with a band of colored paper and fun stickers, ribbon or twine.

Next comes the menu, which can be color coordinated utilizing foods that naturally fit your color palette, (or use a little food coloring to make your vision come to life). Purple potatoes would make a far-out potato salad or homemade potato chips. Even hot dogs can be dressed up with a band of purple by substituting purple peppers for green peppers in a batch of quick relish. Surprise guests with purple varieties of carrots in your crudités assortment with a chive dip garnished with fresh purple chive blossoms. Humble cupcakes easily adapt to any color palette with vanilla frosting and food coloring. I love seeing them laid out on a platter or on a cake stand in a range of shades, from light lavender to deep violet. The simple graphic pop of the cupcakes is decoration for your party in of itself. Glass jars filled with candies in a range of colors also can be used to accent the tablescape and provide a fun interactive experience for guests - give them baggies to fill with their own custom blend of favorite candies to take home at the end of the evening.

Table linens in shades of your palette up the ante, and there are many great resources in town for renting unique linens that mix color and pattern to create a mood for your space. The team at Studio 6 Specialty Linen and Decor enjoy working with clients to select just the right linens for your occasion. Dress up the tabletop with flowers that play off the theme - throw some chartreuse in with the purple to create dynamic tension, since they are opposites on the color wheel and therefore make each other pop. Floral Logic is a great resource for funky or traditional arrangements to suit any occasion, and Eric certainly knows his way around a color wheel. Floral arrangements could be as simple as a row of bud vases with small clusters of blossoms snaking along a table, weaving between the platters of food, or as elaborate as your florist's imagination.

Depending upon the formality of the event and the location, perhaps you want to dress up the space beyond the tablescape. I'm a fan of custom flag garlands strung across a room - these can be made from triangles of fabric or paper and add a great splash of color and pattern at eye level. I think it's fun to find uniquely shaped candlestick holders in a variety of colors and use white taper candles that can be used again and again. If you can't find candlestick holders in your color palette, grab a can of spray paint and customize a few. Vintage, antique and thrift stores are all great resources for items like these that can be transformed with a little effort. Tissue paper can also be transformed into fabulous over-scaled pom-poms to hang from the ceiling.

Just like P. Diddy, ask your guests to dress to fit the color palette, which can lead to some inspired outfits from guests of all ages. My mom just attended a red birthday party and wore a red belt, red earrings and red shoes to dress up her outfit in an easy but fun way. Picking out an outfit for a party is always a challenge, but I think fitting a color palette makes it fun and gives you an excuse to find a great new look from a local boutique to enhance your wardrobe all year.

Now doesn't that sound like a party you would want to attend? Did you notice the food doesn't need to be fancy fare? By serving a signature drink you can save on stocking a wide variety of spirits, wine and beer. Renting linens saves you the investment in multiple linens you might not use again and allows others to appreciate them over and over again, making it also a greener choice. Now I want someone to throw a color party so I can attend! (Hint, hint - I love orange...)

- Colleen Fox Slack, Home & Culinary, the Affair

the Fare

Adults or not, we still love dress-up and holiday parties. So as we prepare to transform our perfect Cinderella carriage pumpkins into menacing jack-o'-lanterns, let's invite some friends and make it a festive adult playdate.

Need a little exercise to warm up? Pumpkin races! Grab similar-sized pumpkins and race to the other end of the yard. You'll get that blood moving and stomach's chuckling. Speaking of pumpkins, check out Bachman's Floral Gift and Garden's 25 ideas for decorating with pumpkins!

Chilly, winds and frosty mornings call for warm doughy treats and hot-spiced drinks. Cupcake on University Avenue in St. Paul is serving up steamy hot, creamy zucchini and dill soup for fall, perfect with a sugary cupcake for dessert to prepare for winter hibernation.

Gardens of Salonica New Greek Deli in NE Minneapolis is showcasing fresh, local delights, as well as old favorites like Boughatsa (a phyllo dough stuffed with feta and spinach) and Skordalia, a mix of potato, olive oil, lemon juice and plenty of garlic (which is fabulously-full of antioxidants). The fresh ingredients always make me feel relaxed and refreshed.

Finally, here's a subtle decorating tip from Stems and Vines; give your indoor plants an autumn look by adding a few sprigs of preserved fall foliage between the leaves.

Janna O'Meara, Entertaining and Events, the Affair

the Style Informant

Before visiting your favorite boutiques this season for the perfect holiday ensembles, be sure to check out the most recent issue of Twin Cities Statement (formerly Twin Cities Luxury & Fashion). It is the local fashion and trend magazine surely to keep you up to date on local and national fashions, as well as the best boutiques and places to buy them. The magazine began as a "way to capture the sophisticated and sexy style of the Twin Cities," says editor in chief Andrew Rice. With Twin Cities Statement as the media sponsor, and Il Vostro Boutique providing all the women's fashion, the show will most certainly be sexy and sophisticated...

Check out the October issue - the Form meets Fashion section, styled by fashion editor Christina Holm-Sandok, is absolutely spectacular. It combines spot on fashion fall trends while showcasing luxury home builders. My personal favorite spread is with the Robert Rodriguez pearl top from Arafina paired with a Frascara ivory pant from Dugo with layered Konstantino necklaces from Omorphia. A steller ensemble for any holiday event! And don't forget the men! The Men's Book within the same issue showcases men's fashion, accessories and gift items. It's no wonder that Twin Cities Statement has teamed up as the media sponsor for our fashion show, the Style.

- Sarah Ramsay, Fashion & Lifestyle, the Affair

the Secret

Do you know the secrets of your city? Kristin Henning does. Know why? She runs www.secretsofthecity.com. And we at the Affair are lucky enough to have her throughout the event on November 7th & 8th!

Secrets of the City will be exhibiting at the Expo, offering "Theater All Year" vouchers for sale (it's a great holiday gift item; see www.theaterallyear.com for details), demo-ing Secrets of the City's events and restaurant guides, offering prize drawings, and displaying Secrets of the Cities' own holiday entertaining suggestions. They'll also be moderating the entertainment stage, highlighting "Secrets of the Affair" (their own on-site discoveries) along with our Secret recommendations.

Come down and unlock the secrets of your city at the Affair. It'll be worth it!

- Laurie Ziegler, Gourmet Food & Wine, the Affair