the Alternative

Help for the Host

Elegant: Festive Dinner Party with your Besties. Not Elegant: Rubber gloves, pigs-in-a-blanket, lackluster linens, fingerprints on the windows and smudges on your mirrors. What's a modern-day Jackie O to do? Delegate.

Hire-A-Host is an award winning party planning and hosting company. No need to wrinkle your party dress! Hire-A-Host not only offers menu and event design, but also provide professional and friendly wait staff and bartenders!

Before the attire is finalized and accessorized, your turf needs to shine. In The Pink Cleaning Service provides general house cleaning on a regular basis (weekly, bi-monthly, every 3 weeks, and monthly schedules), and they also clean for one-time events. Plus, they offer cleaning tips and encourage phone calls with cleaning questions! Plus, their motto is too cute: "More than pretty clean since 1992."

Festivities of Edina exceeds any expectations that you may have from a party rental and event design company. From linen selection to lending a hand the day-of, their team of professional event stylists work...so you don't have to!

Simplify your search for the perfect hostess gift and floral centerpieces in one lovely stop, Bachman's. If you haven't swung into your local purple paradise lately, you'll be delighted and surprised by what you'll find at Bachman's flagship store on Lyndale Avenue.

- Janna O'Meara, Entertaining & Events, the Affair

the Inspiration

Sorry Kermit, it IS easy being green. Every aspect of every event can be 'green'. All it takes is a little thought. Here are definitions and example to inspire!

Composting: a mixture of various decaying organic substances, as dead leaves or manure, used for fertilizing soil. Example: Chowgirls Killer Catering started their business, day one, with common sense responsibility; their kitchen composts all 'scraps'…everything from vegetable peels to chicken bones, leaving only 10% waste in their entire kitchen operations.

Recycling: to treat or process (used or waste materials) so as to make suitable for reuse. Examples: Eureka Recycling is one of the largest nonprofit recyclers in the United States. The event recycling program from Eureka Recycling assists organizers in making events nearly waste-free. Eureka Recycling will staff recycling and composting stations at events, for a fee, and ensure that the attendees 'think' before they 'throw'. In addition, RedStamp.com prints all their personalized stationery and other cards on 30% recycled content cardstock made with 100% renewable Green energy.

Reuse: Rentals! While there are also many awesome disposables that are biodegradable and compostable, rentals means reuseable! Aarcee Classic Events has everything you need for your event; from forks to coffee cups, to China and serving utensils, to safety equipment and linen napkins.

Sustainability: Capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment.
Example: Xcel Energy is the number one wind energy provider in the nation and is working towards reduced emission levels by 2020 by converting coal fire generating plants to compost or natural gas.

Organic: pertaining to, involving, or grown with fertilizers or pesticides of animal or vegetable origin, as distinguished from manufactured chemicals.
Example: Cupcake Café & Catering in Minneapolis serves up organic soups like their Ginger Chicken Noodle and Italian Tomato Bean, as well as Fair Trade coffees, and organic flour breads.