Summer Party Theme: Trader Vic's

The panther loves a good party and summer is the perfect time of year for throwing fabulous outdoor events.  There is nothing bad about an old-fashioned backyard barbecue, but the panther likes to go beyond that...
Everyone loves a theme party.  In the upcoming days the panther will share some of her favorite summer party themes.  She has a summer party planned soon and will share photos and ideas from that party soon...
For now, read about some other great party themes.

The new Trader Vic's is opening in Portland in about two weeks and the panther cannot wait.  That is the inspiration for our first party theme.

Trader Vic's:  Luau's and tiki parties are always popular in summer months.  The panther likes to model her luaus after the always-fun vibe of Trader Vic's.  Tasty tropical food and amazing fruity drinks are a must!

A Trader Vic's party cannot be complete without an actual tiki bar.  This isn't as hard a task as you may think.  Tiki bars are pretty easy to find during summer months at large retailers like Target, Home Depot, Lowes, or even discount stores like Big Lots.  They are not a huge investment and most models are collapsible for easy storage.  Not ready to commit to a tiki bar?  Many party rental places have them available to rent.  Tiki bars set the mood and your guests will love gathering around it with their pina coladas in hand for photos.

If you cannot find a tiki bar, purchase raffia skirts and your local party supply store and skirt a long table to use as your bar.  It is fun to buy several raffia skirts to decorate all your tables and even tie them to deck railings to give your home that tiki-hut look.

Tiki torches are another necessity.  They create a lovely ambiance once the sun sets.  You can fill them with regular tiki torch fuel or citronella oil if insects are an issue.  Tiki torches are abundant and easy to find at any major retailer in summer months.  Stake them around the perimeter of your yard and flank walkways and buffet tables.

Leis of artificial flowers can be found at most party stores and are fun to place on tables for decoration.  Pick up enough for all of your guests to wear one.

You cannot have a successful Trader Vic's party without fabulous tropical cocktails.  Hire a good bartender or perfect a few key cocktails yourself.  Be sure to have a lot of paper umbrella's and garnishes for the drinks because that's half the fun!

A whole roasted pig makes a fabulous feast at a Trader Vic's party but the panther understands that isn't for everyone.  Barbecued pork spare ribs, skewers of teriyaki chicken with grilled pineapple, luscious fruit salads, and coconut rice are all perfect foods to serve at a Trader Vic's party.  Search for a vintage Trader Vic's cookbook for more inspiration.

Other ideas:  Tuck artificial bird-or-paradise and orchid stems in among your garden plants.  Use palm fronds or banana leaves as placemats on tables.  Have a hula-hooping contest with fun prizes for your guests.

Aloha!

-The Panther

Color Inspiration: Lime Green

With summer finally here, the Panther is ready for a blast of electric color, and one of her favorites for this time of year is lime green.  It is fresh, bright, and really packs a punch.  A little lime green goes a long way, but here are some of the panther's favorite uses for the color.

Not everyone can wear lime green from head to toe, but that doesn't mean you should avoid lime green in your wardrobe altogether.  What about a bright cheerful lime green scarf against a crisp white top?

Or, how about making a statement with these fabulous lime green sunglasses.  They are so unique and so much fun.

Setting the table with lime green definitely evokes a summer time feel.  This table is elegant with its lime green cloth and dupione silk napkins in matching lime green.

For a lime green centerpiece use fresh green grapes and green apples.  How simple is this yet so elegant.

For some color and cheer, toss some lime green throw pillows on your patio furniture.

Add a couple of lime green flower pots and planters into your yard.  Colorful flowers look wonderful against the lime green!

Or, if you don't want to invest in lime green planters, add some sweet potato vine into your landscape.  Sweet potato vine is the most wonderful shade of lime green and is a great backdrop to your garden. 

And don't forget to relax with a lime green cocktail.  A green apple-tini is perfectly lime green.

-The Panther











Ooh-La-La... Paris Flea Market this Weekend!

The Panther loves finding eclectic treasures and this weekend is the perfect opportunity for her to "paw" through charming finds and treasures galore at Bellagio Interiors' Paris Flea Market.

Bellagio is having a European-style flea market chock full of fabulous finds!

Vintage and new, shabby and chic, unique and rare...

Something for everyone!  Treasures Galore!

Come on down and paw through the flea market.

See what kind of treasures you can walk away with.

Bellagio Interiors

145 A Ave.

Lake Oswego, OR  97034

Friday, July 8th and Saturday, July 9th

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

See you there!

 

Hostess Gifts for the Wine Lover

You just got a dinner invite and you need a hostess gift to bring.  All you know about your hostess is that she loves wine. You don't want to bring the cliche bottle of wine though.  Here are some other ideas of gifts you can bring that do not cost a lot of money and your hostess will love!

Stationery is always an appreciated gift.  For the wine-lover this set of notecards with wine bottle and grape motif is perfect.

wine themed notecards

A simple and inexpensive, but always appreciated gift is cocktail napkins.  Pick out some with a wine motif and tie a bow around them. 

cocktail napkins with wine motif

Cork candles are a fun gift for any wine lover.  These little cork-shaped candles fit into the mouth of any wine bottle.  They burn for about 2 1/2 hours and are perfect for a dinner party.  A fun way to present them is to tie them around the neck of a wine bottle with ribbon or twine.

One of the Panther's favorite items is the jeweled magnetic wine charms by Il Bere.  Read the panther's full blog post about them here.  http://www.thegildedpanther.blogspot.com/2011/06/friday-favorites-il-bere-wine-charms.html

These fabulous magnetic wine charms are made from vintage jewelry

Wine journals are nice little gifts.  Your hostess can make tasting notes as well as details such as the occasion, companions, and food pairings.

your hostess can record all her wine notes in a wine journal

Candles always make for good hostess gifts, but for the wine lover, how about a candle made in a recycled wine bottle!  These are lovely candles and always a great converstation piece.

How cute are these vineyard motif measuring spoons!  Everyone can use measuring spoons, and why not have special ones.  These have grape clusters on the handles and a wine vignette in the bowl of each spoon.

detail of vineyard measuring spoons

Every wine lover needs bottle stoppers.  These pretty little Murano glass stoppers make a lovely gift on their own, or added to a bottle of wine.

Small cookbooks are always nice gifts.  Swirl, Sip & Savor   by Carol Frieberg is one of the Panther's favorites.  The book has recipes for appetizers and small plates and pairings of northwest wines.

A unique gift idea is a reusable shopping tote with wine bottle pockets.  This leopard print tote by Bella Bags is fashionable and practicle.  Not only does it carry 6 bottles of wine in the side pockets but the middle can be filled with groceries.  Now your hostess can look stylish while shopping.

-The Panther





Daydreaming of DC

It is the Fourth of July weekend and the panther is feeling patriotic.  Today she is dreaming of our great nation's capital, Washington DC. 

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend.  Happy Independence Day!

-The Panther

Friday Favorites: Portland's Patios

The panther LOVES outdoor drinking and dining.  Our weather in Portland is not always accommodating, but when the sun does shine, the entire city wants to be outdoors.  It doesn't get much better than sitting outdoors on a sunny day, visiting with good friends, relaxing, sipping great cocktails, and nibbling on delicious appetizers.  Here are some of the panther's favorite patios in Portland to do just that.

Departure:  Located on the rooftop of downtown's hotel, The Nines, is the fabulous bar and restaurant that is Departure.  This is where the beautiful people go to enjoy some sushi and a signature cocktail such as the "Singapore 75", a mixture of gin, citrus and sparkling sake!  Put on your stiletto's and head up to Departure to see and be seen.  The best part of this trendy bar is the view.  Look out over the Willamette river and Mt. Hood from the east deck, or head to the west deck to watch the sun set behind the west hills.  It can get a little breezy up here, but it is lovely.  http://www.departureportland.com/

Departure's lovely rooftop patio

A Roadside Attraction:  This southeast neighborhood bar is funky and fun.  Quite the opposite of Departure, A Roadside Attraction is a casual local hangout.  The large patio sits right off the street behind a big fence in front of the bar.  A large fire pit is at the center of the patio.  Odd mismatched tables and chairs are scattered about creating several seating areas.  A large sawn log creates a bench near the fire pit.  Old signs and other memorabilia give this bar the feeling of a midwest roadside attraction.  It is a great place to meet up for a beer on a clear warm evening.  Cash only though.

A Roadside Attraction

Veritable Quandary:  Their website describes them as, "A dining oasis in the heart of the city" and that suits them perfectly.  The VQ has an elegant little brick patio that feels like a secret garden nestled in the city.  The patio is small but has quite a happening after-work scene.  This is a great place to sit in a serene space and visit with friends over a cheese plate and a glass of wine.  http://www.veritablequandary.com/

The serene oasis that is Veritable Quandary

rontoms:  This has got to be the biggest and most happening patio in all of Portland.  This expansive space is lively from opening at 4:00pm until 3:00 or 4:00am. One half of the outdoor space is a wooden deck.  Traditional picnic tables line one side, and built-in benches surround the rest of the perimeter.  Retro Saarinen-style tables dot the wood deck area. Walls of lush bamboo divide the space and help absorb some of the noise.  The other half of the outdoor space is a large concrete patio with an architectural masterpiece covering it.  The covered patio was owner Ron's vision and dream and when some contractors told him it couldn't be done, Ron did it himself.  It is quite a spectacular spectacle.  This place is fun and casual and noisy and crowded.  Service can be slow but understandably so. 

Just a tiny part of rontoms awesome patio

Casa Naranja:  Tucked behind this little orange house is a hidden secret... one of my favorite patios in Portland.  I love Casa Naranja but when I discovered their patio, I loved it even more.  Walk through the little orange house and out the back door and you enter a glorious outdoor space.  The majority of the space is a sand pit so ladies, do not wear your stilettos here.  A long plank table runs along one side of the outdoor space but it is not just any table... it is suspended on cables!  All the seating around this table are swings!  A little dangerous after a few cocktails?  Maybe so, but that is why there is a sand pit underneath.  Other seating areas around the space consist of hammock-style swings.  A fire pit is on one end.  This patio is just plain fun!  Come here and enjoy some fantastic Spanish Tapas and have fun!  http://www.casanaranjapdx.com/

Casa Naranja's super fun patio

Hotel Modera:  This modern downtown hotel has a wonderfully sexy courtyard patio.  It is sleek in design with long gas fireplaces strewn throughout.  The space is open and airy but is still romantic.  Cuddle up with your sweetie in front of one of the fireplaces on a clear but cool night and share a delicious hot cocktail.   http://www.hotelmodera.com/ 

The sexy sleek patio at Hotel Modera

Whether you live in Portland or are visiting our fine city this summer, visit a few of these patio spaces and enjoy one of our rare but magnificent sunny days.

-The Panther