GIVING THANKS FOR A NOT-SO-ORDINARY THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION

© Melissa Nowakowski 2009

For many, the celebration of Thanksgiving conjures up images of turkeys, pumpkins, pies and rust-coloured leaves. And this image, of course, is derived from tradition and history.

But for those of us who strive to break from tradition and create something that their guests will remember long after the long weekend has ended, stepping away from a steadfast tradition with a concrete history like Thanksgiving is something that is not easily done.

And so, like every planner who loves all things unique, we lovingly keep most tradition and "tweak" the rest.

Here are some small-yet-impactful details that can transform a typical Thanksgiving
get-together into a memorable one:

Naturesque detail: Gather leaves and write your guests names on each one with black permanent marker. Use these as placecards.


Run With It: Find orange, brown and Burgundy wallpaper in any type of print (the bolder the print the better) and run it down the center length of the table, creating a fashionable and eye-catching (not to mention affordable!) table runner.



Jack-o-Lantern of all trades: Carve miniature orange pumpkins so that they are hollow inside, line the inside with clear plastic wrap or coloured tissue and use the pumpkins as bowls for condiments such as butter packets, sugar cubes, etc. Want to go the extra mile? After thoroughly washing the inside of the pumpkin, place a small container inside and use the pumpkin as a bowl for gravy, soup or whatever your heart fancies.

Photo courtesy of bhg.com

Use larger pumpkins as planters for arrangements of calla lillies, roses, leucadendron, pincushion protea, day lilies, fugi mums, alstromeria and hypercium berries.

Photo courtesy of bhg.com

Bird's Eye View: Collect a few antique birdcages in various sizes, styles and colours and adorn them with beautiful fall foliage such as leaves, hypercium berries, roses, etc. Set them along the center length of the table among miniature pumpkins and corn cobs painted in various bold colours.


Alternatively, paint just one antique birdcage in a bold colour and prop the front door open. Have beautiful fall flowers, leaves, berries candles and painted miniature pumpkins spilling out from inside of the birdcage onto the table.



Show thanks now and forever: Show what you're truly thankful for...family and friends. Display photographs of family and friends (edited in sepia tone for an antique look ) in vintage frames among sets of candles ranging in size. A beautiful tribute to whom we are thankful to have in our lives, this montage will serve as a conversation piece whether you use it as a centerpiece or mantle decor.


Child's Play: Create a fun children's table for your wee guests. Place brown butcher paper on the table to act as a tablecloth AND a drawing board and place a decorative cup of crayons in the center of the table. Place a 'goodie' bag at each place setting that's chock full of colouring books, puzzles and individual games.

Photo courtesy of CountryLiving.com

Eat this: While turkey is a traditional staple of Thanksgiving, there are many other options that are just as hearty and mouth-watering. It doesn't have to have wings to have a place at the table. Lamb, Roast, Veal or heck, even a lobster and prawn feast...whatever meal will bring your family and friends together works. Still want to give 'em the bird? Why not switch the turkey for duck for a nice change of pace?

Change up your sides and include non-traditional favourites like risotto or herbed rice or opt for modifications on the traditional such as spiced yams or sweet and sour mash.

Instead of dessert, offer up a gorgeous array of cheeses and fruit to delight the palate.



Bottom's Up: Serve up this incredible Pumpkin Margarita created by Crema Restaurante in New York City:

• 2 ounces Partida Reposado Tequila
• 1 ounce of fresh lime or lemon juice
• Splash of pumpkin puree
• Lime wedge
• Sesame seeds (You'll already have these if you are using the French bean recipe above.)

Rim the cocktail glass with lime juice and sesame seeds. Mix the ingredients well in a shaker with ice and strain into the glass. Garnish with the lime wedge on the side of the glass.

It's all Fun and Games: Before Tryptophan has a chance to set in after the meal, send your guests out to the backyard for a good old fashion Scavenger Hunt in the fall leaves.


However you wish to give 'Thanks' this holiday season -- whether it's a home affair with the family's best linen and china, a stylish soiree set up in a chic barn or casual conversation over grub at the neighbourhood pub -- we here at Et Lofte Events wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

And just what is this Planner thankful for?

Having a creative mind and being blessed with loving family and friends who continuously encourage her to use it.

HALLOWEEN GOES GLAM

(Yes it IS possible to make Halloween boo-tiful)

© Melissa Nowakowski 2008

When one thinks of a Halloween party, certain images come to mind...house parties decorated with an overabundance of "fake cobwebs", orange and black streamers and the "Monster Mash" blaring in the background while gorillas and witches roam about with beer or wine in hand...or the nightclub party with pounding base, scattered flashes of light and at least six (if not more) "sexy nurses", Catwoman or "sexy witches" prowling the scene.

It's hard to picture Halloween as glamorous.

But it is possible to have a 'boo-tiful' (pardon the pun) Halloween party whether it's a creative well-to-do for clients and co-workers or a unique gathering at your home. Going glam merely requires one simple thing: toss out the notion that Halloween has to be everything orange and black, paper or plastic, ghouls and goblins or edibley simple (not to mention the notion that your costume has to be made of polyester or rubber).

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION:
The venue for your spook-fest need not be boring. Choosing the right setting for your party will set the tone for the evening.

Research haunted venues in your city – whether they are an actual heritage venue, a vintage restaurant, an old hotel or movie house – and the rental fees for the evening. Depending on the size of your event you may find that renting a space is the best fit. Even booking a private room at a historically-haunted restaurant works perfectly and is at little to no cost to you. Untraditional venues such as the upper floor of a movie house, etc. may prove to be cost efficient as they are rarely booked let alone during Halloween weekend.

Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the venue must look scary or haunted. Just its history alone will be enough to send shivers down your guests’ spines. The venue’s history can be printed as an insert with your formal invitation or you can have small placards with the venue’s haunted history placed sporadically throughout the venue.

Even your home can generate the creepy-crawlies. Live in a new sub-development? Make up your own spooky history of the grounds on which your house was built (remember Poltergeist the movie?) Use special effects and décor to cast your home in an eerie light.

Some of our fave haunted venues here in the GTA? The Distillery, the Keg Mansion, Heintzman House and the Doctor’s House in Kleinberg.

THE INVITES:
Do away with Evites and cheesy jack-o-lantern invitations and choose invitations housed in black envelopes and made with luscious fabrics like velvet or metallic materials. As mentioned above, include an insert with the haunted history of your party venue, a riddle/hint of what to expect or you may even choose to include a token of your bash whether it be a plastic “skeleton key” or a black feather plume.

THE ATTIRE:
Traditional house party screams gorillas and sexy nurses. Glamorous spook-fest calls for drama. That said, request in your invitations that guests don all black attire and a Venetian mask. Remind them that the creepier the mask the better (you can even hold a contest for the scariest mask). Want to challenge your guests? Instruct guests to make their own Venetian masks.














THE DÉCOR:
Have fun with this! Store away those paper streamers and get creative! Here are some cool ideas that Et Lofte Events have drummed up which you can implement whether your function is a formal bash at a venue or in the comfort of your own home:

Light up the place! Use uplights in dark colours like deep reds to light up the outside walls of your venue or home. Use uplights inside the venue as well by lighting specific walls (not all of them) for flair.

Get foggy! Use a fog machine (aka: dry ice) to spontaneously spit out fog to accompany the special lighting.

Scream it. Have a looping slideshow or video of horror-movie clips projected onto select walls of your venue. Use clips from every horror movie from the classics to modern day – the mix of black and white with colour will keep your surroundings entertaining and eye-catching. Be sure to have the videos/slideshows on silent for drama.

Drape this. Drape tables in deep red satin underlays and cover with luxurious black embroidered overlays. Line windows big and small with dramatic red and black luscious fabrics.

Get back Jack! Forget done-and-done-again orange Jack-0-lanterns. Get funky with your pumpkins and using different sized pumpkins from small to the largest you can find, carve them into intricate designs and spray paint the pumpkin silver or white for a sleek metallic look. Add a black long-lasting candle and you have yourself a new twist on a cool staple of Halloween. Use these lanterns to line windowsills, front steps, and stairwells and group a few together to add a dramatic effect to the corners of rooms.










Paint broomsticks a variety of colours or group together like-coloured broomsticks in a floor urn. Place the broomsticks in the urn handle first and fan out the broomsticks as you would the stems of a floral arrangement. Fill in gaps with straw or thin coloured branches.

Urn some décor-flattery! Have beautiful, antique looking urns resting on their sides with deep red and black or purple and black sand spilling out of it into a pool on the surface.

Need bewitching centerpieces? Fill a short simple vase with some water. Cover the vase with a tall witches hat. Cut off the tip of the witch’s hat (at the very point) and insert an arrangement of spiky, dark-coloured florals through the tip of the hat into the vase so that the florals stick out the very point of the witch hat.

Paint foam heads black and cover the faces with Venetian masks. Place the heads sporadically about the venue.

MUSIC:
Going glam for Halloween doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to stomp out classics like ‘Monster Mash’. In fact, you’d be surprised by how many people actually cheer when that song comes on. But choose your music wisely. Weather you have a DJ or are playing DJ yourself, be sure to mix in your favourite non-Halloween music with the classic spook-songs. And be sure to steer clear of the traditional “howls and creepy noise” Cds!

Hiring a live band to cover all the classic Halloween songs (and more of course) is a great treat for your guests as well.

CATERING:
Ask any good catering for cost efficient food fare with a spooky twist and you’ll be surprised with the delicious hors d’ouevres that they create (not to mention the adorable names to go along with them). From Bloody Shooters (tomato soup or gazpacho served in shot glasses) and ‘Mummy Wraps’ to Hallo weenies (tasty sausage rolled in puff pastries) and Death by Chocolate fondue, your party food doesn't need to consist of bowls of chips and cheesies.

Signature drink anyone? How about Bloody Marys or a Cauldron of red wine?


Halloween is meant to be a fun celebration despite its dark roots. But for those who want to mix in a little sophistication with their creepiness, going glam can be a delicious alternative and isn’t difficult to pull off. All it takes is a little imagination, some great food and music and an open mind!

BOO!