Party pro Russell Lowell has tips for your posh bash
When you have a top-notch celebrity-chef/fancy-event planner on the line and the holidays are looming, the first thing to ask is: Will you cater my holiday party for free?
Barring that, here are a few tips (read: ideas to rip off) from Seattle’s party planner to the stars (read: Hillary Clinton), Russell Lowell (www.rdlcatering.com):
• Put your money where your mouth is, or: Don’t skimp on the food. “Always have more food than you need. Food is what people remember and talk about.”
• Dude, where’s my car?, or: Hire a valet. “It’s not that much money to order a valet. If you live downtown in a condo area, let the valet figure out where to put everybody.”
• Don’t leave a paper trail, or: Evites are not as tacky as you think. “Forget written invitations. For the holiday, send ‘em an Evite. Don’t use any paper. Quit causing trouble.”
• Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, or: Give party favors. “For a cooking class, I tied fishing flies and attached them to a recipe card for salmon. I showed girls how to wear them as earrings because they’re so pretty.”
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, or: Be creative. “One time I did a clambake and we had dungeness crab. I just gave everybody a Frisbee [as a plate] and they ate their food and then washed the Frisbee and took it home with them.”
• Plant some bulbs, or: It’s OK to skimp on decorations. “I’d buy some Christmas bulbs and hang them everywhere. Turn down the lights and light some candles. The light will reflect and it’ll be pretty.”
Pamela Sitt: psitt@seattletimes.com