Bar Carts and Serving Trays Get the Party Rolling

While the pollen may have us sweeping our decks and walkways, it’s the seasonal nudge that signals warm weather ahead. We’ve been greeting family, and hosting outdoors for some time, now that the weather is on our side. It’s time to dust off the summer barware, unpack the colorful chair pillows, and get set for summer. Bring the merriment and music, treat yourself, and serve your guests in this new season of patio parties.

Set the scene with serving trays - An easy way to upgrade the party presentation and enhance your theme is with serving trays that create the look of a collection and pull your elements together. Trays can be used for glassware, beverages, or dessert toppings, as an example. With a myriad of tin, wood, ceramic, and pewter options, they’re functional and part of the decor. A festive design on a metal tray is a fun pairing with cold beer, chips, and salsa. A silver tray may be fitting for formal evenings and a pour of bourbon. Perhaps a white ceramic tray is a choice for sparkling water, lemonade, or a glass of champagne served with chocolates and fresh fruit.

Keep the party rolling – We’ve seen some unique ideas for bar carts, including two wooden boxes stacked on top of each other with a cutting board on top. To spice up your version of a bar cart, look for colorful barware and textured bowls that complement the occasion—blend glassware with ceramic tumblers and unique bowls in a variety of shapes and sizes. Include a beverage selection from the local distillery and quality tonics for mixing. Finish with whimsical napkins, paper or reusable straws, handwoven towels, and colorful coasters. Be sure to leave room for a bloom of color.

Accents for the appetizers – Minimize the need for silverware and use cocktail picks in bamboo or forged metal to keep it simple and stylish. A small wooden vessel or mini artisan cup holder offers easy access to the mozzarella, shrimp, or meatballs (and is a welcome upgrade from a plastic cup holder). Remember picks for your olives and the beverage garnish. A decorative dish is a stylish spot for the garnish too.

Move to the music – Background music makes a big difference in setting the mood. One handy option is a small, portable Bluetooth speaker like the Bose Soundlink micro-speaker. It’s waterproof and has a flexible strap that stretches across the back to accommodate the variety of places to attach your tunes – a railing, your bar cart, or the inside beam of a beach umbrella, to name just a few.

It’s been a long wait, and we’re optimistic that the time has arrived for us to step out, relax and enjoy entertaining. We intend to keep our gatherings easy, colorful, and merry, with plenty of music to boot, and we encourage you to consider the same.

Entertain in Your Outdoor Oasis

We’ve learned to appreciate ‘quietude,’ it’s a silver lining that many of us have come to cherish. While spring's arrival offers more sunshine and warm weather, it also stirs anticipation for the chance to mix and mingle. How we create a living area to accommodate both is on our minds. The quest for flexible space to entertain and serve as a relaxing escape is on the rise. The answer may lie just beyond our patio doors as we expand our living space into the gardens. It’s the best of both worlds.

The Sounds of Solitude
The crunch of a gravel path under our feet conveys the message that we’re headed to a more peaceful place. A comfy chair and a colorful blanket placed along a path, near the flower gardens, a fountain, or by the water’s edge creates a full sensory experience that celebrates nature's sights and sounds.

Soften the Edges
Soften the edges of the steps, fence, or railing with the appeal of blooms and greenery. Arrange wildlife-friendly plants like lavender around your space to attract the bees and butterflies.

The Front Yard is for More Than the Welcome Mat
What was once the purview of the backyard has now extended out the front door. A wild garden with a mix of perennials and organic grasses draws visitors in and invites them to savor the experience.

Texture and Touch
Rustic flower pots, metal containers, wood stands, and ceramic tableware blend together to add depth and texture to your surroundings.

Garden Bar
Think outside the bar with how and where you make room for your refreshments. Everything from old sheds, rolling carts, and potting benches are being repurposed for a unique happy hour adventure.

Mood Lighting
The addition of tiki torches, lanterns, and twinkle lights heighten the mood of a festive gathering and brighten any occasion.

Finding Our Groove in Comfort and Camaraderie

Suddenly, there’s a run on outdoor heaters as we start to feel the crisp weather descend and the humidity lift. Mother Nature spurs us on with spectacular sunrises and the air of a new season. The months keep marching by, soon costumes and candy corn will begin to appear as we try to find a rhythm to the complicated year that is 2020.

It seems we’re all in the mode of finding community and keeping things simple when we can. Our nightlife involves lounging around the fire pit, conversing on the patio, and gathering in folding chairs at the end of our driveways. The height of fall entertaining may be bringing our warm blankets to the chairs outside, mixing an apple cider and bourbon, and serving happy hour piled high on the cutting board.

As you make plans to enjoy the comfort of friendships and the camaraderie of colleagues, we offer these moments of connection and sharing we’ve collected over the seasons, to help inspire you.

Keep Your Vibe Chill on Steamy Days

In these steamy days of summer, don’t let your serving style become stagnant. Turn your gaze to the details to keep the cooking and cocktail vibe chill.

While big changes aren’t easily accomplished now, a focus on the space you can control will perk up the party. Here, we've crafted our own custom bar cart, made from red mahogany with black hardware, to add some dazzle to the deck. It’s a festive addition on most evenings with the variety of food and spirits it displays. It looks like a party-in-waiting, and who doesn't enjoy the thought of that?

You don't have to be an expert craftsman to liven up your space. If you're hosting close friends, colleagues, or re-opening your private gathering areas, take a dive into the details. Simple entertainment options like the straw in your glass, the texture of the bowl, and your tumbler choice are all subtle ways to set a new scene. Even your garnish pick can have pizzazz, choose a bamboo knot or upgrade to hammered steel for the olives. Have you tested a new beverage with fizz or seasonal tonic? (We just ordered from Seedlip to explore a non-alcoholic option.)

Yes, the days are steamy, but your summer serving style doesn't have to wither. Keep the creative juices flowing and look for ways to make a splash.