The Big Cheese
There’s nothing like some good cheese to please a crowd. Throw some stinky slabs on a one-of-a-kind board, unlike any found at your run-of-the-mill kitchen shop. Woodworker Dale Rieke of Wood Street Studio takes leftover pieces of Australian pine and aromatic cedar and crafts smoothly gnarled, gorgeous cutting boards and cheese plates. Find them at the Rosemary District Indie Market or contact them directly.
Wood Street Studio, woodstreetstudio.com.
Belle Bougie
From the moment your guests walk through your door, entice their senses and woo them into blissful abandon with notes of windswept waves and sensual sage. Light this Jo Malone flame 30 minutes before your party begins to fill the atmosphere with earth and sea throughout every room—the delicate and natural scent pairs nicely with the wafts of yummy smells coming from the kitchen.
Saks Fifth Avenue, The Mall at University Town Center, 120 University Town Center Dr., Sarasota, 941-364-5300.
Twist and Shout
Where there’s wine, there’s bound to be corks that need unscrewing. Have some whimsical corkscrews prepped and strategically placed, preferably those by iconic brand Alessi. Grab the signature Anna G. style, with a lady’s smiling face and shining chrome bob ready to pop the top. Or go for the more colorful and pocket-sized Parrot sommelier option for on-the-go opening.
The Tabletop, 205 West Venice Ave., Venice, 941-485-0319.
Bug Be Gone
Don’t let Florida’s infamous skeeters and no-see-ums deter you from hosting a glorious outdoor garden party. All you need is a natural way to keep the bugs at bay, found in the small-batch bug sprays formulated by Bodhi Basics. The essential oil blend keeps away creepy crawlies, with neem oil the most potent repellant, along with a vessel for antioxidants. Best of all—you’ll smell sweet, not like Deet. Find them at the Rosemary Indie Market or at various retailers around St. Pete.
Bodhi Basics, bodhibasics.com.
Flowing Spirits
First thing’s first: wine. Impress your white-wine-loving buds with bottles of Lillet Blanc—classy and crisp while not being pretentiously expensive, these bottles are both beautifully packaged and lovely to sip. Citrusy and mild, honeyed and dry, serve chilled in a bucket of ice.
Total Wine, 8539 Cooper Creek Blvd., University Park, 941-351-7895.
Mood Melodies
The final key to hosting a party that never gets dull: the music. Make all your tunes come to life with the UE Megaboom Portable Wireless Speaker, found only at Apple, in the ultra-mod multicolor print. Lightweight and waterproof with super-long life battery, Bluetooth connectivity and 360-degree heart-thumping sound, you can take the party from low-key dinner numbers to beat-pumping living room rave to chic pool vibes with ease.
Apple Store, 140 University Town Center Dr., Sarasota, 941-358-4600.
Beautiful Mess
Just because your guests are civilized and sophisticated folk doesn’t mean your party will be spill-free. In case of crumbs, dribbles and extraneous mishaps have your Mrs. Meyers Multi-Surface cleaner at the ready. The rosemary scent is a go-to, the sweet spray combining garden-fresh scent with plant-derived ingredients and essential oils.
Whole Foods Market, 1451 1st St., Sarasota, 941-316-4700.
