Chilling with the hors d’oeuvres

Prodyne Appetizers on Ice with Lids

It is no accident that revelers at a party tend to congregate in either the kitchen or at the table spread. The kitchen is where the refrigerator is (holding all the beer) and the spread, wherever it may be set up, houses all the food. Clearly, these are the two best locations at any party. As the festivities reach into the night, inevitably, the beer is removed from the fridge, and the hors d’oeuvres are happily consumed. Usually.

If you find that your guests tend to flock into the kitchen, yet stay away from the food, you may need to reconsider your approach. Perhaps it’s not what your serving, but rather how you’re serving it. The Prodyne Appetizers on Ice with Lids serving tray keeps food fresh and chilled even as your guests warm up. The appetizers rest above a bed of crushed or cubed ice, and feature three double compartment upper food trays so as to maximize variety. There’s even a dip tray included at the center of the serving platter. To assure your guests do gather ’round and keep the kitchen at least somewhat clear, the tray revolves, making it the perfect spinning accompaniment you want to have at your party.

Party on the patio well into the night

LED Patio Umbrella Light

Cooking up a feast in the backyard is a great way to spend an afternoon. So great in fact, that more often than not, grilling sessions extend beyond sundown. Luckily, we live in a modern society where a minor inconvenience such as the sun going down doesn’t have to stop the party in its tracks, However, you will need some illumination to overcome Mother Nature’s early bedtime.

The LED Patio Umbrella Light may be a rather unworldly looking light, but it is designed to keep us firmly planted in our backyards. The 4.25-inch diameter saucer slides easily on to standard umbrella poles. Powered by four AAA batteries, the umbrella light may have enough juice to keep the party going, but as far as any sudden fast directional changes are concerned, that’s entirely up to you.

This beer is yours, no question about it

Bottle Markers by Make My Day

It’s the weekend and it’s time to get out there and shake off some steam. If you find yourself at a party with everybody imbibing a good time, chances are your particular adult beverage will at some point get lost in the fray. Perhaps the host had the foresight to stall the oft-repeated refrain ‘Is this beer mine?’ by supplying these Bottle Markers by Make My Day. Made of silicone, the marker slides over the neck of your beverage, and is easily identifiable by color. Now all you have to do is remember which color is yours.

Whiskey Stones: Drink like a (proper) caveman

Whiskey Stones

For the modern-day refined caveman that wishes to drink in style there has never been many options. However, no longer must evolutionary holdouts succumb to the indignity of having to sip an 18-year-old single malt Scotch from a glass chilled with common ice cubes. Surely success has some rewards, and for the discerning caveman who has lasted this long there can be no greater reward than surviving itself. Oh, that and these Whiskey Stones cut by some enterprising soapstone workers in Perkinsville, Vermont. For use when only the finest will do.

Don’t mesh with these Gear Coasters

Gear Coasters

Designed by Scott Sullivan, Gear Coasters are the perfect drink accessory for any discerning gearhead. Handmade, the coasters will vary from set to set, but all are between 3.5 to 4.25 inches in diameter. Felt-lined bottoms complete each coaster keeping your tabletop dry and free from any (well, some) inadvertent metal-induced scarring that may happen while drinking.

***Update 10/16/24: Looks like these Gear Coasters took a spill and are no longer available.