Because I Love It

Classic. Rustic. Charming.

Photo: Tiny White Daisies

Because I Love It

Photo: Green Dancing Shoes

Party Details: Christmas Party CT

I am busily packing my bags to leave for the holidays and for our family party tomorrow night. For over twenty years we have been hosting a fabulous Christmas Party in CT. It starts with cocktails in the house which is decorated to the nines with the fires roaring - so festive. We then move to the barn for dinner with fifty of our favorite folks.

The front room of the barn.

Party Ready

And so is Auggie

Then we head back in the house for more cocktails, dessert and lots of singing (often a bit rowdy) Christmas Carols with musicians from  PETER DUCHIN ORCHESTRAS.

Party Details: Dinner and Concert in Our Barn

 

My cousin RAIN PERRY is an uber talented singer. She flew in from LA a few weeks ago and Dixie hosted a wonderful dinner in our barn followed by an intimate concert with Rain - what a treat!

The house and barn in CT get party ready. Cocktails in the house, a seated dinner in the barn and then back to the house for dessert and the concert.

Lanterns guide the way from the house to the barn

Chef ANNE GALLAGHER cooked a fabulous meal, as always! For nibbles to accompany cocktails, Anne made three different variations of herbed cheese biscuits. Yum!

The first course was a Field Green salad with local greens 

The feel of the party was rustic, country casual so Dixie wanted comfort food. Anne made two phenomenal versions of chilli (one beef and one vegetarian) with emdless options for toppings and homemade cornbread. To.Die.For!

Dessert was a Pear Almond Tart followed by a concert with Rain. What a great evening! 

Photos: PhanFatale, Wedding Bee, Chez Us, Simply Recipes

Beautiful Barn Wedding

Many of you have commented on how much you love seeing photos of the parties in our barn - thank you. I thought I would share photos from this charming barn wedding from STYLE ME PRETTY.

I love the simplicity - really charming and so easy to do yourself.

Party Details: Christmas Party in Our Barn

For over twenty years we have been hosting a fabulous Christmas Party in CT. It starts with cocktails in the house which is decorated to the nines and with the fires roaring - so festive. We then move to the barn for dinner with fifty of our favorite folks.

The front room of the barn.

Party Ready

And so is Auggie

Then we head back in the house for more cocktails, dessert and lots of singing (often a bit rowdy) Christmas Carols with one of our favorites musicians, Paul Errico of PETER DUCHIN ORCHESTRAS.

Everyone leaves in the Christmas spirit!

Party Details: Summer Party in our Barn

Dixie and I wanted to throw one party "for fun" this summer. We wanted it to be a combined guest list (half my friends and half hers), we wanted to include some new folks (I added Eddie and Jaithan to the mix), and it wanted it to be an intimate evening. We capped the list at twenty.

The setting was the barn on our property in CT - the perfect spot for a party.

Cocktails were outside on our deck and with a few cocktail tables on the lawn. We had a bar, bartender and a piano player on the lawn which set the perfect "tone" for the party.

Our littlest house guest, Declan, joined us for cocktails.

Dixie looked stunning in a designer dress she bought on a whim. Love it!

I wanted to do one long table. We ordered all of the rentals from CLASSIC PARTY RENTALS and mixed some green glass in with regular glass for some "pop". I did the flowers myself with stunning hydrangeas from the wholesale florist.

The food was from our favorite chef, Kevin Schmitz, who spoiled us with a fantastic four-course dinner and his own to-die-for chocolate BERKSHIRE BARK to accompany dessert.

Kevin hard at work in the kitchen.

The seafood first course was amazing!

And judging by the emails and notes we received, everyone had a blast. We did have a great time - a truly special evening.

Party Details: Dinner in Our Barn

Earlier this summer we had a dinner for clients in our Connecticut barn. The barn was originally a studio for the artist who owned the house before my family bought the property in the 70s.

Flowers included: hydrangeas, orchids, peonies, roses, sweet peas and thistle. I love the varied colors and textures.




All the rentals are from CLASSIC PARTY RENTALS out of New York. The linens are layered in different neutral shades and the green glasses add some "pop". Doesn't it looks great? We are hosting a party (for fun) here later this summer and it is such a great space for parties.

Photos by Steven Irving