Issue #174: My 10-Step Guide to Hosting an Unfussy Dinner Party

In is the new out.

📺 “No Good Deed” on Netflix: The house at the heart of this new series, starring Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano, felt instantly recognizable as one of those picture-perfect, jasmine-trellised Spanish-style homes in Larchmont or Hancock Park. It’s a dream house, worth blackmailing for, which is exactly the implication in this star-studded new dramedy, that feels, in tone, like a cross between “White Lotus” and “The Afterparty.”

📚 I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman: Originally published in the mid-90s, the reprint of this short novel caught my eye on a recent trip to Powell’s, where it was housed under the section, “Books That Changed Our Lives.” In it, 40 women are housed in a gated cell that’s guarded by rotations of male guards. They’ve been there so long that they barely remember their lives before—and have no understanding of why they’re there, or even how many years have passed. Operating with exceedingly limited information, the youngest, who was a small child when they were all placed there, begins to parse understandings around their origins and even how they might get out. While the first part is fairly slow, the book quickly hits its stride providing a feminist speculative narrative reminiscent of Margaret Atwood, on the trappings of ideology. It’s also included as an audiobook in Spotify premium!

🎥 ‘Our Little Secret’ on Netflix: This new holiday movie starring Lindsay Lohan is exactly as good as it needs to be. In it, she’s a go-getter at the top of her field and wants nothing more than to impress her boyfriend’s mom (the age-defying Kristin Chenoweth). So, of course, she’s horrified to realize that the man who proposed to her ten years earlier is dating her boyfriend’s sister. What could go wrong??

Maybe it’s wisdom, or exhaustion, or practical frugality. But at some point, my friends and I stopped dining out and began dining in. Outside of the occasional one-on-one meal at a favorite spot, dinners at home began to far eclipse visits to restaurants. What began as monthly book club meetings evolved into biweekly pasta nights with close girlfriends, writing groups where we share stories between spoonfuls of soup, and countless other gatherings.

Issue #143: Tips and Recipes for Hosting Any Outdoor Party

Hosting can be intimidating, but this shift has made me far more relaxed around, and appreciative of, inviting others into my home. Opening my door creates a space for more genuine connection, without the time limit of a restaurant, while eradicating any financial concerns at a time when many of my friends are in the midst of major life shifts, having kids, or attending graduate school. As a host, it’s important to strike a balance between creating a beautiful meal and environment that sets your guests at ease, while also enjoying yourself! Below, I shared ten tips for unfussy hosting, along with plenty of photos, and how I applied them to a recent dinner party: