Frank Di Piazza
To me, the worst part of having a party is the dishes in the sink. After a night of good food and wine, the last thing I want to do is tackle a mountain of china in the kitchen. So why not rent the flatware, linens, china and crystal and have it delivered to your door?
Whether you're having a highbrow holiday party or a casual meal, these companies have a vast selection. They will even send a coordinator who will stay through the entire event to manage loading the items in, setup, breakdown and, most important — take all of it away so you don't have to deal. Now that's what I call a party.
Gold Rush
Premier Rentals goes for the gold with this elegant combination of satiny stripes and metallic-rimmed plates. The pine cones from a forest of sequoia trees work well as a conversation starter.
Premier Rentals, 11640 Lakeside Crossing Court, 314-785-1100, premierpartyrentals.com
The Dot Spot
Two very different trends are the rage right now — mini-portions for the first course and family style for the entrée. Another entertaining must that we hope will stick around: being eco-friendly. Decorating the table with LED lighting (which uses a fraction of the energy of standard lighting) is the only way to go. Aries Rentals did it all.
Aries Rentals, 4940 Northrup, 314-664-6610, ariesco.com
Other places to rent:
Grand Rental Station
570 Rudder, Fenton
636-343-7278
Universal Rentals
10831 Manchester
314-822-4535
Weinhardt Party Rentals
11601 Manchester
5901 Elizabeth
314-822-9000
Plate Up
Aunt Edna broke a dinner plate at Thanksgiving dinner in 2002 (and at Bob's 50th birthday party, but who's counting?), and when the dishwasher went kaput in '05, it took most of your salad plates with it. Whatever the reason, many households have a mishmash of dinnerware. When it comes time for holiday parties, set your table this year (and in years to come) with these classic white plates. They are dishwasher safe and packed in a sturdy storage box with dividers — perfect to stow away in the basement. And at this price, you can buy an extra box to cover Edna. Set of 12 (121/2-inch diameter) dinner plates, $49 and 12 (9-inch) salad plates, $39.
Pottery Barn, Plaza Frontenac, 314-996-2630, potterybarn.com
