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For Your Clients: Take Your Party to the Porch
For Your Clients: Take Your Party to the Porch  By Joe GrayRISMEDIA, July 12, 2010--(MCT)--When we walk through Chicago neighborhoods of an evening, surveying the houses - with envy - we're struck most by those with porches. But they're all empty.The end to the porch-socializing era has been long lamented. But we say, stop whining and head out to the porch. The cute, homey "Porch Parties" (Chronicle, $16.95), by Denise Gee, will help. We've collected some of Gee's best ideas (and a few of our own) here:Ambience: Leave off that too-bright overhead light. String lights around the porch edges; light votives. Use luminaria, but in white bags instead of traditional brown. Add music; get your tech-savvy teen to set up an MP3 playlist. Dress up the floor with outdoor rugs; or keep the surface freshly painted (a green-and-cream checkerboard pattern is great, Gee says). For seating, porch swings and rockers conjure the right note, but go bigger with a swinging daybed. Add traditional chairs in modern resin wicker. Make sure to have plenty of side tables to set a drink or nibble.Serving: Keep it simple, which means buffet. Set your table out of traffic flow, and near the kitchen, if you ... more

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