Pro tips for summer partying

Guest list? Drinks? Food? Vibe? [View in browser]( [Bloomberg]( Hi, [Justin Ocean]( here, one of the deputy editors for Pursuits. After a long Covid winter and omicron spring, I’m here to help you party—smartly. Our section in Bloomberg Businessweek this week is all about outdoor entertaining. We reviewed [countertop ice makers](, spoke to chefs about the [glories of grilling leafy greens](, and got our hands dirty with six [fast-growing, high-impact herbs]( that taste and look better than your supermarket standards. Chef Chris Shepherd is my backyard grill hero. Photographer: Arturo Olmos for Bloomberg Businessweek Grill goals? [We got ten!]( From gadgets and gizmos a-plenty and next-level strategies galore. My fave tip—aside from this next-level [Botswanan-style hot sauce](—is knowing when your patience’s complete and to call in the experts. Be it outsourcing sides or providing a backup rack of ribs, there’s no shame in that. And there’s no shame in taking it easy on the alcohol, either. On a hot day, you don’t want to worry about a hangover. Source: Vendors My own contribution entailed sampling dozens of [different nonalcoholic ready-to-drinks]( (NA RTDs, if you want to feel like an industry insider) and whittling out the sad, sugar-filled excuses for an adult beverage. Of which there are many. Coincidentally, this overlapped with a decision to take a break from alcohol after two years of stress-related over-indulgence. It’s not easy newly not drinking—especially in the warming days of May—and even moreso when you don’t have the community cognizance of a Dry January and Sobertober behind it. It feels like you’re no fun. Layers of flavor—like clarified tomato and passionfruit juices—are key to memorable nonalcoholic cocktails. Photographer: Michael Marquand Nick Bodkins, founder of [Boisson](, the largest NA retailer in the US, put it much more eloquently when I interviewed him for my piece: “What you’re really talking about when you have a drink in your hand is an emotional connection, a feeling of inclusivity with others.” The social connotation of sipping a beverage isn’t going anyway. And nobody should have to rely on seltzer water masquerading as a cocktail with a wedge of lime. As party host, recognizing that fact and creating a welcoming environment for all your guests should be the goal. Zero-Proof ‘liquors’ that taste almost like the real thing. Source: Vendors Luckily, we’ve entered a phase of NA innovation where there are plenty of options that taste great and, most importantly, feel special. In 2021, NielsenIQ BASE found 15 times more NA product launches compared to the year prior, with sales data showing consumers spent $3.3 billion on no- and low-alcohol products off-premise in the US. GE Profile’s Opal is ‘The One’ countertop ice maker to buy. Photographer: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh for Bloomberg Businessweek That’s being driven in part by a “heightened consumer focus on physical and mental wellbeing,” said Jennifer Creevy, food & drink director at trend forecaster WGSN in another interview. Drinking mindfully means NA RTDs are seen as an aspirational lifestyle choice and are priced to match. “Consumers are looking for drinks that optimize health without skimping on flavor.” Two favorites—the Katy Perry-backed De Soi aperitif goes for $6.25 per 8-oz. can; Curious Elixirs NA cocktails for $10 for 12 oz.—cost as much as complicated craft beers you’d want to savor. Both are entirely worth it. On a hot day, Athletic Brewing’s Run Wild IPA hits all the right notes of satisfying suds, minus the alcohol. Source: Athletic Brewing Co. Not for nothing, the packaging looks great, too. So whether you’re throwing a party or are a guest bringing something you’re not embarrassed to share, the only concern should be if you have enough. Check out the Q&A below for even more party tips. Set the table for a bright summer night with these shatterproof tableware and glasses. Photographer: Janelle Jones for Bloomberg Businessweek; prop stylist: Allison Ritchie Connect with Justin on [Twitter](, [Instagram](, or [via e-mail](mailto:jocean1@bloomberg.net?subject=Party down) Elevate your outdoor entertaining. [Want Some Grill Goals for Summer? These 10 Will Keep You Busy]( Chefs and other masters of the flame tell how to elevate your outdoor cooking. [Six Canned Drinks For Summer Parties That Refresh Without Guilt]( On a hot day, you don’t want to worry about a hangover. [Lettuce Blow Your Mind: Chefs Are Grilling Salad, and It’s Great]( Greens with some char are turning up on menus around the US. [Six Easy-to-Grow Herbs That Will Get You to Flavortown, Fast]( Add a pop of flavor to your snacks and drinks—and look good doing it [The Best—and Most Convenient—Way to Get That ‘Good’ Ice at Home]( It’s a very good time to invest in GE Profile’s Opal nugget ice dispenser. BProud. June is the traditional month that Gay Pride is celebrated around the world with parades, symposiums, performances, and no shortage of [cringy corporate sponsorship](. Even if it may veer into the tacky, not always be G-rated, or act as a [convenient wedge issue]( for politicians eager to distract from children massacred in gun violence, LGBTQ visibility matters immensely. Gay Pride has also become a very big business over the past 50 years. Source: 731 Here’s a selection of stellar work that our friends at [Bloomberg Equality]( have been putting out (no pun intended) on the topic. [Where LGBTQ People Find Safe Spaces Around the World]( [Anti-LGBTQ Proposals Are Flooding U.S. State Legislatures at a Record Pace]( [Drag Queens Traverse Trademark Law: ‘I Don’t Think We’re Safe’]( [US LGBTQ Community Is Geographically Spread, More Educated]( [More Americans Support Same-Sex Marriage Than Ever]( [Almost Half of LGBTQ Youth Contemplated Suicide Last Year]( What else I’m consuming. - For squirmy laughs with heart, the second season of Hacks on HBO Max may be [better than the first](. - Top Gun: Maverick deserves the [millions and millions]( it’s raked in. I can’t say it better than the bro next to me who exclaimed as the credits rolled, “That was goddamn delightful.” The new Top Gun is perfectly hokey and self-aware with action sequences that got me so invested my body tingled. It’s a film that reminds you why streaming will never match a true cinema experience. - [S’mores are overrated](, but after getting sent a box of [Stuffed Puffs marshmallows]( to try, I’m changing my tune. The dense, above-average marshmallows have chunks of chocolate tucked inside, meaning everything melts into an ooey-gooey delicious mess that put that cold piece of Hershey’s to shame. On a recent camping trip, the cookies ’n creme flavor was a hit. You had some questions... So, here’s some answers! Keep ’em coming for next week via our [Bloomberg Pursuits Instagram]( and [e-mail](mailto:daydreams@bloomberg.net?I%20have%20a%20question). If you’re throwing a big outdoor party, how do you make sure no jerks show up? Every year, May to October, my friends and I throw a series of garden and rooftop parties, usually two a month, that are more or less open houses in our Brooklyn neighborhood. I’ve found the best mix of people is about 70% friends/acquaintances and 30% strangers—even introverts like to meet new people and a wildcard can make for fun energy (or at least good stories after). The trick is setting expectations: Every invite we send out says, “Friends welcome. A--holes not.” Seriously: the world depends on you throwing a party. Illustration: Lorenzo Gritti It’s crass, but it works. By forcing, if just for a second, someone to pause and consider whom they’re bringing along, it effectively puts the onus on them to make sure no latent jerks are ruining the vibe. (We all have “that one friend” whom we love and is great once you get to know them, but maybe doesn’t belong at a larger get together.) My point: people are generally good, and want to do good when tasked. If you disagree, maybe it’s time to take a hard look at your social circle. So unless it’s a seated dinner, less guest-list curation is better in my opinion. A tone of openness puts partygoers at ease, makes conversation flow easier even between strangers, and lets you as a host spend less time fretting and more time having fun. Help! You're alone at a party? What do you do? Photographer: Westend61/Westend61 What’s the best cocktail to serve for a summer party? You can’t go wrong with the classics—margarita, daiquiri, tequila-grapefruit Paloma. But you can go one better and twist ’em up without breaking the bank on esoteric ingredients or requiring more than the bare minimum of mixology skills. A [Sandia Fairy]( is an easy, refreshing watermelon margarita great for your backyard or a picnic. Mahina Coco liquor from Martinique atones for the sins of your Malibu youth in a [Coconut Daiquiri slush]( that’s very easy to batch. And the [Vespertine Paloma]( is a brilliant, all-booze cocktail that balances smoky mezcal with sweet elderflower liqueur to turn a sundown fete into an all-night affair. Nine more of the 12 best drinks for summer. Photographer: Janelle Jones/Bloomberg; Food Stylist: Liza Jernow; Prop Stylist: Anna Surbatovich What’s the one thing people always forget when they’re planning an outdoor party? A good Wi-Fi extender. Lots of bodies and phones means diminished bandwidth and bad news for your wireless speaker. Also bugs, people always forget about bugs. Make sure you have insect repellent products. Stock spray-on options for the bite-prone and spread [Skeeter Screen Yard Sticks]( around. They smell great thanks to a DEET-free formula (it uses an oil distilled from geraniums) and are long-lasting alternatives to tacky, waxy citronella. Another baller move is providing sunscreen for guests. Shiseido has the the best. Photographer: Will Anderson for Bloomberg Businessweek; Prop stylist: Gozde Eker People also forget shade. Not all guests like to work on their tans (or burns, let’s be honest). And whether you’re serving beer, wine, cocktails, or keeping it NA, make sure you have water, too, and plenty of it—especially on a hot day. Hydration is the secret to summer party stamina. Music matters. Although the songs may not be current, these playlists still rock. Photographer: hocus-focus/iStock Unreleased Lastly, even though you’re the one hosting people are always happy to help out. Don’t hesitate to make someone the Ice Czar, or Bug Spray Ambassador. It takes a village to keep a party rolling smoothly. Fairy lights or tiki torches? Are hanging lightbulb strands still cool? Lighting is very important! People always forget to adjust the party vibe throughout the event. Early on with less people, keep it quieter and brighter. Later on, darker and louder. Although we love an open flame, refilling tiki torches can be messy, and they’re still a cultural punching bag even five years on from their indelible role in Charlottesville’s white supremacy rally. Which is to say, LED strands or bulbs are the safer way to go. Flos in Vitro Suspension lanterns are one of six other high-impact ideas for staying well-lit after dark. Source: Flos A designer friend recommends being freeform when using [hanging bistro strands](. Try them in a tree or other elevated frame to allow different heights and spacing between them, instead of just lining the borders of your patio. You can also change it up by combining less symmetrical strings. Experiment with colored bistro lights and swap bulbs around for a more cozy, casual vibe. For a bolder bang for your buck, there’s [LIFX color-changing bulbs](. The Wi-Fi-enabled LED bulbs are like Phillips Hue but with a fun and flirty app, and way more features. Price points are well below the outdoor Hue selection, which is limited. Although I'm not ready to splash out $1,800 each, I am coveting these Foscarini solar outdoor floor lamps that double as tables. Source: 1stdibs.com Thanks for reading! Pursuits editor [“Daddy” Chris Rovzar]( will be on deck for Father's Day gifting advice, among other luxe topics. Connect ahead of time on [Twitter](, [Instagram](, or [via e-mail](mailto:crovzar@bloomberg.net?subject=Newsletter%20question). And click those icons below to give all of Pursuits a follow. Follow Us Like getting this newsletter? [Subscribe to Bloomberg.com]( for unlimited access to trusted, data-driven journalism and subscriber-only insights. You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Pursuits newsletter. If a friend forwarded you this message, [sign up here]( to get it in your inbox. [Unsubscribe]( [Bloomberg.com]( [Contact Us]( Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022 [Ads Powered By Liveintent]( [Ad Choices](