The Art and Craft of Entertaining

By Kimberly Kennedy

Where do I begin? That's the question we start with when thinking about throwing a party -- and for many of us, that's the question we end with, too. We may like the idea of entertaining friends and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743278356
• ISBN13: 9780743278355
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 2.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.0" x 0.7" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

I believe its worth every penny!

First off, I personally believe that this book is fantastic. Why pay someone else to fix up the pretty stuff for a party when you can do it yourself. This book is perfect for me since I happen to live near a MICHAELS Craft Store and although I wander the aisles all the time, I never know exaclty what to do with the stuff they are selling. Lo and behold, this book is for those types of people - the ones that believe in small details make a big difference. Oh and I am not a pr person, I am a single parent of four who still wants to have pretty things around when the adults come over to play as opposed to the everyday toys thrown about my house for my kids and their friends.

Light Entertaining Reading about Entertaining

When I first picked up this book it fell open to a page with a Robert Benchley quotation: 'Why don't you slip out of that wet bathing suit and into a dry martini.' And on that same page she says not to worry about having exactly the right glasses for drinks, except that 'A purist may still asert that a martini is best in a martini glass.' She's right, an old mayonaise jar will do for any kind of drink, except a martini. All in all, this book is for the entertainer who might tend to get hung up on making everything just right. Instead she says, relax, the idea is to have fun with your friends. Relax. Have a good time. Your friends won't care what you do. The others probably won't come to your party anyway. She does give some excellent ideas on how to plan a party, some ideas about what to serve and a few hints on minor details like making sure that your guests know how to find your house. I enjoyed the light, personal touch of her writing style. I like to entertain and picked up a few ideas that I want to try on my next dinner party. A very enjoyable book.

Kimberly has found her niche

And her extraordinary talents are receiving nationwide acclaim. That this is not another book for the Martha Stewart veteran is revealed in the opening line of the dust cover: "Where do I begin?" Kennedy writes for a new generation of 20 and 30-something homemakers who may be hesitant to host that first important dinner party. The road map to success is laid out in day-by-day, hour-by-hour particulars, combining the familiar with the imaginative in food selection along with table setting detail and straight forward instruction in the crafting of place markers and even an elegant invitation. Other projects are developed in a similar manner, while the reader is encouraged to explore and formulate an individual style. I think there are a great many young people who will benefit from this kind of book.

Great 1st book!!!!!

I think that Kimberly did a great job on this book. The pictures are beautiful. I have been waiting for a stylish 30 something to enter into this arena b/c frankly I am getting tired of the same old stuff. Kimberly gives some great new party and project ideas throughout the book. I think she has a bright future ahead.