BOOK LOOK

FETE ACCOMPLI!

HE: ULTIMATE
GUIDE TO
CREATIVE
ENTERTAINING

-

PARTY LIKE GLITTERATI

E

vent mavens
Elizabeth Harrison
and Lara Shriftman go
to great lengths to
provide a good time to
high-profile party-goers — from
Gwyneth Paltrow and Debra
Messing to David Copperfield and
Adrien Brody.
In 1995, the duo met through a
fashion-editor friend, hit it off and,
with a $5,000 loan from Lara's par-
ents, decided to start their busi-
ness. Today, New York City-based
Harrison and Shriftman — a public
relations, special events and mar-
keting firm with offices in L.A. and
Miami — organizes some of the
country's most glamorous affairs.
Their events — movie pre-
mieres, charity balls, fashion shows,
product launches and big bashes
for celebrities like Puff Daddy, Jay-
Z and Matt Damon — are covered
in the pages of national magazines

like 147, Vogue and hiSiy/e and on tel-
evision shows such as Entertainment.
Tonight and Access Hollywood.
Now together with Karen
Robinovitz (a writer who covers
the champagne circuit for Harpers
Bazaar; Marie Claire, the New York
Times and other publications), they
have written Fete Accompli! The
Ultimate Guide to Creative
Entertaining (Clarkson Potter:
$24.50).
The insider's guide to creating
the perfect special event offers a
myriad of suggestions: on coming
up with the party's concept, locale
and budget; designing invitations,
from classic to kitschy; creating the
mood with lighting, music, flowers
and all the little touches that make
a party memorable; setting up a
well-stocked bar and feeding
guests with style; and proper host
and guest etiquette, from how to
meet and greet to writing the per-

fect thank-you note.
The book also offers a scrapbook
of some of their best parties — a
Barbie and Ken-themed event, an
outdoor afternoon tea, an Indian
feast for 20 for under $200 — and a
list of resources. In addition, it
includes sample menus and a
selection of recipes from well-
known restaurants and bars
(Shriftman's mother's secret recipe
for "Rugalach" and her grandmoth-
er's "Mommer's Fried Matzah" also
make an appearance).
"Entertaining does not require
the bank account of an heiress,"
write the authors. "And as far as
we're concerned, there's always a
reason to celebrate: birthdays,
anniversaries, premieres of your
favorite TV show, Bastille Day, the
full moon, even just because it's
Wednesday."
— Gail Zimmerman
Platinum creative editor

WRITTEN 1NO
Liv
LARA SHR1FTMAN d EUZABETH HARRISON
AND s,.AqE!4 Itko:= ■ '

RTY T I P

ACCOM

ve a "color" party — red, white,
black, blue, green, orange, pink —
and make sure it's everywhere:
the invitation, tabletop acces-
sories, candles, drinks and food.
■ For every 20 people, add five to
ilyour list. Yes, for every 20 people
you invite, chances are, three to
mom
. five won't be able to attend.
Red and green apples, stacked in
*glass cylinders or piled up on a
silver platter, make sophisticated
accessories.
wr"Re-plate whatever food you order
in and garnish the dish with fresh
herbs, truffle or olive oil drizzle,
orange slices, a few berries or
whatever works with what you
are serving."

■

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