Link Love // Art and the Park

Friday, October 25, 2013
dear sunset by Ugo Rondinone, a commissioned artwork by the Nasher XChange, which will be produced at Fish Trap Lake in West Dallas.
We are literally blown away by the artistic wonders the Nasher XChange will produce in Dallas. One of our favorites is shown in the image above. Entitled "dear sunset", a wooden pier will be finished in vibrant colors reminiscent of a sunset in Fish Trap Lake in West Dallas. Artist Ugo Rondinone describes a romantically poetic approach to his work that evokes deep emotion for anyone in tune with Nature. Read all Rondinone's work and the other nine amazing artists  working on the XChange in a brilliant interactive digital guide by the Nasher Sculpture Center. You will be amazed.

There are so many things to get you inspired this weekend. Here are our favorites:

Klyde Warren Park, Dallas' own central park uniting Uptown and Downtown over Woodall Rodgers, is celebrating it's first birthday. A weekend of festivities will commence, beginning this evening with a big screen simulcasting the Dallas Opera's Carmen. Free of charge.

TWOxTWO for Aids and Art will be held this weekend at the Rachofsky House in Dallas. The amazing gala and auction has raised over $40 million for the Dallas Museum of Art and amfAR. Check out their facebook page for a look at the art going up and the philanthropy invovled. 

If you stay inside this weekend to prepare for your Halloween festivities, take time to nourish your mind and soul with an amazing documentary from HBO - Life According to Sam. Following the medical trials and tribulations of children with progeria, an aging-related disease, will give you hope by the wisdom and strength of young children bearing this illness. Sam, the namesake of the documentary, is a force. Be warned, there will be Niagara Falls, in a good way.
 

5 Things // November Favorites

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Five things that are packing a punch this November also happen to be our Fall favorites. 
1. Arte Italica Cream Charger - Refined Italian elegance for just the right amount of ornateness with a neutral color to compliment any tabletop. 
2. Mahogany Rose and Mottahedeh Tree China Collections - Fall calls for deep hues, patterns that reflect the natural autumnal landscape, and of course, style that upholds family traditions. Feast the eyes while your feasting on everything from turkey to dumplings. 
3. Birch Hall Flatware - Add an Art Deco element so the first thing picked up at the table holds enough weight to not easily be forgotten.
4. Stella Goblets - Make a statement with the best color duo of all time - black and white. Our newest addition to the goblet family - the Stella - is a more mature version of our Chloe with a slim, elegant stem and substantial cup for the perfect pour. 
5. Crossback Chair - Inspired by the Parisian cafe chair, these crossback chairs go well with everything from farmhouse tables to family seating. 
Book your today to ensure these beauties make an appearance at your next soiree.

Fall Fetes // All the Pretty Birds

Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Birds of a feather always stick together: Left, Marchesa dress. // Right, POSH Place Setting.

October through December are our favorite months. From the fashion to the festivities - not to mention the weather, it really is the most wonderful time of the year. With the well-heeled crowd ready to strut their stuff, be sure to have a tabletop layered to perfection. Include a mix of porcelain or bone china with an elegant yet festive pattern, like the Exotic Bird China Collection. Add in an ornamental element, from hammered copper chargers from Jan Barboglio or textured gold flatware like the Dynasty 24 Karat Collection, and you'll have a well-rounded look worthy of the guest wearing Marchesa. For the pretty birds ready to shake a tail feather, don't forget a presentation of serious stemware - from champagne coup towers to vintage goblets. You'll be toasting all night long. 

Get the look above from POSH: Place Setting - Jan Barboglio Hammered Changer, Gold Rimmed Glass Charger, Barcelona Gold Dinner Plate, Exotic Bird Dinner and Salad Plate, Gold Bead Glass B&B Charger, Gold Leaf Double-Handled Soup Bowl, Dynasty 24 Karat Flatware, Gold Floral Lace Glassware, Amber Goblet. Linen - Champagne Hammered Velvet from Resource One, Inc., exclusively at POSH Couture Rentals.

Tabletop Tuesday // Custom Couture

Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Fit for a queen: Custom fitted White Petal Taffeta with Rose Gold Caps by Resource One, Inc., exclusively at POSH Couture Rentals. Paper goods by Ceci NY.
Custom touches always make a lasting impression. No one understands the importance of painstaking approach to detail like Roberta Karsch at Resource One, Inc. - there is a reason they are called couture linens, after all. We love the pink + gold palette used for the wedding of Tara Smith in Los Angeles: White Petal Taffeta with Rose Gold Caps created an intimate and romantic feel at king-sized tables. We have no doubt everyone felt like royalty on that wedding day. We picked a few of our favorite POSH pieces to go with the Resource One linens, all of which you can get exclusively at POSH Couture Rentals.

TARA & BLAKE’S DREAM TEAM: Invitations: Ceci New York /Venue – Ceremony: Wetherly Gardens, Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Venue – Reception: Crystal Ballroom, Beverly Hills Hotel / Photographer: Simone & Martin Photography, John Solano Photography, Duke Photography Florist: Mark Held & Richard David, Mark’s Garden Planner: Jonathan Reeves, International Event Company / Event Design: Matias Doorn and Edgar Zamora, Revelry Event Designers Event Coordinator: Claire Rados /Lighting: Images by Lighting / Linens: Resource One
With the couture feel of the evening, we would add our new Arte Italica Cream Charger with its amazing detail and refined elegance. Add Gold Lyons Flatware for a luxurious amount of gold, along with Gold Floral Lace Champagne Flutes and Light Pink Chloe Goblets for a romantic mix to toast throughout the evening. For the desert table, both the Sophia and Loren add another ornamental element to the tabletop and evens out the metallic tones.

 Couture-worthy attention to detail continues with appetizers and early course. Rethink serving fruit dishes, prawns, and amuse bouche in the typically catering forms with our Flower Server and Lily Server. Guests will never forget it.


For images of this amazing night, check out our friend Ceci Johnson for all the details, including her Ceci NY custom invitation suites and paper goods. Full post here.

MM // Feeling Fall

Monday, October 21, 2013
From top: POSH Vintage Place Setting (mixed) with Gold Leaf China and Gold Beaded Glass Charger, Vintage Amber Goblet, and mixed Michelangelo and Floral Elegance Flatware on a Wheat Jute Linen. Image by POSH. // Deanie Michelle Events designed this Mottahedeh Tree look for a client at a private estate: Mottahedeh Tree China, Parisian Flatware, Pure Stemware, Amber Goblet. Image courtesy of @deanie_michelle_events // A classic + timeless place setting with Blue + White China and Loren Silver China. Image courtesy of @toddevents // Silver Service with mixed vintage tea cups. Image by POSH

Fingers crossed, but I think it's safe to say that cooler weather is (finally) here to stay. We're not the only ones feeling fallish. Instagram is packed with autumnal place settings and events. We love seeing what you're up to on Instagram - just look at the festive place settings above. Be sure to follow us @posh_preference for our behind-the-scenes goodies. And enjoy the beautiful weather!

On the Radar // Art, Wearstler + More

Friday, October 18, 2013

MUST SEE: In celebration of it's10th anniversary, the Nasher Sculpture Center is presenting the most dynamic public art exhibition Dallas has ever seen with the Nasher XChange. Consisting of 10 newly-commission public sculptures by contemporary artists at ten different sites throughout Dallas. Check out 'Til Midnight at the Nasher tonight where fesitivties will be kicking off with music, dancing, and food. For more on the Nasher XChange, listen to Art&Seek's interview with Nancy Nasher.
NEED: Everyone's favorite designer/artist/businessguru/mom/SoCal gal Kelly Wearstler is still driving us wild with her latest collection of invitations and paper goods for PaperlessPost. Just in time for the holiday season. Get it here
GET: Partners Card kicks off October 25th! Twenty percent off goods and services at over 750 DFW stores with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting The Family Place and survivors of domestic abuse. Get yours this weekend at the POSH showroom
READ: Time Magazine has figured out what we've known all along - that the Lone Star State is "America's Destiny". Well, we won't argue with that one! Read a preview here.
WANT: Pick up complimentary tickets to the Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show at the POSH showroom so you can get first dibs on the authentic goods from world-renowned exhibitors. This multicolored Chanel purse and 10.06 karat royal blue diamond have our eye. What has yours?
 

Eat // Experimental Table

Thursday, October 17, 2013
"You should feel like a guest at your event." Never were truer words spoken. When hosting an event, the real question is, "How do I want to be represented?" At POSH, our opinion has always been that the event should reflect you and your tastes. Likewise, we appreciate vendors who do the same by providing the best quality and service, especially when it comes to what goes in our bodies. Cue Experimental Table


Katie and George Brown, the duo formerly of GEORGE Catering, saw a need for the farm-to-table movement to make an appearance at the wonderful events happening around Texas. After moving to a small farm in  Lucas, Texas, where they keep livestock and grow greens, their passion for food was rekindled but with a sustainable slant. They wanted clients to be able to experience fresh, local food, even if it meant inviting them to their backyard; thus, Dinners in the Field was born. Today, we're excited to have Katie and George explain their concept and business. Expect to keep them on speed-dial for your upcoming events.





1   How did the concept of Experimental Table come about?
It has been taking shape for the last few years and then kind of crystallized in our minds this year. We knew we wanted to slow down and have more time with our kids, as well as more space to try new things with food--including growing it and keeping livestock. We decide to move out of the city to Lucas where we have ten acres of farmland. We will be doing “Dinners in the Field” here with a long table that we call “the experimental table”.  Typically we write menus to please our catering clients, so this will be our chance to create food completely for us. If it is well received, we will pass it on to our clients for their parties. 

   Why does locally sourced food hold such significance?
All the usual reasons, like supporting your local economy or reducing pollution by not shipping things across the country. We are now closer to farms and farmers and have a better understanding of what it takes to grow food and livestock. We are learning more everyday and have a better appreciation for the effort and passion it takes to do produce well with this way of life. You'll find food raised using old world farming practices really does taste better and is better for you.

3      What can someone expect when you cater their events? Why should they use a caterer?
We provide professionalism, great service, great food, respect for people and their homes or businesses. Having a party is a lot of work and can be hard to enjoy if you are trying to figure out food, drinks, where to rent china or get flowers, etc. A good caterer can take care of all of the details so you can really focus and enjoy your guests.

4   What keeps people coming back?
Same as the above!

5     Tell us about Dinners in the Field.

Dinners in the Field will be our version of a Super Club type thing. I think people like new experiences, and this is special and unusual. We have been to a few supper clubs, and it is always a little bit exciting--a very different feeling than going out to a restaurant.
 

PERSONAL

      What is your ideal food day

George – Sunday; Katie – Any day the food is made for me.

      Favorite Fall drink? And recipe if you like.

George – Pinot (but that is all year round)  Katie – Bourbon and Ginger Ale

    Some people cook to unwind. What do you do when you’re not working?

George – ride my lawn tractor around 10 acres.  Katie – Laundry, picking up the house, homework with kids, driving kids…..oh wait I am always working.

4    Favorite restaurant for the scene…and fave restaurant for the food:

Not to concerned about the scene. I have had good meals at Oak and FT33.

5   What excites you most about events you put on and events you attend as guest, from big parties to intimate dinners?

I love the table, gathering stuff to decorate it. For me, if my favorite people are at an event that is what makes it fun. We don’t actually attend very many events.  – Katie



The planning process and all the action of executing it.  I like to see innovative food, new ways to do things, décor. - George