MY IDEA WITH this party setup was to capture the essence of July Fourth in an easy, fun, multigenerational, pre-fireworks cocktail party. It’s less hassle and more fun than a sit-down dinner: Guests leave early, and the host family can still partake in fireworks or have a leisurely dinner. We created our theme around tables in red, white or blue—food and accoutrements included.
I designed the background banner, which, along with the miniflags on the toothpicks, was created for us by Bridget Williams of BDUB Productions (bdub-ny.com). They’re an homage to the Declaration of Independence, and each pennant is calligraphed with one word—LIBERTY, EQUALITY or FREEDOM.
The blue table has PEACE napkins and blue-crystal Heliodor candlesticks from Maison 24 (2424 Main St., Bridgehampton, 537-2488; maison24.com), a blue fondue set and blue mixing bowls from Hildreth’s, and blue potato chips and dip.
The white table features a picot cloth and stuffed eggs on a porcelain egg plate from Hildreth’s (51–55 Main St., Southampton, 283-2300; 109 Montauk Hwy., East Hampton, 329-8800; 15 W. Main St., Southampton, 259-8888; hildreths.com).
The red table has an assortment of salami and local grape tomatoes skewered with bocconcini; red-handled forks; tea towels as napkins; and a refreshing strawberry nonalcoholic punch in a glass pitcher.
