Dallas - June 24, 2009

Fun Intended

2009 Summer Entertaining Guide

You can host a pity party like no other. But nobody ever shows up.

It’s time to throw a real rager.

Hit ThirdSpace, an artsy up-and-coming event venue snuggled between The Joule and the original Neiman’s downtown. Or boogie over to FIG. The wholesale fashion venue turns into  a jumbo party palace — 20,000 square feet of exposed brick walls and polished concrete floors with an outdoor promenade — for stylish events (Valentino is a fan).

For a cozy casa gathering, hone your cooking skills at EatZi’s summer classes (July 14-August 25). Chef Jay Valley hosts the two-hour sessions (we’re craving Salsas & Sangria), which cost $50 and benefit Hunger Busters’s Feed the Need after-school program (3116 Sylvan Avenue; book at 214-526-1515). Meanwhile, Flavors from Afar dishes Easy, Elegant Appetizers tomorrow (6 p.m.), with a recipe book for keeps (6712 Snider Plaza; book online at flavorsfromafar.com).

Reel guests in with PicFlips: The local company sets up a mobile backdrop against which you and your guests pose for the camera. The team prints the shots and binds them in a book; when you leaf through it, the photos come to life like a short video.

Snap to it.