Washington, D.C. - June 24, 2009

Countdown to a Blast

2009 Summer Entertaining Guide

Sometimes entertaining at home is sheer entertainment in itself. Next time, instead of dazzling guests with another unintentional fire dance, make a plan.

Two days before: Prep the booze with help from family-owned wine shop Cork & Fork, which excels at selecting party wines, planning a themed assortment, and assigning food pairings.

The day before: Shop the farmers market for ingredients. The new Bethesda Central Farm Market has seasonal treats (mmm, blueberries) and sausages from MeatCrafters, which offers grill-friendly choices (andouille, kielbasa, and brats) from local chefs. (Glover Park’s new market would also be a good bet.)

The morning of: Assemble a showpiece dessert, using market berries to make ice cream. Keep it cold in an Ice Cream Tubbie from Home Rule: It’s a cooler for homemade ice cream or insulation for packaged pints on picnics. For a time-saver, throw the berries and some whipped cream on shortcakes from Callie’s Charleston Biscuits.

When guests arrive: Your parties may be no fairy tale, but you can inspire verse with cheeky retro nursery rhyme dishware at Red Barn Mercantile.

As the sun sets: Dazzle the crowd with solar-powered string lights from West Virginia-based Bambeco. The blue orbs, made from handblown glass, collect sun during the day to save energy at night. They automatically turn on at sunset and dim at sunrise.

Then call it a day.