Looking for the perfect gift? Interested in a fun new spot to check out with your new guy?  What about the perfect place to find a new dress for that upcoming date? Or which shoes match that hot new dress? Email me and each Wednesday, I will post your questions and answer them!

Request: I am throwing a holiday party in my home this weekend and am completely overwhelmed. I didn’t realize how busy this time of year would be and feel it leaves me little time to prepare. Do you have any party tips?

Recommendation: The first time my husband and I threw a party, we were so unprepared that I wound up showering when the guests got there and that was after moving the start time back an hour! Over the years we have gotten a lot better at pre-party prep, allowing us time to be ready way before our guests arrive and the ability enjoy ourselves once we do. Planning is the most important thing you can do.

• Plan in advance what you want to serve. Make a shopping list of things you can buy in advance and what you will have to purchase the day of the party. Save time and have your list delivered to you from Fresh Direct or another supermarket.
• If cooking is involved, figure out what can be done days before the party, the morning of, a few hours before and what needs to be prepped right before the guests arrive. If you are using the oven, try to coordinate items that can be cooked at the same temperature. Realizing right before the party that your hot appetizers all need different temperatures is not a good time.
• Beforehand also figure out how your want to rearrange your home to make it work better for the party. Do you need to borrow extra chairs from a neighbor or would seating be better if you pushed your furniture to the outskirts of your room? Once you figure that out, try to get everything set up ahead of time, then you can start laying out where you will put food and drinks.
• Planning what serving pieces you will be using will help also. I often lay these out the night before in the place they will sit to make sure everything fits and I have what I need. For items like chips or candy, I place the closed bag right in the bowl and then open and pour it in right before the party.
• If you are serving cold drinks, do you have a place to store them, like a large tub you can fill with ice?
• Most people will arrive with heavy winter coats. Figure out in advance where you will put them. If you are putting them in a closet or on a coat rack, make sure to have enough hangers. To enjoy the actual party, direct guests to put their coats away themselves.
• Avoid having to play bartender by keeping drinks easy. If you want something festive, make a mixed drink ahead of time and serve it in a pitcher or punch bowl.
• Take advantage of friends offering to help. If someone calls on their way over asking if you need anything else and you do, don’t be embarrassed to ask them to pick it up.

The more questions you can answer before the party, the easier you planning will be. Run through the party in your head from start to finish to try to anticipate any situations that might come up. If you do, you will be well prepared and be able to enjoy the party.

Most importantly, remember, it is a party, so have fun!

The Intrepid is a fun museum for the whole family.

Every Thursday check out my new weekly column on cbslocal.com. I will be featuring a “day in the city” plan. Whether you have lived in the city for years, or coming for the first time, it can be hard to figure out what exactly to do. Each week I help you narrow it down! If you have any favorites or need help planning a day around an activity, let me know.

Check out my first column here.

I have lots of things I love to do in NY, but one I think is really cool is walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. In fact, the picture of me on my about page was taken on one of my many trips across the bridge. A friend emailed me today asking what she could do/see/eat once she gets to the other side on her planned trip tomorrow. Here are some ideas:

DUMBO

• Grimaldi’s Pizza (the website even has the directions of how to get there if you are walking over the bridge)
• Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
• Superfine has an amazing jazz brunch every weekend and takes reservations!
• Dewey’s Candy store – because who doesn’t like candy? Especially one filled with retro finds!
• River Cafe is right under the Brooklyn Bridge and offers amazing views and food.
• Jacque Torres has a shop there – YUM!
• Brooklyn Bridge Park is awesome! plenty of open space, amazing views, cool art installation. They are having a Harvest Festival tomorrow (saturday october 23) including pumpkin decorating and a parade!
• Check out Jane’s Carousel to get in touch with your inner child

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS
Walk to the Brooklyn Promenade for a great view and wander around Brooklyn Heights. There are lots of great sites and architecture, including Norman Mailer’s house.

She promised to let us know if she comes across anything else in her travels, but if you have any other ideas, please share.

Looking for the perfect gift? Interested in a fun new spot to check out with your new guy?  What about the perfect place to find a new dress for that upcoming date? Or which shoes match that hot new dress? Email me and each Wednesday, I will post your questions and answer them!

Request: I have given a gift from my friend’s wedding registry for her engagement and shower. For the wedding, I want to stray from the list, but give something with a little more thought than just money. Do you have any suggestions?

Recommendation: Following the registry is not a must, it is just a guideline. But if you do want to be a little more creative, here are some ideas:

Gift Certificates are great, because they give the couple a certain amount of flexibility but still allowing them to splurge a bit! How about a gift certificate to:

• A restaurant for the couple to enjoy a special night out on their honeymoon or when they come back.
• for the hotel where they are staying on their honeymoon.
• for a spa on their honeymoon. If the hotel doesn’t have a spa, try SpaFinder to find one nearby.
• Select Registry allows you to purchase a gift certificate for the couple to use at over 400 Inns, Bed and Breakfast and small hotels across the country. Even if they are going on a honeymoon, who wouldn’t want a short getaway once all the excitement of the wedding and honeymoon is over?

Giving a sentimental gift is also nice. Try getting creative to create a keepsake for the couple.

• This picture frame with two openings allows the couple to display their invitation next to a photo from the day. Inserting the invitation yourself is a nice touch when they open the box.
• Tiffany will engrave the couple’s invitation onto a c crystal platter which makes a wonderful memento of the day.  They even match the font!

Did you receive any fabulous “off the registry” gifts that you enjoyed?

Looking for the perfect gift? Interested in a fun new spot to check out with your new guy?  What about the perfect place to find a new dress for that upcoming date? Or which shoes match that hot new dress? Email me and each Wednesday, I will post your questions and answer them!

Request: The card selection at Duane Reade could be a lot better. Do you have any ideas of stores to purchase some really fabulous greeting cards?

Recommendation: I have to agree with you! Kate’s Paperie and Papyrus both have excellent greeting card selections.  I have also actually had great luck at Hallmark. There is a reason they have been around as long as they have, plus they won’t put as large of a dent in your wallet as the above options. But if you want to support some smaller stores, try:

• Paper Presentation
• Cursive
• Greenwich Letterpress
• The Village Invites

And if you want a special gift to go with the card, many of these stores have great options for that as well.

Looking for the perfect gift? Interested in a fun new spot to check out with your new guy?  What about the perfect place to find a new dress for that upcoming date? Or which shoes match that hot new dress? Email me and each Wednesday, I will post your questions and answer them!

Request: I am on the search for the perfect fall boot, now that summer is officially over. However, my calf is too wide for many of the high boots that are out there. Any recommendations?

Recommendation: Designers are listening, so there are actually a bunch of options for you.

DUO Boots – Based in England, they do ship to the US. They make boots in 21 calf sizes and shoes in 3 widths. You are bound to find some good options here. They are an investment, but for the perfect fit, it will be a good one. This is also a good resource for those with narrow calves. I have never ordered from them, but they have excellent reviews and their return policy seems to be very good.

J.Crew – They seem to have the market covered on everything else, including specialty sizing and a decent collection of extended calf boots.

BarfootTess – “Because style doesn’t stop at size 10″. This large size shoe resource has an excellent selection of wide boots.

Piperlime – With an entire category dedicated to extended calf size boots, there is a lot to chose from.

Zappos – The mecca of online shoe shopping has lots of options, and of course an excellent return policy.

Looking for the perfect gift? Interested in a fun new spot to check out with your new guy?  What about the perfect place to find a new dress for that upcoming date? Or which shoes match that hot new dress? Email me and each Wednesday, I will post your questions and answer them!

enjoy a picnic at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

Request: I am stuck in the city this holiday weekend. Can you recommend any fun things to do?

Recommendation: While you might not be able to get out of town, there is plenty going on that will make you feel like you did!

• Brooklyn Cyclones Game
• Staten Island Yankees Game
• Free Opera – outside the MET
• Fireworks in Coney Island – the last time of the summer on Friday September 3
• Free Walking Tour in Central Park
• NYC Architectural Tour on a boat around Manhattan
• Food Truck Fest on Governor’s Island
• Grateful Dead Exhibit at the New York Historical Society
• Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Celebrates 100 Years
• The King Tut Exhibit
• Bar-B-Que at a Bar

Anyone have anything exciting planned?

Looking for the perfect gift? Interested in a fun new spot to check out with your new guy?  What about the perfect place to find a new dress for that upcoming date? Or which shoes match that hot new dress? Email me and each Wednesday, I will post your questions and answer them!

kayaking under the Brooklyn Bridge

Request: I am taking a “staycation” next week. Do you have any ideas of some fun free/cheap things I can do in the city during the week?

Recommendation: So many options, but here are some of my favorites:

• Bryant Park seems to have lots of free stuff to do every day, especially during the week. Tonight you can partake in a Ping Pong Tournament.
• Museums usually have a free day once a week. This is great if it is extremely hot out.
• A visit to the The Conservatory Garden in Central Park will make you feel like your a visiting a private garden at an English estate.
• Go Kayaking on the Hudson River. Some locations of the Downtown Boathouse (the name is deceptive as they aren’t all downtown) are open on weeknights in addition to weekends for free rides.
• Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, then hang out in Brooklyn Bridge Park. If you go on Thursday nights, you can catch a free outdoor movie.
• The River to River Festival has lots of free events all summer long.
• The Staten Island Ferry is a great free way to get out on the water on a beautiful day. End the day with a picnic in Battery Park.

Looking for the perfect gift? Interested in a fun new spot to check out with your new guy?  What about the perfect place to find a new dress for that upcoming date? Or which shoes match that hot new dress? Email me and each Wednesday, I will post your questions and answer them!

Request: I am going on vacation and need a hat. I would love a straw hat, but want to be able to easily pack it without crushing it.

Recommendation: I am a huge fan of hats, but have a small head, so often get lost in big hats, so I know how hard it can be to find one. But here are a few ideas that aren’t too pricey:

• Rafia Crusher by Mountain Hardwear – It is soft and packable, but has the look of straw. And according to the store manager looks great on everyone.
• Packable Straw Hat from Appleseeds – Not only easy to pack, but provides SPF 50 and comes in multiple colors
• Braided Bucket Hat – I love the little buckle on this one in addition to the protection of SPF 50
• Ombre Straw Hat – This multi color hat will make you feel like the sun even if it isn’t out.

Have a great vacation!

UPDATE:

Maybe you can find out where Chelsea got her hat from.

Looking for the perfect gift? Interested in a fun new spot to check out with your new guy?  What about the perfect place to find a new dress for that upcoming date? Or which shoes match that hot new dress? Email me and each Wednesday, I will post your questions and answer them!

Request: I am driving into the city this weekend. Do you have any tips for cheap parking?

Recommendation: If you know the area you are going to be,  check out this bestparking.com which allows you to see all the prices of the garages in the area for the time you will be parking. You can also print out coupons if they are available. Most major cities are also included in this site.

If you are want to first try to get a free street space, Primpspot will let you know which streets are currently available for parking and how long you can park there.

Be prepared with a Parking Card for the Muni Meters. This allows you to park without seaching for quarters as they are prepaid cards fill with denominations of $20, $50 and $100.