Marcia Sherrill
Cool Tips for Haute Living
Marcia tells us how to keep summer entertaining stylish, even in the blazing heat
BY
Marcia Sherrill
PHOTOGRAPHY
Steve Pomberg

As summer temperatures hover indecently around 100 degrees, we need to rethink the way we entertain down South, as no amount of Freon can swipe the sheen of sweat from our brows—or our homes. We have spent lavishly on our patios, gardens and pools, so it is safe to say that we are not going to establish a no-party zone outdoors. Here are some tips to get the party started, hopefully without having to resuscitate your guests with time-consuming and lipstick-smearing CPR.

Careful food preparation is key. Our mommas may have heaped the picnic table with deviled eggs and potato salad drenched in Hellmann’s, but we need to minimize our guests’ exposure to anything that will wilt or spoil in the blazing sun. Think cool ceviches and gazpachos and foods impervious to a terrifying climate change. Go with cool veggies and near-frozen soups, and lay out the libations, as the parched throat is the hostess’s worst enemy. As true Southerners, let’s hoist the Pimms cups and mint juleps and toss a bag of Cheetos on the table.

Opt for some real cooling antidotes to the heat. The restaurants with the misting machines have it right. You can manipulate your environment, and now there is a whole industry catching up with the professionals. This is a great investment, and with a groovy new market umbrella, your guests will feel cool on the most torpid day.

Nevermind the rising temperatures; let summery décor be your theme. Forget about paper plates and plastic tumblers. Whip out real china, linens and silverware, even if you have to hotfoot it over to Tuesday Morning or Pier 1 for essentials. Presentation is everything. And to bring down the tropical heat, snag as many large ferns and palm trees as you can at Home Depot—they add a distinct and instant cool. Drape your tables in batiks and other exotic fabrics, and add candles and centerpieces of glass jars with cool fruits and shells. For the most mega-glam entertaining, add a chandelier with candles and hang it from a tree.

Lavish your guests with fans and moist towelettes. I am not talking about damp washcloths—give your guests elegant linens spritzed with water and lemon (or lavender), and keep them stashed in the fridge until they arrive. Large palmetto fans or the small battery-operated sort (and even large rotating fans for the hottest days) will give your guests a welcome wind to cool down even the most hot-natured belles.