Be My Guest: Theme Party Savoir-Faire [Hardcover]

Rena Kirdar Sindi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

With fifteen special events captured on film by the celebrated photographer Jessica Craig-Martin, Be My Guest is a detailed, original and practical guide to building a successful theme party written by renowned party-giver Rena Sindi. Invitations, table settings, recipes, cocktails, decorations, music - this book will show you how to make your parties unforgettable. The fifteen theme parties in this book can be adapted to two, two hundred or two thousand people. Be My Guest elaborates on the following legendary theme parties: Black and White; Art; Baby Shower; Hot Hacienda; Ladies Luncheon; 1001 Arabian Nights; Hawaiian Luau; Theatrical Heads; Signature Styles (a dinner party prepared by three famous chefs - Daniel Boulud, Nobu and Claudia Fleming); Dragon Red and Cherry Blossom Pink; Vietnamese; Jungle Fever; Tango; Disco Gold; Kids Party.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rena Sindi has thrown some of the most lavish and unforgettable costume parties of the past decade - including Sloan-Kettering's Valentine's Day Ball, New York City Ballet's Dance with the Dancers Gala, and events for the Boys' Club of New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, The Public Theater and Bruno Magli. As Voyeur, Chronicler, and Party-Goer herself, Jessica Craig-Martin, who shoots for The New York Times and Harper's Bazaar, among other publications, chronicles the new social scene and is, herself, part of the society she tracks, she has an eye for young scene-setters and what makes them tick.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 196 pages
• Publisher: Assouline Publishing (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2843233453
• ISBN-13: 978-2843233456
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 7.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #959,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GREAT IDEAS... GIVEN THE RIGHT CROWD, July 9, 2003

By 

"sfreas" (Beverly Hills, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Be My Guest: Theme Party Savoir-Faire (Hardcover)

I am an event planner from Los Angeles and work for the Mandarin Oriental hotel which hosts numerous high fashion and celebrity events. I found this book to hold a number of innovative and surprisingly fun-inducing ideas ... however, i found that the ideas Rena presents are more applicable to the high society party world, where indulging in such extravagant parties is the norm. Some of the events in the book would ultimatley be hard to pull off with certain crowds b/c of the lack of enthusiasm for such parties. Thus, i receommend this book for anyone who is serious about planning events where the crowd is engaged... otherwise these parties would fail. Ultimatley, it depends on your crowd. For myself, this book has been a creative guide which has spawned a number of my own ideas and additions to rena's ideas. I love the book: pictures and presentation are pleasing to the eye... The book serves great also, as simply a coffee table book, stylish and interesting.

24 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars surprised, December 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Be My Guest: Theme Party Savoir-Faire (Hardcover)

As an event designer myself, I am surprised by this books' poor photography and lack of interesting details. It seems to be more about showing off her friends and acquaintances than about showing the theme parties she has designed. The pictures on the montage pages seem to blend together and nothing really catches your eye. I purchase all event design, tabletop and wedding books on the market and haven't seen one as of yet that has provided so few new ideas and where the photography was this substandard. I can appreciate artistic photography, but most of these photos cut people off in strange places or offer unflattering photographs of guests at the event.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars brilliant!, December 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Be My Guest: Theme Party Savoir-Faire (Hardcover)

I loved Be My Guest!!! As an avid consumer of books on design, entertaining, cooking, etc. I was excited to read Be My Guest, and it does not disappoint! Ms. Sindi has artfully put together a chic, glamourous, and very "inside" look at entertaining, with flair and gusto! The photos are beautifully done - much different than the average party photos you see in some of the magazines, and Ms. Sindi's tips on entertaining are engaging, well thought out, and just plain fun! I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in entertaining and design - it's brilliant! Bravo, Ms. Sindi!!!