Front and center
Landscape Photo
Richard and Kathy Niemi don't need an excuse to throw a party at their Banning home.
But last Sunday they did things a little differently. They hosted an open house in their front yard.
That's because their daughter Jan Niemi, a party planner, orchestrated the Tuscan-themed soiree from canopy to candles.
"It was a great way to incorporate under the tent their gorgeous water fountain," said Jan Niemi, 31.
As owner of An eLaMenopea! Event in Banning, she combined several trends to enhance her parents' hospitality: a Mediterranean motif; an olive bar; lighted canopy; globe lights, lots of candles and flowers in hurricane lamps on each linened table.
Time was when socializing on the front lawn summoned images of yard sales.
One of the biggest trends this year is homey outdoor spaces that conjure your living room with a better view and breeze, party planners say.
There are revelers who resort to the front yard out of necessity.
"Some people landscape their front yard first because their backyards are just dirt," said Jan Niemi.
Some, such as Eva Mayer, of Riverside, say partying in the front yard offers the best view of the street and attracts friendly neighbors.
Other houses are bursting at the seams. Niemi is helping one Cherry Valley couple plan their nuptials at home.
"I really like the idea of having the wedding in back, the cocktail hour in the large foyer, then moving them out in front for a large reception," Niemi said. "We're utilizing every square inch of space."
Shrinking housing lots are forcing more front-yard shindigs, said Janice Petersen, owner of A & H Party Rentals in Riverside. "Orange Crest yards aren't even 30 or 40 square feet."
Clever hosts drape fabric over a few branches for an instant canopy, hang lanterns from trees, arrange couch-style seating and intimate dining sets with candles that encourage drawn-out meals and kicking back long after sunset.
Mayer, who lives on a cul-de-sac in the LaSierra section, started with a portable fire pit and folding chairs in her driveway for impromptu gatherings
"But I got tired of looking into the mess in our garage, so my son dug a fire pit and encircled it with rocks," said Mayer, 55.
They set up wooden chairs around the perimeter and bordered it with espaliered fruit trees. Her son Eli Mayer, 32, welded rebar for the climbing vines and roses that enclose a cozy seating area with tables, chairs and an umbrella.
Four, eight, ten neighbors began drifting over and before Mayer knew it, every weekend her front yard became Margaritaville. Friends dropped by with potluck dishes or Mayer whipped up a bean dip or the ice cream man pulled up.
"The street isn't pretty," allowed Mayer, who works at a bowling company in Anaheim, "but the fruit trees hide us. I can't convince anyone to go into the backyard, because they'd rather keep an eye on the house than lock up."
For something more elaborate, throw a pirate party, just in time for the July 7 release of Johnny Depp's new movie, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
Other top themes are Hawaiian luaus and beach parties, also known as "island escapism." Petersen said they're inexpensively and easily coordinated by decorating with palm frond clippings, bagged sand from Home Depot or Lowe's, tents and tablecloths trimmed with grass skirts and lots of big umbrellas.
Also popular with parrot heads, fans of singer/songwriter/producer Jimmy Buffet, are "Cheeseburger in Paradise" bashes. "Everything is parrots, Polynesian, beach balls, sand and more parrots," Petersen said.
Retirees Rod and Barb Nelson have a foolproof party plan at their Riverside home: 1.66 acres, gorgeously landscaped with a pond, a red bridge, a yellow brick road, a fire pit, a patio and two spits.
Add a 60-pound roasting pig and 60 friends from their camper club, 30 rigs parked on their land, and the result is an annual three-day party on the Nelsons' estate. The itinerary goes something like this, Rob said:
Friday night: The rigs find a campsite. Everyone gathers around a wood fire in the barbecue pit and eats pizza.
Saturday: Morning coffee and pastries on the patio. At 9 a.m., Rod fires up 20 pounds of briquettes, and stuffs, seasons and starts browning the pig. The gang plays Mexican train dominoes, Texas hold 'em and catches crawdads in the pond using poles rigged with pieces of hot dogs. As soon as there's a bucketful, they boil the crawdads. At 5:30 p.m., Rod carves the roasted pig. Its head, adorned with a neckerchief and sunglasses, an apple stuffed in its mouth, is placed on a platter for weekend photo ops. (Vegetarians may run for cover.)
After an elaborate potluck, the disc jockey arrives and everyone dances until midnight.
Sunday: On a large aluminum griddle, Rod Nelson fries eggs, hash browns, bacon and sausage for the campers. After breakfast, the party is officially over.
"Pick the right people to come in the first place," said Rod Nelson. "But you have to have the right atmosphere, which we do."
More headlines...
|
