Summer Entertaining in Small Outdoor Spaces

Don't let small space stifle your style--follow celebrity party planner Marcy Blum's tips to host the perfect patio party

Written by Marcy Blum

Many of us city-dwellers (who spend our winters in concrete boxes wistfully looking out the window waiting for spring) pay outrageous premiums for just a bit of outdoor space in our urban settings. A terrace, a roof top, even a window box are coveted possessions fiercely guarded and meticulously maintained. And while the ultimate prize is a weekend invitation to a beach house, friends will gladly settle for an evening or afternoon spent al fresco—just a small glimmer of sky is restorative to the spirit of an urbanite.

Having been lucky enough to have moved last year to a teeny Brooklyn townhouse with a small garden adjoining a larger courtyard, I've devised some tips and have noticed some trends for clever and stylish outdoor entertaining within confined spaces.

1. Go Potluck!

While I'm happy to offer my space and tabletop items, often the meal itself is just more than I can manage. A modern take on the old-fashioned potluck supper works wonders. Divide the meal among the crowd as follows, one person to an item:
• Pitchers of margaritas or sangria
• Guacamole and chips
• Chilled soup for an appetizer
• Good bread and olive oil/oil
• Giant niçoise or Caesar salad for the main course
• Light dessert

2. Try the Barbeque Alternative

While it may seem logical that shrinking the suburban barbecue of one's youth is the obvious way to go about entertaining outdoors in the city, it actually requires a bit more ingenuity. Unless you have a pit master at your beck and call, barbecue might not be the best idea. Get the vibe without the burns by serving dishes like pulled pork or beef brisket cooked slowly and lovingly in a slow cooker while you are at work.

MORE ENTERTAINING ARTICLES