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"David Jimenez's Best Cocktail Party Tips\nExpert advice from a master of the art of entertaining\n\"A smart-looking invitation says a lot about the event you are going to be hosting,\" says David Jimenez. An e-mail invitation is fine for casual gatherings, but consider a beautifully printed card for a special affair.\n\"Set the mood by replacing high-wattage bulbs in table lamps, floor lamps, and ceiling fixtures with 15- or 25-watt bulbs,\" Jimenez says. \"Use votive candles liberally to achieve a warm glow throughout the entire house.\"\nA hit of color courtesy of fresh flowers will add punch to a neutral room and extends a warm welcome to guests. The key is identifying a color that contrasts with the decor: \"I love the look of pink-coral peonies in a mostly neutral living room,\" says Jimenez.\nChoose a signature scented candle and burn several of them in different rooms to pump up the fragrance throughout your entire house. \"My favorites,\" says Jimenez, \"are Baies by Diptyque, RL's Pink Candle [sales of which benefit breast-cancer research], and Rigaud's Green Cypress candle [Jackie O's favorite].\"\nA signature cocktail is a creative way to emphasize the theme of your party and a low-maintenance way to tend bar. Keep the party flowing by preparing pitchers of the libation ahead of time and storing them in the refrigerator. A simple, refreshing favorite of mine is the strawberry basil margarita, ideal for sipping and filled with flavors of herbs and fruit. Here's to spring!\n\nStrawberry Basil Margaritas \u2013 makes one pitcher, or about eight servings\n\n1 can (12 oz.) frozen limeade concentrate\n\n2 \u00BD cans of water\n\n10 strawberries (12 if you're using smaller ones from the farmers market or your backyard)\n\n8 basil leaves\n\n18 oz. tequila (gold or silver)\n\nEmpty the limeade concentrate into a pitcher. Add 2.5 cans of water and 18 oz. of tequila (or a bit less, if you don't want your drinks to be quite as strong).\n\nHull the strawberries, slice lengthwise, and add to the pitcher. Crumple the basil a bit in your hands (this will help the basil flavor release into the drink) and add it to the pitcher, too. Place the pitcher, covered, in the fridge overnight, or for at least four hours.\n\nWhen you remove the pitcher from the fridge, your margaritas will be a lovely pink color."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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