According to an unattributed statistic recently posted as my friend’s Facebook status, about 75% of annual weight gain occurs between Halloween and Valentine’s Day. And since it’s on the internet, it must be true.
Honestly though, I think most of us can attest, based on more reliable personal experience, that we’re about to experience a slew of holidays that seem geared toward over-eating and over-drinking (not to mention over-spending). This is the time of year when cornmeal muffins give way to muffin-tops and too many Christmas hams have us on three-alarm oink alert. But on the plus (-sized?) side, ‘tis the season for peace, joy, family, and freaking fabulous dinner parties: hence Festive Table, Wednesday night’s event at Shreve, Crump & Low (440 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.267.9100). The evening brought together seven local interior designers to stage creative, ornate, and occasionally quite conceptual table settings. They were given free reign to use anything in the Shreve store (though many chose to integrate personal pieces, too), which means those of us scratching our heads over how to make our own holiday place settings pop can, assuming we scratch together the dough to upgrade from plastic Solo cups and paper plates, recreate their ideas in part or whole.
The night also served as a fundraiser for the Boston Living Center, a multi-service agency that supports more than 2400 members living with HIV/AIDS. The theme of the event was pretty appropriate for the BLC, considering that one of their largest endeavors is to serve hot, healthy, and free meals — about 40,000 meals every year, in fact — to members, many of whom are also low-income. Wednesday raised around $3000 for the Center, based on ticket sales, a silent auction of personal consultations from each designer, item sales (10% of purchases went back to the BLC), and purchases of the store’s famous Gurgling Cod Pitchers. If you weren’t able to attend, there’s still one important way you can support the BLC (and it doesn’t cost a damn thing): volunteers are still needed for the Center’s annual Celebration of Life Thanksgiving Dinner at the Hynes Convention Center on Tuesday, November 24. The event, emceed this year by WCVB’s Liz Walker, provides traditional turkey dinners and entertainment for more than 1000 guests. To find out more and learn how you can sign up to volunteer, click here.
In the meanwhile, check out some of the designers’ table settings below. Who knows... their creativity might inspire ideas for your own Thanksgiving parties ahead. At the very least, here’s hoping they inspire a reminder — as you think about blissfully digging into that bird, then drifting into that post-turkey doze — that many of us have a lot to be thankful for this year. Just not our waistlines.
Designer Dennis Duffy (Duffy Design Group) has a thing for wings (as we discovered when we rifled through his stuff a few weeks back), but he went Om for the holidays to find spiritual inspiration in his setting. Miniature Buddhas flecked his Eastern motif, which included one of my favorite pieces of china: the Royal Crown Derby "Chelsea" Accent Salad Plate ($150). The autumnal colors were tied together by an impressive centerpiece from Twig (769 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.292.8944). Due to the shoddy photographer (i.e., me), you can't see it here — but suffice to say it involved a thick tree trunk blooming with red, orange, and gold flora. Woven throughout, curiously enough, were random strands of shining fiber optic wire. The effect was, well, radiant.
I couldn't blame designer John Berenson (John Berenson Interior Design) for having spring on his mind, even if his garden-themed setting may seem more appropriate for an Easter dinner than a Thanksgiving or Christmas one. He filled the stone table with butterflies from Baccarat ($150) and a green, purple, and gold color scheme. Two nesting birds served as salt and pepper shakers (Grant Dawson Gold Warbler Salt & Pepper, $195), and I had to love Berenson's attention to detail. He even thoughtfully served up green jelly beans on a golden leaf-shaped candy dish. I was eternally grateful, given the presence of white wine in my right hand and lack of dinner in my stomach.
I heard from several designers that platinum and purple is a hot combo right now, and Michael Barnum (Barnum + Company) made that clear here. His translucent table was in full bloom (love the tiny bud bowls placed atop the china) and boasted great stems. Stemware, I mean. Especially the Baccarat "Vega" Rhine Wine in Amethyst ($220).
Though he started by pursuing a more traditional look, designer Michael Ferzoco (Eleven Interiors) told me that he eventually ditched it to go "young and modern" instead. Here's the result. Since it was a comparatively smaller four-top, his sleek setting didn't have the same scope as some of the others, but it was nice to see a presentation that would look perfectly at home at a young professional's apartment, as opposed to at Mom and Dad's dinner table. The small bowls from Scott Potter ($65) were among the more affordable offerings, and I dug the pops of color and vaguely Mediterranean (Moroccan, maybe?) aesthetic.
Following the contemporary stop-over, our progressive dinner heads back to traditional territory. Personally, this setting from Paula McCusker (Theodore & Company, Benn Theodore Incorporated) wasn't my bag. It's someone's, to be sure — but that someone owns half a block of Beacon Hill, can afford the admittedly classy Buccellati Sterling "Torchon" flatware (5 piece, $1175), and would be shocked to find that I would sooner show up to the dinner party nude than in Nanny Reds. That's not an offer, thank you very much.
Speaking of what to wear to the Vineyard, here's a fantastic sea-inspired setting from Anthony Catalfano (Anthony Catalfano Interiors). Besides seizing the opportunity to make fitting use of those Gurgling Cods, Catalfano included some more affordable china: the Wedgwood "Nantucket Basket" 5-piece setting is $85 at Shreve, a steal compared to some of the others (ssh... the neighbors don't need to know). The starfish accessories were a nice touch, and I loved the centerpiece, a huge seashell overflowing with seaside flora.
From the ocean to the jungle, we arrive at my favorite of the evening: Eric Steven Jacobs (ESJ Designs). His uber-themed tabletop had incredible detail, from its Mariposa Bamboo Chargers ($108) and corresponding flatware ($47/set) to assorted Herend elephants stomping throughout. Even the chandelier overhead was adorned with huge fans of palm. Jacobs was festive, sure — but he clearly had a lot of fun. And isn't that what the holidays are all about?
