Have a wonderful Date! Get prepared

The first date: what to wear, where to go, what to say, what to do and what not to do. All this pressure to make a good first impression can be daunting. Here are some illustration of tips and tricks, enjoy

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Have a wonderful Date! Get prepared

The first date: what to wear, where to go, what to say, what to do and what not to do. All this pressure to make a good first impression can be daunting. Here are some illustration of tips and tricks, enjoy

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Manner that counts

How to Be a Good Guest

Ten tips to make sure you're invited back to the next soiree.

• RSVP as soon as you receive the invitation.
• If you accept an invitation, attend the event.
• Leave uninvited guests―your kids, your well-behaved dog, your work colleague―at home.
• If you have a friend visiting from out of town, decline the invitation and explain why. The hostess might invite your guest, but you don't want to put her in an awkward position by asking if you can bring someone.
• Don't offer to bring something and make her come up with an idea. Tell her you would be happy to make that appetizer she loves.
• If she takes you up on your offer to bring something, don't forget the serving pieces―platter, spreader, cheese knife―that the dish requires.
• Bring a hostess gift that's low-maintenance. Cocktail napkins or a bar of fancy soap is easy and doesn't need to be dealt with in any way.
• Take pressure off the hostess by mingling with newcomers.
• Pitch in when you notice things that need to be done, like refilling the ice bucket at the self-service bar at a friend's cocktail party.
• If you're the newbie in a group, follow the crowd: If guests are in the kitchen serving, offer to help. But if the hostess is in the zone―simultaneously broiling, stirring, and tossing―don't upset her rhythm.

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Where to place your napkin

Napkin Etiquette

Experts dish on where to place your napkin, when to take it, and more.

Place your napkin on your lap when you take your seat, or wait for your drink to arrive. “If you wait for the food to arrive, the server will have no place to set your plate,” says Robert Burke, a waiter at Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, California.

If you leave the table during the meal, loosely fold your napkin and place it on the table to the left of your fork. While some authorities recommend putting the napkin out of sight on the chair, Nathalie Dupree, a cookbook author and the host of the PBS series Nathalie Dupree’s Comfortable Entertaining, says, “Napkins are meant to get messy; there’s no need to hide them.” Besides, the napkin could soil the chair, which could then soil your clothing. At the end of the meal, set your napkin on the table.

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