A warm wind. The sound of cicadas from a lavender-filled garden. You could be in Barcelona, or the South of France. But you’re right at home, entertaining your friends Mediterranean-style.

Imagine throwing a party where you don't have to cook, serve drinks, worry about someone breaking your best china or clean up afterward.

To kick off a night on the town in style, you need a place to set the mood. This is what great bars are made for. Choose one that you all know and can get to easily. Get there early and ask the manager if you can have a group of tables so that everyone can sit together. (A deposit in the tip jar works wonders.)

Heading to a restaurant for dinner with friends? You can give it a personal touch by bringing your own wine. In exchange for giving your bottle a place at the table, you'll be charged a "corkage fee."

There's something about the atmosphere of a bar or restaurant that makes us all want to hold forth like master debaters. Talk sizzles up and down the room when everyone wants to weigh in.

Luminarias, or farolitos, are simple outdoor decorations made from white paper bags with candles inside. Santa Fe and Albuquerque are known for their spectacular luminaria displays on Christmas Eve. The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix lines its paths with thousands of luminarias for an annual holiday event called Las Noches de las Luminarias.

Place cards? Check. Swizzle sticks? Check.

Whether you're planning an event with dozens of guests, or just inviting friends for cocktails, a checklist can help everything go smoothly.

Party hosts agree: it's better to have too much wine than not enough. You can always save the extra bottles, and you'll probably receive a few as gifts. Here are some wine-buying guidelines for different occasions.

Remember the first time you invited your sweetheart home for dinner? It was pure magic. Recapture the feeling with a romantic date in your own love nest. We'll show you how...

No matter how full your social calendar gets, there's always room for the unexpected. Follow these tips and you'll be ready for any occasion.