Food & Dining | David Critzer, REALTOR®

Throwing a Housewarming Party? Tips for a Successful Soiree

If you recently moved into a new space, you’ve undoubtedly invested a lot of time, energy and money into making your new house a home. And throwing a housewarming party is a great way to get all of your friends, family and neighbors together and show off your new digs. If you’re ready to unveil your new space, keep the following tips from the Relocation.com blog in mind.

-When it comes to throwing a party, it’s easy to go overboard and shell out more money than you originally planned, so setting a budget is crucial. Make sure your budget is realistic and in place before any plans are even made. And, by all means, stick to it!

-While your party doesn’t necessarily need to have a theme, it’s always a good idea to have a few activities or games planned. Or, simply put together a playlist to add some background noise and let your guests mingle.

-Deciding on your menu well ahead of time will eliminate unnecessary stress as the big day draws closer. Whether you’re cooking the food yourself, getting the party catered or even renting a food truck for the occasion, don’t leave these decisions until the last minute.

-As the host, it’s your job to introduce everyone. While this can be a challenge with everything going on, name tags can be a great addition to your party. Have guests write their name as well as their relation to you, providing an easy conversation starter.

-Be sure to thank your guests for taking the time to come to your housewarming party. If anyone brought a gift, take the time to write them a thank you note.

Source: Relocation.com blog

Dining Out in Naples – With and Without Kids

Having a meal in a restaurant with children can be challenging on many levels. Kids require an entertaining atmosphere, “kid-friendly” food and fast service. The Naples area has plenty of family dining options to offer.

The Naples News featured 4 affordable restaurants that kids and parents will enjoy. From Spanky’s Speakeasy in Naples to Chuey’s Tacos at Coconut Point Mall in Estero, these restaurants offer fun atmosphere and good food. Read the Naples News article…

Tommy Bahama’s on 3rd Street South in Old Naples has good food and a fun atmosphere.

The Ritz Carlton on Vanderbilt Beach Rd. has the Gumbo Limbo restaurant, the Poolside Cafe and The Grill, offering kids specialties on the Children’s Turtle Menu.

The Fish House Restaurant on Bonita Beach Blvd near Barefoot Beach has a great Florida atmosphere, kid friendly menu, and you can watch diners arrive and depart by boat.

Joe’s Crab Shack on Rt. 41 South outside Downtown Naples affords water and boat views and is just across the road from Tin City that has lots of dining options for young families – casual restaurants, ice cream parlor, toy and souvenir shops and more.

The Dock in Crayton Cove is another restaurant with great “on the water” atmosphere and delicious food. It’s just next to the City Dock and is great place to relax with or without the kiddies, and to take out of town guests.

A Love Affair with Chocolate

There’s a good reason for chocolate and Valentine’s Day to to be synonymous. We LOVE chocolate. What better way to show our love then to share chocolate?