Mood Board : An Effortless Al Fresco European Cafe | End of Summer Party

“Há uma música do povo. Nem sei dizer se é um fado. Que ouvindo há um ritmo novo, no ser que tenho guardado…É uma simples melodia. Das que se aprendem a viver.” Há Uma Música Do Povo – Mariza

….“There’s a song from the people. I’m not too sure if it’s a Fado. Once listened, there’s a new rhythm, one I don’t know if I’ve kept. It is a simple melody. Of those who learn to Live…”

Each event I do is special, but some are just a bit more special than others. And this one I’ve been working on lately, is inspired by al fresco European cafés during picturesque summer evenings, melodious and soulful Fado & the feeling of “saudade.”

This end of summer party moodboard, which also happens to be a surprise celebration for someone special in my life, was inspired by our last day in Lisboa and Portugal. We had booked a dinner and music night at a Fado house, Mesa de Frades, something I’ve wanted to do for so long. Walking through the tiny streets, easily considered alleyways, still decked wth multicolor party banners from the Santo Antonio celebrations, we were immersed in the rich history and culture these Alfama streets brought to life, even as some cafés still displayed their makeshift wood bars on their front steps, occupying half of the tiny street that no car would dare drive along. Losing ourselves we thought back to the days where these diverse and musically rich streets first began and thrived many many years ago. Oh, to have been part of the Fado birth and revolution! The older I become the more I appreciate and fall in love with fado music, and once you get lost in the rhythms you’ll understand why it’s become such an inspiration.

My mind has seriously been wanderlusting for everything European lately, but more so the laid-back “joie de vivre” lifestyle. It’s the feeling I crave and has ultimately become the inspiration for this late summer bash, you can easily put together for Labor Day or as along as this summer weather and sun lasts!

Think effortless yet gorgeous sights of European al fresco cafes with plenty of wine glasses, potted plants like Manjerico “Basil” famously known as THE plant to celebrate the country’s holy Saint holidays and celebrations of June. Naturally the vision for this party is effortless vintage rustic European cafe chic. Could I be anymore descriptive of what this party’s theme is. The reality is I don’t want any theme, I want to incorporate our culture and the picturesque Portuguese summer entertaining style that is simply natural and always memorable.

The biggest goal for this summer party, is to make it eco-friendly! It definitely helps that I’m an event stylist and planner and have picked up several items along the way that I can reuse. DON’T WORRY once I share this party in a few weeks, I’ll also share my tips for you to follow if you’d like to throw an eco-friendly party too, including stocking up on white plates and flat ware that you can bring out for any style affair.

The menu : wine, wine wine and maybe some vinho verde! Of course there’ll be plenty of simply grilled meets, chilled seasonal summer vegetable salads, fresh seafood, bacalhau à lagareiro, let’s not forget the rice and beans and good ole’ crusty Broa. That’s all you really need to serve a delicious Portuguese summer get-together! And for dessert, there’ll be plenty of seasonal fruits from melons to peaches, grapes and hopefully figs – easy to snatch cookies, zucchini chocolate chip cakes and freshly baked fruit pies. To finish off the night as the twinkling lights glisten beneath the stars and sparklers send off sparks of celebration – my famed passion fruit cake, ice cream and espresso!

To encapsulate the entire mood of this celebration, a perfectly curated playlist {which you can listen to here} of Fado, Bossanova and Jazz, blending the beautiful melodies of old and new, along with a few glasses of Port Wine and Cheirinhos. It’ll be a long summer night sharing laughs and memories, celebrating the “immense saudade” we all feel this time of year as summer begins to fade and the sad reality of autumn, slowly sets in. This is one celebration I can’t wait to style and revel in!!