Must Haves: Summer Entertaining
You know what they say – you never know how many friends you have until you own a beach house. Sometimes you might feel as if you always have company in one way or the other. We say embrace it, because it’s a long, cold winter! We searched the island for the best items we could find in entertaining. Whether your guests are coming for the day or the weekend, this list will make it easy for you to ensure that they are comfortable and have a good time. Happy shopping!
1. BOW TIES The host needs to look his best, too! These bow ties by vineyard vines come in all different colors and designs. This one in particular has its “Shark Week” theme. We think it’s the perfect excuse to throw a party to celebrate!
Global Pursuit 262 96th Street, Stone Harbor | 260 21st Street, Avalon
2. ICED TEA SERVING SET Perfect for sitting out by the pool on a hot summer day, this set is great for iced tea, water, lemonade and everything else! The navy rope design gives it a nautical feeling. With the ice bucket, pitcher and glasses, you have the perfect set to serve your guests.
Blufish Designs 2021 Dune Drive, Avalon | 237 96th Street, Stone Harbor
Outlet Store: 4 Clermont Drive, Clermont
3. WINE BOTTLE LIGHTS This is the must-have that you never knew you needed. When you are finished drinking a bottle of wine, place this light inside to set the mood and add some light to your outside table. Designed by di Potter, the lights are safer than candles but have the same effect. Choose to use one or light up a bunch to create the perfect atmosphere.
The Preppy Palm2533 Dune Drive, Avalon
4. NAUTICAL SERVING WARE Blue and white are classic colors and will go perfectly in any kitchen. This serving-ware selection is artisan-made porcelain that is so gorgeous your guests will feel honored to use it! However, you know the secret that it also is so versatile that you can use it every day.
Armadillo, Ltd. 2761 Dune Drive, Avalon
5. DECORATIVE COASTERS Coasters are a must for every home. No one wants their guests putting drinks down on their furniture. These stone coasters come in many designs and colors, with sayings that sum up your beach vacation! Even better, they are made in the USA! Put a few in each room for drinks and use the easel inside the package for the ones you want to display.
Hoy’s 5 & 10 219 96th Street, Stone Harbor | 2800 Dune Drive, Avalon
6. HOODED ANIMAL TOWELS One thing guests always seem to forget is a towel! If you are hitting the pool, heading to the beach, or need them for the bath, these hooded towels are perfect for the little ones. They come in various styles including sharks, princesses, mermaids and so much more! Each child can have their own so they always know which towel is theirs.
Nesting 9504 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor
7. PIRATE GLASSES Arrghh! A drink just isn’t a real drink unless it comes in a pirate-themed glass. Made from black glass with a white skull printed on the side, these glasses are big enough for a 16-ounce drink. Stock the bar and you can have fun with these all summer long!
Coastal Designer Outlet 556 Sea Isle Boulevard, Ocean View
8. BLOWOUT LOTION There is never a bad day at the beach, but there certainly are bad hair days! Conquer the heat and humidity with this Keratherapy daily smoothing cream. It will keep your hair looking smooth and stylish all day. A must-have product that the salons can’t keep on the shelves!
Fusion Salon Avalon 3007 Dune Drive, Avalon
9. PERFECT UMBRELLA We love this umbrella because the pole is off to the side, allowing for more people or things to fit underneath. Now you have room to set up a board game while you stay in the shade.
Seashore Ace Home & Outdoor Living 260 96th Street, Stone Harbor
10. BEACH PHOTOGRAPHY TRAYS Whatever you are serving will look even better on these trays featuring actual beach photographs. From umbrellas to sand and people on towels, even in the winter, using these trays can help give you that at-the-beach feeling.
Trendz Home 215 96th Street, Stone Harbor
11. SPORTS-THEMED SHIRTS If you are throwing a party so everyone can watch the game, you need to make sure that you dress the part! We love these Philadelphia team-inspired shirts from It’s All Good. They come in Eagles, Flyers and Phillies colors and there are sizes to fit the whole family!
It’s All Good 2307 Dune Drive, Avalon
12. HOSTESS MORNING OUTFIT If your guests are here for the night, or longer, you want to look good at every time of day! This outfit by Wanderlux is perfect for the morning. Stay comfortable yet chic while brewing a pot of coffee. The Rayon material will keep you cool if you choose to have your breakfast out on the deck.
Tiger Lily 268 21st Street, Avalon
13. LARGE PLATTER When you are throwing a party more on the elegant side, or just trying to make a good impression, we recommend putting the olives, fruit, cheese, etc., on this large silver charcuterie platter. Shaped like a leaf, it will look amazing on your table and is large enough to hold tons of food!
Complete Interiors 2320 Dune Drive, Avalon
14. DOG-THEMED SERVING WARE Everyone loves dogs, right? This large, circular tray has pictures of different and funny dogs on it. Perfect to put in the center of the table for appetizers and sure to be a talking piece! Make sure you pick up some matching napkins!
Coco Blu 9510 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor
15. SEA-LIFE INSPIRED BOWL You can never have too many bowls, especially if you like to entertain! This Hudson Beach Glass octopus bowl is the perfect size for salads but can be used for anything. Fill it with chips, dip, or even floating candles to create some ambience.
Island Home Renovation & Design 2389 Dune Drive, Avalon
16. WINE BAGS Fred’s has always been the go-to place for hats and T-shirts. Lucky for us, it has expanded its line to wine bags, koozies and more! These bags come in blue, brown and pink. Perfect to take your wine to a BYOB restaurant or even to use as a hostess gift!
Fred’s Tavern & Liquor Store 314 96th Street, Stone Harbor
2258 Dune Drive, Avalon
17. ANIMAL PRINTED BOWLS You will want to use these bowls every day, and they are perfect for the little ones! Big enough for cereal or soup, they are wooden outside and painted inside. Choose from bears, cats and flamingos, or get them all!
Gingy’s 9718 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor
18. UNIQUE CANDLESTICKS Candles are the perfect way to step up the ambience of any space a few notches. These handblown candlesticks and their unique design come in blue, orange and green. Just a small touch that makes a huge impression.
Ocean Galleries 2199 Ocean Drive, Avalon | 9618 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor
19. PICTURE PERFECT TV If any aspect of your party involves watching something on TV, then you want a TV that will deliver! Step into the world of 8K with Sony’s best processor ever. Sony’s MASTER Series continues to change the way you watch TV with the Z9G 8K HDR LED TV. With four times the resolution of 4K HDR, the picture is richer in color and clarity than ever before. Upscale anything you watch to the heights of near-8K HDR quality with the Picture Processor X1 Ultimate and Backlight Master Drive.
Sound Advice 336 96th Street, Stone Harbor
20. DIP TRAY AND BOWLS The blue and white colors of this set, designed by Greek Key, make it perfect for your beach house. The tray is not too big, so it’s easy to carry and place wherever your guests are gathering. The bowls are the perfect size for dip!
Gypsy Lane Home 300 96th Street, Stone Harbor
21. ALL-NATURAL FRUIT PRODUCTS Nothing but the best for you and your guests! These shrubs are all-natural. The sweet-tart mixer adds a burst of fresh fruit flavor to your favorite drink. Added to plain seltzer, it makes a refreshing alternative to sugary soda. In the jams, there is more than a half-pound of fresh fruit in each jar! Made with a small amount of organic cane sugar, they are simply the best!
Small Crafts Advisory 9506 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor
22. AVALON & STONE HARBOR PENDANTS If you are looking for a unique gift for your hostess or the birthday girl, we love these pendants from Stephanie’s of Stone Harbor. Every year a new city pendant comes out, and fortunately this year Stephanie‘s is carrying both Avalon and Stone Harbor!
Stephanie’s of Stone Harbor 9720 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor
23. SINGING BOWLS Yes, you read that right! These Alchemy Crystal singing bowls come in blue-pink ombre, light-speckled electric blue and translucent blue. Big enough for vases, but all carry different tones in their pitches. You hit it with a stick and it makes a noise. The tones produced by crystal bowls are not just heard by the ear, you feel them in your body, with certain tones affecting your energy centers (chakras) for healing, balancing and meditation.
Trendz 209 96th Street, Stone Harbor
24. LUSH HAND TOWELS You can never have enough hand towels, especially when you have a beach house! They are something our guests seem to go through a lot of. These come in various colors including blues, orange, gray and white. They are perfect for the powder room or the guest bathroom.
Olive Tree 211 96th Street, Stone Harbor
25. REUSABLE STRAWS Reusable straws are all the rage this season! In an effort to help wildlife and save the planet, research has shown that banning plastic straws is a great way to start! This reusable straw package comes with two 8½-inch bent straws, one straight wide straw and a cleaning brush. Pick up a few to use at your next party and help save the planet!
She Be Surfin’ 2516 Dune Drive, Avalon | 221 96th Street, Stone Harbor
26. HOSTESS DRESS Gretchen Scott is known for her bright, colorful, pieces like this ruffleneck dress. The collar adds just enough sophistication to impress your guests, yet the dress is comfortable so you won’t have a problem wearing it all night! Best part is that it’s machine washable!
Serendipity 2268 Dune Drive, Avalon
27. COMFORTABLE SHOES When playing the hostess all night long, you absolutely must have comfortable shoes on your feet! We love this Cannon Solid wedge by Charleston Shoe Company. The crisscross, stretchy straps keep them secure on your feet without that too-tight feeling. They are lightweight and come in linen, navy and orange colors. The 2-inch heel is just enough to dress you up. Don't worry if you spill something on them, you can throw them in the wash!
Louella 2819 Dune Drive, Avalon
28. OCEAN-INSPIRED JEWELRY If you really want to wow your hostess, give her a set of this jeweled starfish earrings and rings. They are pieces of workmanship, detail and quality. The elegant yet playful design is the perfect statement piece to accompany a regular party outfit. These starfish pendants embody the fun and elegance of the Seven Mile Beach. The rings come in both gold and silver bodies with pink, green or navy jewels.
Jewelry Studio 250 96th Street, Stone Harbor
