MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

 Ever since seeing Woody Allen's MIDNIGHT IN PARIS last spring, I have wanted to have a  dinner party for our Dinner Crew with this theme.......

 So tonight, the party is finally a realization.  In keeping with the theme of the movie , attire for the evening can be French, Roaring Twenties, or Parisian Belle Epoch. I am the latter........

 Place cards are postcards with painted scenes of Paris and guests depicted on one side from the twenties and on the other from the Belle Epoch.  In the consideration of space, I am depicting just one scene per guest.............This is Dwight depicted in Monmartre............

 Twenties Diana near the Madeline......

 Miss Josina frolicking near the Opera......

 Adolfo at the Tour de Eiffel................

 Belle Epoch Annabelle in another view of Monmartre.............

 Napoleon Bob at the Place de Concorde...............

 Belle Epoch Eileen with a view of Chateau De Ville..............

 That flapper Louise at the Moulin Rouge.........

 Monsieur Richie on the banks of the Seine..........

 Dwight G. at the Operahouse...............

 Randy at Place de Bastille.............

 Belle Epoch Theresa shopping for flowers
near the Madeline

 Flapper supreme Terrie at the fountains of Place de Concorde......

 And the debonair Waymundo at the Arch de Triumph......

 We are providing the ambiance (including six hours of French music) and the main course, Steak Diane.  Being the little lifelong New Mexican that I am, I added some green chile to the recipe and made "Steak DIANA"..........

 Dwight helps light part of the plethora of candles.........

 And I do mean PLETHORA...........

 Now we're ready for our friends from our dinner group to arrive...........

 Let the party begin...................

 Annabelle and Adolfo were first to arrive--fittingly, because they brought the appetizers.....

 This fabulous and beautiful platter and an even more beautiful platter that I erred in not photographing of Brie cooked in a pastry shell with an abundance of fresh fruit--a feast for all the senses!.............

 The Twenties best dressed couple--Louise and, could that be?-- Al Capone.  They brought a great salad and lots of great vino.............

Terrie and Richie arrived from Albuquerque.  Terrie is quite the elegant flapper--right down to the perfect shoes.  Richie prepared the hit of the evening--a compote of root vegetables..........

 This little coquette, Josina, arrives with a fabulous orange cake.............

Another twenties gangster, Randal, arrives with his top coat and silk tie........and more wine..........

 The best friends are OLD friends...........

 Looking like a character from Dickens, Waymundo and his Belle Epoch Cheri, Eileen arrive with baguettes and more wine.............

 All that wine makes for much festive conversation........

 Now, THIS is the little "Dickens" we know and love!..........

 Terrie is
 also sporting era jewelry including a 1920s watch that is one of the most elegant watches I have ever seen.........

 Louise's dress is also vintage and is encrusted with gorgeous beading..........

 Femmes Fabulous...............

Annabelle made he own headpiece and Adolfo sported a short vest and saddle oxfords...........

Theresa informs Randy about how she made her delicious green bean casserole......

 Tooooo cute!..............

 Dwight and I are representing the Belle Epoch..........

 And are so happy that at least one other other couple joined us in the 1880s..........

 Although, secretly, I yearn to be a flapper too--unfortunately, I solved the mystery of "The Fabulous Vanishing Flapper Dress" a bit too late to get it shipped here, and my attempts at devising my own flapper attire, were a bit lacking...........

 Louise regales the group with her clever banter.......

 And Dwight delights them with his fancy booze.........

 A feather in the face--a common occurrence for Dwight tonight.........

 "I'm hungry, when do we eat?"...................

 Right now, mon cherie!....Dwight C. cooked the steaks on the grill outside and then I tossed them in the "Diana Sauce" individually and poured more sauce and mushrooms over them.......

 Don't worry, Mr. Scrooge, there's plenty of food to go around...................

 One side of the looong table digs in.......

 Louise extends her hand so that her huge ring can get photographed.........

 Yup, she's got the Good Stuff!................

 And her hubby is proud of it!............

 The left side of the table digs in............

 Dwight checks out all the place card postcards...........

 And so we reveled on to the early hours.............

AND A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!  VIVA LE FRANCE!