SYLVANUS URBAN Sylvanus Urban - The Space Issue | Page 45

" Nothing like a little dose
of reality provided by bright
lights to send the night-owls
scattering."
classic: the ugly lights. “Consider
the lighting. Turn the dimmer up
a little bit and blow out all the
candles,” says Julie. Nothing like
a little dose of reality provided by
bright lights to send the night-
owls scattering.
HAVE EMERGENCY LOOT
BAG SWAG ON HAND
You can rub people the
wrong way, or the right way - and
if the right way is out the door at
a reasonable hour, turn to seasonal
goodies that you can stuff into loot
bags and then into the hands of
your soon-to-depart guests. “In the
summer, it’s great to prepare your
own rubs for salmon or chicken.
You can make them in advance
and it won’t cost you much,” says
Julie. “Tell guests, ‘I just want to
make sure that everyone got our
little parting gift before you left.
Please enjoy it on our behalf. We
hope you enjoyed your evening,’ as
you hand them out.’”
ARE YOU STILL HERE?
Party Is Over)
getting others to do what you want comes with benefits. To gently prod
your guests towards (but not directly out of) the exit, Julie recommends
getting your sheep-dog on by changing rooms or bringing people outside.
“With beautiful weather around the corner, take guests outside for a
nightcap.” (Note that Julie does not condone locking the door behind your
guests.) If that doesn’t do the trick, Julie’s got other ideas, like offering
tea, coffee and other hot beverages: swapping the Syrah for Starbucks will
jolt guests out of their post-meal coma and give them the energy to call
their own damn Uber. “A third way is to change the music to, not quite
a lullaby, but something softer,” says Julie. “Bringing the volume of loud
music down or turning it off completely, can get the message across.”
Here’s your chance to bust out that sweet Enya CD that’s been propping
up your couch since Christmas ‘97. But if Celtic New Age stylings don’t
simultaneously coerce guests to grab their jackets and reject future party
invites, Julie has a few more tricks up her sleeve, including the nightclub
S y l v a n u s - Ur b a n . c o m
The Space Issue
You’ve tried everything -
yawning, talking loudly about your
early morning, pointing out your
poor pup who’s been waiting for
hours for her nightly walk. The
clock is inching closer to 11:30 pm,
and the new episode of Queer Eye
is about to start. Yet your house
still runneth over with guests who
refuse to leave. Congratulations!
You’ve given them a night they
don’t want to end.
However,
despite running counter to our
polite Canadian sensibilities, this
sort of situation calls for a little
- or a lot - of directness. “Be
very blunt,” recommends Julie.
“Say something like, ‘I’m glad
everybody had a lovely evening
tonight, and we want to make
sure we’re up tomorrow morning
fresh for (insert excuse here).’ You
don’t have to state the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the
truth. Make sure everyone had a
nice evening, put a closure on it.
And then stop. Let them react.”
For those that need to stick to
their Canadian guns, wrap it up in
a neat little bow with a toast.
But if you’re looking for me, I’ll
be on the kitchen counter, drinking
tequila with "Gary".
45