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Mad Men Holiday Party

I have been dreaming of attending a Mad Men party since I started watching the show in its second season. A vintage fiend with a soft spot for themed events, it seemed the ultimate cocktail party option. Emily and her husband Tony fulfilled all of my dreams this weekend, filling their new Presidio home with friends and sixties charm for a Holiday soiree. Emily is the consummate hostess, recalling the well-mannered and impeccably groomed housewives of another era. Even perched inconspicuously on a chair in the corner she is all grace poise.

Every detail was perfect: candy cigarettes laid out wrapped in Lucky Strike wrappers, elegant china and polka dot napkins, a table of delicious old-style nibbles, a meticulously curated playlist of vintage holiday tunes, a cocktail bar stocked with soda-pop in glass bottles and all the makings for mixing Old Fashioneds.

Everyone dressed in theme with skirts and skinny ties. Lit by the warm glow of candles and the Christmas tree we pretended to elegantly smoke, continued to actually drink (albeit less elegantly), referenced fake accounts, and carried on into the wee hours of the morning. As far as holiday parties go, it was truly magical. Don Draper couldn’t have asked for more.