Croquet & Cocktails on our Rooftop
MSLO employees are a hardworking bunch but, from time to time, they are up for some friendly competition. Tapping into that spirit, we decided to theme our end-of-summer employee bash as a ‘Cocktail & Croquet’ party. Parties To Go built us an artificial turf court to resemble a croquet court, and to lend some authenticity, Tim Rapuano and Cody Aichele, from the New York Croquet Club, came out to explain a wicket from a stake and how to correctly use your mallet to rocquet away your opponent’s ball. And since there’s more than one way to play any game these days, we set up Wii™ Croquet games on big screen TVs for guests to play. Competitors and spectators alike, sipped on delicious cocktails, generously provided by Hendrick’s Gin, and enjoyed tea sandwiches from Fatty Crab.
1 Our lovely roof deck on the 10th-floor of the Starrett Lehigh building was transformed into an American croquet court. It was a beautiful evening for croquet.
2 American croquet is played with six wickets, one stake, and four balls. Standard croquet is played with 14-wickets and 2-stakes. Photo credit: Anna Ross
3 This abbreviated court was set up for timed 15-minute multiple games. American Croquet is played between two sides - the blue and black balls versus the red and yellow balls. Photo credit: Anna Ross
4 The event was sponsored by Hendrick's Gin, a Scottish gin flavored with rose petals and cucumbers. A Hendrick's and Tonic is served with a slice of English cucumber rather than a traditional lime wedge.
5 The servers prepared a few different cocktails featuring Hendrick's.
6 Royal Brunch Punch featured refreshing citrus flavors - perfect for a sunny afternoon.
7 Hendrick's Gin of William Grant & Sons, Independent Family Distillers, has hosted a number of croquet tournaments around the world.
8 Their inscribed croquet mallets have seen their fair share of use. Standard croquet mallet heads are usually 9-inches long by 2-1/2-inches wide and weigh about 3 pounds.
9 The cocktails were quite refreshing. Photo credit: Anna Ross
10 The Hendrick's girls interacted nicely with the crowd. Photo credit: Anna Ross
11 Tim Rapuano, of New York Croquet Club, demonstrated how to swing the mallet properly.
12 The object of the game is to maneuver the balls through the course of wickets and into the stake. The side which first does so with both its balls wins the game.
13 The sign-up sheet for croquet - Guests were placed on teams of 4.
14 Nintendo Wii Croquet was also set up for those who were waiting to play the real game. Photo credit: Anna Ross
15 Katina Francis and Adonia Manns playing Wii Croquet. Photo credit: Anna Ross
16 Here I am with Sarah Carey and Kevin Sharkey. Photo credit: Anna Ross
17 Mindi Cooke and Jerry Haggerty
18 Phil Bailey, Jill Joyner, and Jean Graham
19 Kevin Burke, Ivis Fundichely, Amanda Allensworth, and Nissa Eberly
20 Melba Jamison
21 Melany Lynch
22 John Toole
23 Dwayne Guy
24 Anthony Luscia, Christie Simony, and Katie Flanagan
25 Kate Bryant
26 Judy Glasser and Meesha Haddad
27 Tanya Cross, Dwayne Guy, Andre Troche, and Daniel Mateo
28 Lincoln Patterson
29 Samantha Caputo, Courtney Kern, Muzam Agha, and Chavo Killingsworth
30 Emily Rodney, Alex Bock, and Tabitha White
31 Our editors - Alanna Stang, Pilar Guzman, Elizabeth Graves, and Anna Last
32 John Cash, Selcen Onsan, and Penny White
33 Lizette Degro, Elizabeth Schermer, and Rob Stahley
34 Trying my hand at the Wii Croquet game, which wasn't nearly as fun as the real deal! Photo credit: Anna Ross
35 Capturing the action with my Blackberry. Photo credit: Anna Ross
36 Posing with Elizabeth Soltis - I really love croquet. Photo credit: Anna Ross
37 Adam Houghtaling and Cassie Carothers
38 Pilar Guzman, Eric Pike, and Kevin Sharkey. Photo credit: Anna Ross
39 Sean Hendricks and Jill Boulet-Gercourt
40 Ira Tau, Todd Hodgson, and Mark Dorison
41 Diana Marko, Sally Preston, and Emily Chard
42 Mikhail Shnaydman, Morgan Rich, and John Reynolds
43 Chavo Killingsworth in action
44 Selcen Onsan, enjoying a not so victorious shot.
45 Marc Bailes - Assistant Managing Editor for Living - lining up his shot.
46 Hollen Spatz and Loretta Holmes. Photo credit: Anna Ross
47 Cute shoes! Photo credit: Anna Ross
48 Shira Savada and Naomi De Manana. Photo credit: Anna Ross
49 Sydney Applegate and Marc Bailes Photo credit: Anna Ross
50 Judy Glasser chatting with Fritz Karch. Photo credit: Anna Ross
51 Christie Simony and Jean Graham. Photo credit: Anna Ross
52 The winners of our croquet tournament! Dwayne Guy (not shown here), Daniel Mateo, Jill Earyes, and Jamie Pasculli accept their prizes which included Hendrick's branded cocktail pitchers, umbrellas, and, of course, bottles of gin.
53 Daniel Mateo, with his prize package, and Anna Ross
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Martha, I've said this before, but...I want to work for you. All of your employess may work hard, but it looks like they play hard, too. And, you provide the means for them to enjoy themselves. It reminds me of back in the day when an employer took care of his emmployees.
Thanks for being a good boss...even if you're not mine.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | August 26th, 2011 at 12:22 am
That looks like so much fun. I've always wanted to host a Victorian croquet party where everyone attending wears white.
Posted by: Janette@the2Seasons | August 26th, 2011 at 8:28 am
Hi Martha, WOW!! This sure was a fantastic party on the rooftop of Starrett Lehigh for your wonderful, hard working employees! Not only was the weather great, but everyone looked so happy to have some time off with you and enjoy that delightful party. The websites you gave us to see how the party was developed were great,also. All of your photos and Anna Ross's photos were absolutely stunning! Sure would have been fun to be there with all of you! My favorite photos were #16,34,35,36, and 53-nice to see Anna Ross! Sure hope hurricane Irene slows way down before it gets up to your New York area. Pretty horrible stuff going on there on the east coast-first an earthquake in Virginia and now hurricane Irene. Hope to God that everyone is safe, including all animals. Hope you have as good a weekend as possible. Got to go see what F&S are doing to prepare for the hurricane at your Bedford farm! Bless everyone for safety. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | August 26th, 2011 at 10:26 am
(oops, I wrote my comment under yesterday's blog by mistake. Here's a redo.)
Hi Martha,
Even if one has never played croquet before, it is a fun game with plenty of challenges. I used to play a lot in the summer when I was a kid and we’d use 9 wickets and two stakes. It’s been so long now I’m not sure I remember all of the rules. I do remember not liking to go first all the time because everyone behind me got bonus shots for hitting my ball. That was a nice set-up on your roof and it looks like your hard working employees were enjoying themselves. I’ve never played while drinking cocktails but no doubt it added some extra fun!
~
Take care this weekend and I hope Irene isn’t too fierce once it reaches New York! Trish
Posted by: Trish | August 26th, 2011 at 11:11 am
Martha,
Looks like a very fun party. Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | August 26th, 2011 at 11:34 am
Hi there Martha. Wow, it looks like you and your employees had a awesome end of Summer treat playing Croquet! I always look forward and love viewing your pictures. It's the next best thing to being there. I've never played Croquet before but I definately want to play now. You make everything look like so much fun wherever you are, especially on the picture with Elizabeth Soltis! Your employees are soo lucky, I wish I was on on your team. Infact I already am Martha, your awesome! Have a wonderful day and weekend. I'll see you soon on your show. Thanks for being Martha!
Martha
Posted by: Martha Vaughn II | August 26th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Martha,
Love it and the motivation of everyone to try something like crouquet, even with cute shoes.
I always dreamed of using our lawn for a company brunch party with individual waffle irons (over camp stoves) and several crouquet games going. Unfortunately that dream moved on with jobs and companies disappearing. Sure glad you supplied the recipe/ingredients for the cocktails--I can still do that.
Hope to see beautiful shots from your roof tops soon.
Posted by: Margie | August 26th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
Now THAT'S what I call a party!!!
I love croquet so much. It's the only competition where I have SO much fun that I really don't feel bad if I lose... (but it's even more fun to win). I sure hope you played the 'poison' variety. Rooftop croquet in Manhattan. It can't get much better than that. What a super perk for your employees. Do these lucky people also get health insurance, vacation time, and end of year bonuses in addition to rooftop croquet gin-fests? Sign me up!
Posted by: Barbara Gookin ~ Nantucket | August 26th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
How fabulous! I love croquet! And I may or may not like cocktails. Ok, I may.
What a fun time that must've been.
Posted by: Heather | Farmgirl Gourmet | August 26th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Sigh. I'll say it again. . . what a charmed life.
Posted by: Mary | August 26th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Love croquet and played a lot when i was a youngster. Those 'cute shoes' look very adorable and somehow fitting for a game of croquet. Such an easy and fun game that anyone can play, really.
Posted by: sherey | August 29th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
It looked like a great time! I still don't understand how they got those wickets to stand up!! (I liked seeing a picture of my daughter too.)
Posted by: Kandy Maharas | August 29th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Dear Martha, I am not sure if you have already answered my question, but, I am one of your Canadian fans. I have not missed a single season of your show until last year. I am not looking forward to missing another year. Unfortunatley, the Hallmark channel is not provided by any Canadian cable company.I am so hoping that you are going to offer your show on a National network so that we can can continue to enjoy your excellent program. Thanks from one of your many Canadian followers.
Posted by: kerrie kueneman | September 1st, 2011 at 7:54 pm