bars

Sure, rattan furniture had its biggest moment in the late '80s, but if you still associate it with The Golden Girls, then you're missing out. Made from fibrous palms, rattan's durable, textural nature is ideal for adding a dose of warmth to a room and is more stylistically adaptable than you may think. Instead of heavy furniture sets, though, we're honing in on sleeker accent pieces, like Serena & Lily's South Seas Bar Cart ($395).

Treat it as a portable console by styling it with trays, linens, and decorative objects in addition to booze and glassware. We'll show you how this bar cart can transition from bohemian femme to classically nautical and cheerfully modern, just by switching out accessories.

First Look: Bohemian Femme

• Butterfly Plate ($128): No boho bar would be complete without at least one butterfly motif. A black-and-white color palette keeps it from feeling too sweet.
• Peacock Lacquered Wood Tray ($163): If you're a sucker for Chinoiserie-inspired wallpaper but aren't prepared for such a splurge, then capture the look with this gorgeous tray in vibrant shades of canary yellow and teal.
• Effervesce Stemless Wineglass ($8): The pale aqua color and bumpy surface of these glasses make them more appealing than standard stemware.
• Key Bottle Opener ($8): What looks like a beautiful vintage find works undercover as a handy bar tool.
• Ikat Diamond Napkin Set ($16, originally $20): The smoky hue and global pattern of these napkins work especially well with the bar's exotic theme.

Keep reading to see two more looks we're loving!

Raise a glass, because men's magazine Esquire has just called out 169 of what it's dubbing "the best bars in America." On the list: San Francisco's historic Beatnik spot, Vesuvio; the menu-free Boston mainstay, Drink; and celebrity hot spot The Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills.

With so many lists being published these days, it's hard to get massively excited about any sort of ranking, although I am always looking for another good watering hole. So I'd like to know: what's the best bar you've ever been to?

Last night, Susannah and I rolled up our sleeves and kicked off our heels to guest-bartend at San Francisco's Jardiniere restaurant. While we were only mixing one drink, the YumSugar Special (a riff on the classic Whiskey Sour — recipe to come!), I learned a lot from the experience. It's not easy being behind a bar with thirsty customers waiting for a drink, and after doing it, I have a newfound respect for the precise, fast, and friendly bartenders in my life. To see what the world looks like from the inside of a bar, keep reading.

Here's an affordable and fun holiday party idea: invite friends over for decadent appetizers, then take a tour of the bars in your neighborhood. Instead of serving a bunch of food and drinks all night, you just have to make enough for each guest to have a couple bites and one-to-two rounds of drinks. For an easy spread of sweets, fill small bowls with red and green M&Ms and Hershey's Kisses.

Also offer a quick and uncomplicated make-ahead dessert, like the three-layer no-bake bars seen here. The bottom layer is a crumbly mixture of graham crackers, sugar, and cocoa powder. The creamy middle is a combination of vanilla pudding mix, milk, and powdered sugar. The top is a rich glaze of dark chocolate.

Made in a large casserole dish, this dessert is an ideal option for a potluck. Interested in the looking at the recipe? Read more.

Since I'm serving some savory treats at my preserving party, I also plan to offer one sweet treat. Not just any dessert, but a crumbly, fruity pastry that makes the most of last year's blueberry preserves: blueberry cookie bars. They are simple to put together and if any remain when the party ends, I'll pack them up and offer them as favors to my guest. We'll also be making one sweet jam together: mixed berry jam.

To take a look at these recipes, keep reading.

Recently, I was looking for an uncomplicated make ahead dessert that involved coconut. After searching through a bunch of recipes, I decided on these coconut lime squares. They are easier than other bars because you don't have to chill and roll out the dough, and the lime custard is not heated on the stove. It's a surprisingly simple procedure. The resulting dessert is buttery, tart, and absolutely awesome. They were a total crowd pleaser, and I ended up with only one left to photograph! These squares would be excellent at a Spring picnic. Want the recipe? Read more.

"Look at you. You have a baby . . . in a bar." I have to admit, Reese Witherspoon's reaction to her mommy friend toting baby in a bar in Sweet Home Alabama echoed my own sentiments on the matter. Though I've never actually seen a tot at the bar, I think I'd just be confused. After all, bar talk and bar behavior isn't usually child-friendly, so why bring the little one along?

That seems to be the attitude of most child-less singles and couples in Brooklyn in the midst of a heated debate with young parents in the neighborhood. For some without babies of their own, compromising the social space for moms and dads is almost intolerable: "I will get up on the subway for kids. I will be tolerant of them kicking the back of my seat while seeing a G-rated movie. But let me have my bars." Even on a practical level strollers take up a lot of space, and if you've ever been in a crowded bar, then you know finding a place to stand can be hard enough without a Bugaboo rocking against your knees. Still, I have to confess after a little more deep thought, and some time thinking of my own future — and possibly becoming a mother, I started to feel for young parents. To hear why keep reading