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Hi Everyone,

With fall already here, Bob and I decided to take a drive out east on Long Island before the caravans of apple and pumpkin pickers crowd the roads.

 What started as a simple day trip, ended up as a tablescape.

If you live on Long Island, NY you are quite familiar with the term “out east”. If you aren’t familiar with Long Island, sit back, I’ll explain….

Any town east of the town of Riverhead on Long Island is considered the East End of Long Island or “out east”. The east end is made up of the North Fork and the South Fork. (still with me?) If you imagine that Long Island is shaped like a fish the North and South forks are the tail.

Each fork is famous for different things; the north fork is the vast majority of LI wineries, farms, orchards and shopping. This is the place to go when you want a peaceful drive out to the country or a day of farm stands and wine tasting.

The south fork is famous for the Hamptons, Montauk Point, shops, restaurants, small villages and of course celebrity spotting.

 Montauk Point is THE END of Long Island (another term for a later date, I don’t want to confuse you) and is famous for not only the Montauk Point Lighthouse but fishing and surfing. I hope I didn’t lose anyone.

Bob and I frequently take a drive “out east” on the North Fork to visit a winery or a farm stand or just to try a new restaurant. Recently, during our drive we passed by a garage sale and Bob’s eyes lit up.

Yes, my husband loves garage sales because he collects old radios. He started his collection back in the day with his grandfather and I think it keeps grandpa close to his heart and those childhood memories alive.

I just knew we were going to stop.

Bob spotted an old juke box radio that looked like it popped out of a 1950’s soda shop. I immediately knew we would own this new treasure. Bob saw an addition to his collection and after careful inspection, I saw a centerpiece.

And that is how this tablescape was born. My mind started racing about all the things that an old fashioned soda shop would have. Coca Cola glasses – I have them, banana split dishes -I have them, ice cream soda straws – I have them. Yup, this could be interesting.

The one thing I didn’t have was a tablecloth for this theme. This required a little shopping.

All of the 1950’s decorations I have ever seen always focuses on the colors, pink, turquoise and black & white check. Well, I searched online, (including Amazon) and no check tablecloth that I liked, so I was off to Party City. I purchased a vinyl tablecloth along with some 50’s theme napkins and danglers for the chandelier.

When I had Bob’s 50th Birthday party ( ????? years back), I ordered some 50’s nostalgia items online that I was going to use as decorations at the party and I knew I had a few extra things, so I went shopping in the attic…

I found paper placemats that listed “1950’s slang”. For example “bread” meant money, “horn” meant telephone and “threads” were clothes. So I added the placemats to the table for a little fun.

I am using black dinner plates with a circular design on the rim that reminded me of the look of the old 33 RPM records (I know I am showing my age).

Many years ago I bought porcelain salad plates that look like 45 RPM records  which I never had the chance to use, so I added these dishes to my place setting to keep the record theme going.

Along with the salad plates, I had two “record” platters that matched the salad plates.  

We are off to a good start.

The table was starting to come together.

No flatware, just finger food.

We recently went to a hamburger restaurant, called Cheeburger, Cheeburger after a long afternoon of shopping and they were serving the kids meals in cardboard replicas of 1950’s cars. I had an “aha moment”, so I asked the waitress if I could buy a few and they were kind enough to sell them to me.

Here is a sample of the designs.

I’ll have to use these on my table to serve the ultimate soda shop lunch; a hamburger and fries. (Plus a bottle of coke for the coke glasses).

Still digging in my buried treasure, I found some 1950’s toothpicks, a plastic record centerpiece and a 1950’s menu. I completely forgot I bought this menu. It has all the 1950’s prices listed inside and just so much fun to read.

Hamburgers,  $0.25- onion rings, $0.20- ice cream cones, $0.10

And now for the star of the tablescape and where this all started.

My centerpiece, the juke box radio or Bob’s new treasure as we like to call it.

As I previously mentioned, the menu for this tablescape can be none other than a hamburger and fries, and if you don’t want the soda, you have to have a shake.

And let’s not forget another dessert (if you have room). The perfect ending to this meal,

a banana split.

Dessert is served…

 

PLACE SETTING

 

I hope you enjoyed this tablescape. I had a lot of fun with it and remember, anything can become a centerpiece for your tablescape. Think outside the box.

 

All I need is to wear a poodle skirt, pony tail, bobby socks and saddle shoes and I am all set. (Back to showing my age).

 

 

(photo courtesy of Tanya Sieh costumes)

Until my next post, make every day a celebration !

Diane

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Table Details

Black and White check tablecloth from Party City

1950’s themed napkins from Party City

1950’s danglers from Party City

Black dinner plates from Homegoods

1950’s porcelain salad plates & record platters from Bret Bortner for BIA

Paper placemats, 50’s picks, menu  from “the attic treasure box”

Coca Cola glasses from Dollar Tree

Ice cream soda straws from Amazon

Juke Box radio from “North Fork garage sale”

Cardboard 1950’s cars from Cheeburger, Cheeburger

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