Plan The Ultimate Labor Day Party
Take the quiz to find out how to celebrate the unofficial end of summer
Take our quiz to find out which kind of party you should throw on Labor Day weekend, then get your results below for party planning, drinking and dining recommendations.
BACKYARD BLOCK PARTY
Your motto is "the bigger, the better." And because you like entertaining so much, you're not going to let this three-day weekend go by without a major celebration.
Cook: You're about to feed an army, so you need to arm yourself with a recipe that feels unique but is a surefire crowd-pleaser. This bourbon-chile barbecue grilled chicken is just what the doctor ordered.
Read: Everyone could use help from a master. Restaurateur Andrew Carmellini knows how to do summer entertaining right. Here are his four tips for throwing the perfect dinner party.
Dine: Just in case you decide to hit up a restaurant with your 20 closest friends instead, heed this advice on how to tip when you're out with a big group.
Shop: Please all your guests, no matter their hometown roots, with this 50-state ceramic serving plate.
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PICNIC IN THE PARK
Your favorite part of summer is in the great outdoors, so, naturally, you're planning to soak up the final rays any way you can.
Cook: What makes a good picnic spread? Variety, for starters. Mix it up with sweet green pea and herb falafel and an upgraded pasta salad.
RELATED 11 Recipes for the Perfect Picnic Spread "
Read: Lay out a prettier (and smarter) picnic with these tips we pulled from our Instagram feeds.
Dine: You've got the food covered. Now it's high time to hydrate. Discover all the boxed and canned wine you'll actually want to drink.
Shop: Consider The Picnic your guide to all the recipes, blanket-buying tips and location ideas you could possibly need.
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PARTY FOR TWO
Your summer flew by, so all you really want to do is slow things down and relax before the temps drop. Plan a low-key meal with your partner or close friend, and toast to summer's end.
Cook: What's more summery than an heirloom tomato galette? Nothing, we say. Pair it with a cool, customizable summer pasta salad, and dinner is ready.
Read: If you're tempted to reach for your phone during dinner to get the perfect pic (we're guilty as charged), maybe IKEA's parody of our 'gram obsession will change your mind.
Dine: Want someone else to do the cooking? You've got plenty of options. And a quiet summer night is the perfect time to snag a reservation at one of the top 50 best new restaurants of the year.
Shop: Searching for a new bottle of rosé to go with dinner? Check out our cheat sheet to find your perfect match.
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A KID-FRIENDLY FETE
School's about to be in full swing, so say goodbye to long summer days spent with the little ones with a fun summer memory to share.
Cook: Everyone loves a burger (or two); check out these sweet, savory and tangy iterations to please any palate. And for dessert, kids and adults alike will get behind this sprinkle-filled layer cake.
Read: Wondering what made-from-scratch cashew milk and root vegetable gratin are doing in the cafeteria? That's the new reality at this vegan preschool in New Jersey.
Dine: You can always leave the grill cover on and try one of these kid-friendly tasting menus by Brooklyn-based dining club company Nibble+squeak instead, making high-end restaurants accessible to a (much, much) younger crowd.
Shop: Want to get your kids in the kitchen? Hand them one of these creative spatulas designed by Chrissy Teigen and Ina Garten to benefit the charity No Kid Hungry.