The Party Meisters

Maybe it’s the sluggish economy, or Wall Street’s bungee-jumping (with our investments), or the beatings taken by our retirement plans – whatever the causes, the idea of entertaining friends at home suddenly seems very appealing.

More comfortable and relaxing and genuine, entertaining at home can cost less and feel more enjoyable say  Suzanne Bern and Danny DaRocha, creators of a brilliant new store in Arcadia called Cocktail Home.

It’s a sort of head shop for bartenders and cocktail lovers, stocking everything from gleaming three-piece elegant cocktail shakers (just like those in elegant 1930’s black-and-white movies) to actual bars and stools. You can set up your very own version of “Cheers!” right in your den.

The pair offer ways to bring home the atmosphere and design of great restaurants and bars and to help you create wonderful entertainment atmospheres with leaving your own home.

“We want to bring the cocktail lifestyle to everyone that appreciates that. We want people to be able to bring that experience into their own home,” says DaRocha.

“Really,” says Bern, “we’re focusing on home entertaining. Everything to be eat, drink and be merry, while at home. Along with this, we offer services – we have interior decorators, we have personal chefs, we have caterers… If you want to throw a great party at home, we’ve got everything that you could possibly need.”

Both Bern and DaRocha say that with the difficult economy people are going out less and watching their money carefully – so more people are interesting in throwing bangup barbeques or themed get-togethers at home.

The idea is to enjoy a great time and an experience that’s similar to going out to your favorite restaurant or lounge.

The store offers what the two call “concierge service,” for homeowners looking to for just the right shot glasses or cocktail recipes or novelty items or even the funniest bar jokes. At the same time, their stock includes a huge range of beautifully designed and crafted professional and home entertaining items including barware, barbeque supplies and furniture.

DaRocha knows the business side of the food and cocktail industry from the inside out. He has won numerous awards and recognitions including ranking in the Top 5 for GQ Magazine/Bombay Sapphire cocktail contest in Los Angeles and 944 Magazine’s Top 4 “Best Sangria Recipe” in Los Angeles.

Bern is a serial entrepreneur with an infectious sense of humor who’s also a biologist (she probably appreciates the chemistry of the “cocktail” lifestyle in ways most of us can never fathom).

Together the pair have created what amounts to a must-see store for the holiday season for anyone planning to entertain, big or small.

Cocktail Home is located in the Santa Anita Mall. For more information, call (626) 254-0880 or see www.cocktailhomestore.com