Bay Meadows

Ring in spring with a happy hour social gathering complete with garden to glass cocktails, friends and beautiful fresh décor. Your garden party will be the envy of the meadow with these easy ideas, cocktail recipes and pairings we’ve gathered just for you:

Do-It-Yourself Décor:

Summer Cubed: Brighten up your beverage with these easy, festive ice cubes boasting fresh fruits, herbs & citrus! Perfect for glass of water or creative cocktail.

Bright and Fresh: You can place a few blooming plants in inexpensive buckets for instant color. If using fresh cut flowers, cut the stems on an angle under running water with a pair of sharp scissors, then place them in a vase filled with warm water.

Flower Straws: Pretty paper flowers make a lovely little addition to your party straws. Pre-label straws with attendees’ names adds a fun and functional touch.

Treats to Go: Let partygoers savor the memories by sending them home with favors featuring a standout sweet nestled in a small gift box. If you really want to send home a little bit of spring, fill miniature terra cotta pots with soil and an herb seedling; include a decorative card with plant care instructions.

Serve Signature Sips:

Strawberry Basil Smasher: Muddle strawberries, basil and syrup in a mixing glass. Add liquor, lime and ice; shake for five seconds. Strain into a highball glass. Serve with fresh berry and basil garnish.

3 organic strawberries
3 large fresh basil leaves
1 ounce ginger syrup
1 ½ ounces vodka, rum or tequila
½ ounce fresh lime juice
Ice + fresh strawberry and basil for garnish

Cucumber Cooler: Mix gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and cucumber puree in cocktail shaker. Pour drink into rocks glass over ice. Garnish with cucumbers.

​2 oz. gin
1 oz. lemon juice
1.25 oz. simple syrup
1 oz. cucumber puree
Ice + 2 slices of cucumber for garnish

Tabernacle Crush: In a tall glass, muddle the peach with the 6 basil leaves and the lemon juice. Add the gin, Lillet and simple syrup. Add ice cubes and top with club soda. Garnish with basil.

1/2 large peach, sliced
6 small basil leaves, plus more for garnish
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 ounces gin
1 ounce Lillet
1/2 ounce simple syrup
Ice + club soda

Small Bites:

You can bring the fresh taste of spring inside with small bite pairings like Zucchini Parmesan Crisps, Cantaloupe Bites, Herbed Feta Dip, or featured a full  Bruschetta Bar. These delicious crowd pleasing appetizers are easy to munch on while socializing with party guests.

Spring is a lovely season for hosting bright and lively garden parties. Whether you are having a casual get-together or special occasion – enjoy the warm weather and fresh air that spring brings.

San Mateo is a great place to meet people and connect. Meet Up and Mosey are both good places to find groups with common interests and ideas for fun things to do. Another thing San Mateo is great for is food. San Mateo even won Rand McNally’s Best of the Road: Best Small Town for Food! Take a look at the Ramen Crawl we created on Mosey, which includes 8 delicious ramen restaurants. Mmm…