Social Events

40th Birthday Celebration in Tuscany
A landmark birthday party celebrated in the Tuscan valley is an idyllic experience, especially when you hire Design Concepts to handle the arrangements. Here’s a partial itinerary for a 40th birthday Design Concepts arranged in Panzano, Italy.

Saturday: Arrival, rest (to overcome the jet lag!), and a welcome dinner for all guests.

Wednesday: Our guests wanted some time to wander on their own, so Wednesday’s schedule was relatively light. The day’s short itinerary included a cooking class, at which guests were initiated in the simple genius of Tuscan cooking. Participants learned to turn out perfect linguini as well as the correct pronunciation of bruschetta (the ch is pronounced like a k).

Sunday: Prior to a local horse racing competition--called a Palio in Italy--guests toured the host town of Sienna. Later they enjoyed the competition, followed by a leisurely dinner.

Thursday: Just as Florence was one of the world’s great Renaissance cities, Siena was among the centers of the medieval world. Vestiges of the city’s peak period 700 years ago are everywhere apparent. As always,Design Concepts left plenty of time in the itinerary for guests to explore on their own and to enjoy the city’s sites, sounds, and flavors.

Monday: Tuscany is justly among the most famous wine regions of the world. A tour of some of the area’s notable wineries afforded all a memorable day in the Tuscan countryside and, for those so inclined, plenty of opportunities to sample the region’s famous chiantis, brunellos, chardonnays, and vin santos.

Friday: A hot-air balloon ride over the Tuscan countryside is not the sort of thing you might come up with on your own. Fortunately for22 guests, this opportunity was available; it turned out to be the highpoint of the trip (no pun intended!) for many guests.

Tuesday: For centuries, Florence was one of the world’s great cities, a center of art, commerce, and intellectual achievement. Today it is a tourist’s delight, home to gorgeous cathedrals, art museums, and irresistible shops and restaurants. Design Concepts daytrip to Florence included visits to Il Duomo, the Uffizi andPonte Vecchio.

Saturday: Departure day, the end of a perfect birthday celebration. Design Concepts arrangements ensure that everyone is well-fed before the trip and that there are no problems arriving at the airport with plenty of time to spare.

Throughout the trip, there were plenty of meals to plan. Below is a sample:

Antipasto Vegetable Flan with Parmesan Sauce	Primo Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms	Secondo Florentine Steak with Beans	Dolce Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce