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Please, be seated: dinner party seating

by Jay Remer Enjoying the camaraderie of one’s friends and family around a dinner table is often considered one of life’s greatest pleasures. Whether entertaining at home or hosting a dinner party at a restaurant, the question invariably arises: “Where shall we sit?”
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Apology Accepted

by Jay Remer, the Etiquette Guy Let's face it. As humans, we all make mistakes. Sometimes, we readily recognise them; sometimes we don't. Some mistakes are big, serious, frightening events; others are rather simple and of little consequence. When mistakes involve other people, an acknowledgement is respectful and the decent thing to do. An apology is often appropriate and actually required in order to bring things back to centre. Saying "I'm sorry" is something we learn to do at an early age. It helps us to know what is acceptable behavior from what is not.
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Pretty please with a cherry on top

By Jay Remer, the Etiquette Guy Truly formidable manners begin with ‘Please’, and saying the word need not only be reserved for clerks and mothers with cookies.
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Please stop flicking your cigarette butts (it’s rude)

By Jay Remer, the Etiquette Guy Only a short while ago, a friend commented on how disgusted he was looking out his office window and watching a group of people smoking, huddled around the front entrance to another building. What irked him was the careless disposal of their cigarette butts onto the sidewalk or into the street.
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Table settings: back to basics

By Jay Remer, the Etiquette Guy A reader stopped me in a local coffee shop and asked me to consider writing a sort of 'back to basics' column on simple table settings. I began thinking about this request and thought this could be a real
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Valentine’s Day: traditional views from the Etiquette Guy

By Jay Remer, the Etiquette Guy I remember when everyone exchanged Valentine's Day cards with one another in grade school. I hope that tradition still exists. It was good because we took some time to recognise the good in each person with
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Holiday traditions and table settings

By Jay Remer, the Etiquette Guy One of the great traditions, which we have at this time of year, is a festive holiday meal. For most of us, it is part of our Christmas celebration. There is the meal itself- , which from one family to the next can differ - but usually within a family, certain traditions exist. Some always have turkey, some have ham, and some have roast beef. But no matter what we have, there is always a table to set as beautifully as possible. It is the one time of
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Diary Dates

What? A country house party packed with fun and frolic to spoil your inner child. Think musical chairs, apple bobbing and special magic acts.

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Mien Theme

The Parlour is now closed. Thanks for making it such a huge success! Thank you to all of our lovely visitors, generous sponsors, supporters and collaborators. In case you missed the inaugural Parlour, take a peek at a few images from our photo album:

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