| Studio condos can provide access to premier | | | | developments also feature swimming pools and |
| locations at the lowest possible prices. But did you | | | | other amenities, adding even more possibilities for |
| know they can also lend themselves to | | | | aspiring entertainers. |
| entertaining? | | | | For the baby shower, she unfortunately didn’t |
| One of my clients, Charlene, recently purchased a | | | | get the invites out until just days before the |
| studio condo as her first home in Minneapolis and | | | | party, but nearly all invitees accepted, thanks in |
| has perfected the art of entertaining while making | | | | part to the condo’s central location in the |
| use of her large, sunny community room. | | | | Twin Cities with its near access to freeways. For |
| She actually threw two parties within six weeks, | | | | that event, Charlene clustered three of the tables |
| both in the dead of winter! Her first was a New | | | | together for a sit-down meal, leaving one table |
| Year’s Day event which doubled as | | | | available for gifts. |
| house-warming party, something her friends had | | | | At both parties, guests stayed for hours, giving |
| been urging her to host for months. The second | | | | Charlene an opportunity to give tours of her |
| was a baby shower for her sister’s child. | | | | studio unit to small groups at a time, or right |
| Immediately before both, she had rented a small, | | | | before guests said good-bye. |
| three-shelved cart from a local party supply rental | | | | Since then, she has also hosted dinners for up to |
| company, allowing her to transport food, dishes | | | | five adults and four kids at a time in her actual |
| and other serving ware, beverages, games, party | | | | studio unit which includes a full-size refrigerator |
| favors, music and a compact disc player to the | | | | with ice-maker; microwave oven, oven, range and |
| party room in a matter of minutes. | | | | dishwasher and nineteen kitchen cabinets and |
| The party room, reserved through her | | | | drawers of different sizes. Charlene found that |
| condo’s property management company, | | | | the smaller overall apartment size made it easy |
| includes a microwave, sink, and countertops plus | | | | to move materials between the countertops and |
| two cabinets below. It also has four sturdy | | | | dining room table. Guests commented that the |
| wooden tables, a couch, two arm chairs and a | | | | cozier environment allowed more interaction and |
| foosball table. | | | | intimacy. Closely-spaced seating—if not |
| For the New Year’s Day party, she actually | | | | American traditional—seemed to encourage |
| separated the tables across the room, creating | | | | more people than usual to actively participate in |
| both play and craft spaces for kids but also | | | | conversations. After dinner, adults could hear the |
| places for adults to visit in an open-house | | | | games children were playing even if they |
| environment. Kids in attendance also enjoyed | | | | weren’t direct participants. |
| playing on the common exercise | | | | Studio condo living presents challenges, but simple |
| equipment—supervised—in the room next | | | | adaptations discovered over time can make it |
| door to the beat of loud music. Many condo | | | | natural—and affordable and green. |