Earn a gold medal for your party decor

The Olympic Games - opening Friday in Beijing - are one of the world's great spectacles, so how do you measure up when you're throwing a party where your friends can watch the games?

For some tips, we asked Michael Berk, chief executive officer of M & M The Special Events Company, based in Carol Stream. Except for food, M & M rents almost anything you would need for a party, from dishes, chairs and decorations to a tent to hold it all. They'll even bring television sets if you need extra. And they deliver, take everything back and wash the dishes.

Here are ideas from Berk and Donna Lochner, who creates the company's flower arrangements.

• You need splash. Guests will remember the presentation and first impression much longer than the food. Thus, Berk starts with big props like Fu Lions, a paper dragon, paper lanterns, bamboo sticks and a gold Buddha.

• The paper lanterns can be electrically lighted, or you could project a symbol on the ceiling or wall.

• Play games. Chances are you won't have too many Olympic athletes at your party, but you can improvise. Have guests compete to assemble boxes in the "boxing ring." Arm wrestling substitutes for wrestling. Track and field just needs your imagination for an obstacle course, and how about building and eating ice cream cones for a relay race?

• Traditional Chinese colors are red, black and gold. To celebrate the Beijing Olympics, use plenty.

• Flowers with an Asian feel include red ginger, green orchids, white and bright red anthurium, areca palm trees and monstera or split-leaf philodendron.

• Keep as many details as you can within the theme. For example, chairs with a cane pattern to repeat the bamboo look.

The setting that M & M put together for an Olympics party includes a 20-by-20-foot tent, flowers and decorations, two sit-down areas, two cocktail tables and a buffet table for about $2,500. That includes $385 for the tent - where 30 to 40 people can sit at up to four tables - and the Fu Lions at $125 each. Delivery is extra.

Package prices are better than the cost for individual pieces.

"If you're just going to put one piece in, why bother?" said Berk. "It isn't going to make a wow statement."

In the world of party decor, colors follow clothing fashion. For example, chocolate and lime are in demand. Berk said his company makes table linens from L'Amour satin, a popular fabric for bridesmaid dresses.

Here are favorite party themes in Chicago: Blues Brothers, jazz clubs, Taste of Chicago, '50s clubs, country western and luaus.

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