I am an introvert and have no freaking idea how to be a good hostess, yet every year or two I get hit by a few cosmic rays and get the wild-ass idea to throw a party and invite ALL the neighbors. Sometimes it's a sherry party, sometimes it's a soup party. (Cosmic rays, I tell ya!) Since I don't have 80 sherry glasses or soup bowls, Abbey is the place I head when I've already sent out the invitations and it's too late to change my mind. They've got it all, it's reasonably priced, and they make good suggestions without trying to "sell" you on renting too much ("yeah, I guess I do need some soup spoons too"). The stuff is good quality (without making you feel like you need to increase your insurance for one weekend), and there's a reasonable selection. They're flexible about the return time, too, which has been very useful.
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