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While a great menu, good conversation and a comfortable setting are all key ingredients in making your outdoor party a success, nothing quite sets the tone like proper lighting.

Years ago, a client introduced me to an easy yet effective trick for illuminating pathways and terraces: simple paper-bags "lanterns."

You simply fill as many standard paper lunch bags as required with about two inches of sand each and then place them along the edge of your walkway or patio.

Just before your guests arrive, press a tea light into the centre of each sand pile, being careful to keep the candle away from the sides of the open bags.

When the sun sets, light each candle with a barbecue lighter, producing a soft, romantic glow in the process. As the evening progresses, keep an eye on the lanterns to ensure they're okay.

And avoid placing them near anything that can catch fire, such as bushes or furniture, to begin with.

If open flames aren't for you, give the new battery-powered LED tea lights available both online and at stores such as Loblaws and Home Outfitters a try. The glow isn't quite so romantic, but you'll have peace of mind. Alternatively, you could also place regular tea lights into open mason jars, which offer a less combustible base.

Finally, the growing number of re-chargeable outdoor lighting options on the market can be powered through a base charger during the day and then placed throughout your home of garden as desired at night. My favourite new product in this category has to be the Sun Jar, which stores up sunlight with the help of a solar panel by day and then automatically turns itself on as the sun goes down, lighting up your patio or garden.

Eco-friendly and kid-safe, Sun Jars are a viable alternative to paper-bag lanterns - albeit for a bit of a premium. The Sun Jar is available at Urban Outfitters ( www.urbanoutfitters.com) for about $46.



Sebastien Centner is the director of Eatertainment Special Events in Toronto (www.eatertainment.com).

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