Blog Posts by Sunset Magazine

Don't know what to serve dad? We've got you covered with meals to suit every father's taste.

Menu for the
For the "classic" dad
The "classic" dad loves a good 'ole meat and potatoes dinner and this menu hits all the right notes, with a little twist. Be sure to serve this meal with a big, bold red wine.

Get the recipes for...

• Grilled Grass-fed Rib-eyes with Herb Lemon Butter
  
• Creamy Cumin-and-Garlic Potato Gratin
  
• Garlic and Thyme Green Beans
  
• Flourless Chocolate Soufflés

Menu for the
For the health-nut dad
Steak, potatoes, and chocolate won't cut it for this dad. After he's climbed a mountain or biked 50 miles, serve him this nutritious, satisfying dinner that includes a light and refreshing flavored water, heart-healthy grilled fish and whole grains, and an antioxidant-rich dessert.

Get the recipes for...

• Herb-infused Spa Water
• Grilled Lemon-Dill Salmon with Cucumber Salad
• Nutted Brown Rice Pilaf
• Blueberries in Black Pepper-Syrah Syrup

Menu for the

Create great new uses for things you already own.

Reinvent a desk
Reinvent a desk
With a few style tricks, give an old, scuffed, and tarnished desk a colorful reboot.
>More: Step-by-step instructions

Make a memory box table
Make a memory box table
Turn a deep photo frame and similar-sized side table into a venue for celebrating treasured keepsakes.
>More: How to make this memory box table

Art frame becomes message board
Art frame becomes message board
With a little creativity, turn an old artwork frame and drawer organizer into a family message center.
>More: Get the full story

Books become art
Books become art
Make your literature work for your aesthetic. Try taking the sleeves off hard cover books and arranging the spines by color.
> More: Get 21 more ideas for shelves

Wire basket and mason jars become outdoor chandelier
Wire basket and mason jars become outdoor chandelier
Romantic outdoor lighting: With a wire basket, a few jars, and some tea lights and adornment, add a little handmade glow to your garden.
>More: See how to make this outdoor chandelier

Paper bags, fabric remnants, and magazine pages become gift wrap
Paper bags, fabric

Get pictures and ideas for every taste, style, and budget.

A patio of squares and rounds
A patio of squares and rounds
Colored stones, surrounded by pavers of stained concrete, create the illusion of a stream bubbling through the center of this 12-foot patio in Berkeley.
>More: How to plant a living wall

Bistro patio
Bistro patio
A free-form hardscape, shade sail, airy plants, a circular firepit make this Tucson, Arizona garden the ideal place for entertaining.
>See more of this patio

Lush slate patio
Lush slate patio
Surround a small slate patio with lush plantings for a versatile backyard retreat space. This one is 8 feet in diameter.
>More: Get the how-to and planting plan

Cozy, curvy patio
Cozy, curvy patio
Warm fires make the courtyard an ideal winter hangout. To save space, the pizza oven is stacked over the fireplace.
>More: See how great shapes and native plants create a haven for all seasons

Earthly sophistication
Earthly sophistication
"I like clean lines balanced by earth-toned materials and organic shapes,"

Get creative in and outside the bun with these tasty recipes for meat lovers.

These bargain inns and hotels don't skimp on style.

Figueroa Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
Figueroa Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
Humphrey Bogart would fit right in at this cinematic Moroccan oasis in the middle of downtown's flurry.
> More about the Figueroa Hotel

The Pearl Hotel, San Diego, CA
The Pearl Hotel, San Diego, CA
A block from the harbor, this vintage motel turned boutique hotel has kept its spirit with classic cocktails and Wednesday night movies year-round by the kidney-shaped saltwater pool.
> More about The Pearl Hotel

Pensione Nichols Bed & Breakfast, Seattle, WA
Pensione Nichols Bed & Breakfast, Seattle, WA
Everything is neat as a pin in this budget-priced European-style gem, where breakfast is served at antique wooden tables overlooking Puget Sound, and rooms are appointed with antiques and crisp white linens.
> More about Pensione Nichols Bed & Breakfast

Del Marcos Hotel, Palm Springs, CA
Del Marcos Hotel, Palm Springs, CA
A portrait of Ol' Blue Eyes greets you in the lobby of this pet-friendly midcentury modern charmer one block from downtown.
> More about

Plan a Mad Men-inspired soiree, a faux pool party, and more with these inventive ideas for backyard bash menus.

Faux pool party
Faux pool party
Pull up a chair by the pool and enjoy some refreshing, fruity sippers alongside some grilled bites and a sweet-spicy fruit platter.
> Get the full menu

Mad Men party
Mad Men party
Stock up on the martini and highball glasses and serve plenty of finger food with the booze-you don't want too much scandal! Put on your curve-hugging knits or that skinny tie and flirt like it's 1963.
> Get the full menu

Graduation
Graduation party
Celebrate the big day with crowd-pleasers: mini steak tortas, classic guacamole, cheesy stuffed peppers and, of course, some big, bold drinks for toasting the grad.
> Get the full menu

Downton Abbey party
Downton Abbey party
Borrow some tips from the gorgeous PBS series and put out your best serving pieces for this classy do. Maybe even pass around a few of the appetizers, in grand manor style.
> Get the full menu

Build a better burger with these delicious ideas for succulent patties, fresh toppings, sauces, and more.

Grow these bloomers to perfume your garden-and your home.

Lilac
Lilac (Syringa x 'Declaration')
Star-shaped reddish purple flowers appear in large dramatic clusters in early spring. The scent is spicy sweet-the essence of spring. The deciduous shrub reaches 6 to 8 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide; it takes full sun, or light shade in the hottest climates. Most lilacs bloom best in regions with winter chill (Sunset climate zones A1-A3; 1-11, 14-16). In mild winter areas (zones 18-22), try Descanso Hybrids.

'Scarlet Pineapple' sage
'Scarlet Pineapple' sage (Salvia elegans)
This shrubby perennial reaches 4 feet tall, and has bright red flowers and foliage that smells like ripe pineapple. Zones 5-24.

Lemon verbena
Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla)
A tall, lanky deciduous shrub, it has lemon-scented leaves and lilac or white flowers. Zones 9, 10, 12-21.

Angelwing jasmine
Angelwing jasmine (Jasminum laurifolium nitidum)
This semi-evergreen vine has glossy green leaves and pinwheel-shaped white flowers. Sunset