6 ways to ring in ‘Mad Men’ season 6
By Lesley Kennedy
Don Draper, you’ve been missing from our lives for far, far too long. You, too, Peggy. And Joan. And Megan. And Roger. Even you, Betty and Pete. Thank goodness Mad Men‘s sixth season premiere is April 7. Life is just better with a little Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce in it.
Yes, the AMC Emmy-winning drama is finally back (we’ve been waiting for its return since last June!) with a two-hour episode. Will Don cheat on Megan? Will Peggy return to the firm? Will Sally get even brattier? We’ll find out soon.
But we know we can count on lots of smoking, drinking, bed-hopping and awesome Roger Sterling one-liners (“Look, we’ve got oysters Rockefeller! Beef Wellington! Napoleons! We leave this lunch alone, it’ll take over Europe.”). And, for those things alone, we will most certainly be tuning in.
To get you even more in the Mad Men mood, here are six ways to ring in your viewing party in full-on ’60s style.
“We can solve this problem with a flask.” — Roger Sterling
It just wouldn’t be a day at the office — or at home, or at the restaurant, or at the beach — without a cocktail in hand in the Mad Men world. Impress your guests with fab, retro bar ware and accessories. We think Roger would be quite smitten with these whiskey stones from Teroforma ($20 for nine). Just chill them and plop them in your tumbler to avoid watering your down your drink.
“Your decolletage is distracting.” — Joan Harris
Whether you’re a Joan (va-va-va-voom!), a Peggy (Peter Pan collar, anyone?), a Megan (trend-setting modster) or a Betty (ladylike society dame), Banana Republic‘s Mad Men-inspired collection is sure to have a suitable piece for you. In fact, this knit shift dress, called the Peggy, would actually look pretty amazing on all four ladies, don’t you think?
“You need three ingredients for a cocktail. Vodka and Mountain Dew is an emergency.” — Peggy Olson
Any Mad Men viewing party worth its glass-rimmed salt should certainly include a signature cocktail. Season six promos promise to show Megan and Don at the beach, so you could go the Cuba libre/mojito route. But we’re thinking the classic Manhattan — an ode to the show’s New York setting — is a no-brainer.
AMC, the show’s broadcaster, offers this simple, classic recipe:
Manhattan
1¾ oz bourbon
¾ oz of sweet vermouth
1 dash of aromatic bitters
1 Maraschino cherry
Pour bitters, liquors over ice in mixing glass. Stir and strain into martini glass. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry.
“Honestly, I think she’s jealous of me. I’ve seen it before, I was in a sorority.” — Betty Francis
You’ve got the dress, the drinks, the decor — now make ’em really jealous by serving canapes from The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook. From Betty’s Stuffed Celery to Pete’s California Dip to Egg Rolls Sterling Cooper Style, your guests won’t be able to help but be impressed by your attention to detail. Really want to go all-out? Whip up Trudy’s Flying Roast Chicken with Stuffing.
“If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.” — Don Draper
Want to spruce up your living room decor for your mod-themed soiree? Just add a few accessories to give your place that Mad Men vibe. We dig this geo-print black and white pillow from CB2 ($26.95), and this Malin Figur rug from Ikea ($79.99). Search vintage stores and thrift shops in your area, scour etsy.com or search “Mad Men decor” on Pinterest for other mod design ideas. We don’t all have Megan Draper’s decorating budget, but we can still get inspired by her taste. Oh, and if all else fails, set up the karaoke machine for a little “Zou Bisou Bisou.”
My mother always said, “Be careful what you wish for because you’ll get it. And then people get jealous and try and take it away from you.” — Roger Sterling
Entertain your guests during commercial breaks with some of Roger’s best observations, by reading from Sterling’s Gold: Wit and Wisdom of an Ad Man (Kindle edition, $9.99, amazon.com). (We love that he thanks “that nameless genius that first put a pickled onion in a glass of vodka.”) Cheers!
Mad Men, Manhattan photos courtesy AMC
