We'll always love chips and salsa, but we'd still like to fine-tune our fête-throwing skills. So for this Memorial Day weekend, we turned to Celia Chen, green entertaining expert and founder of the blog Notes on a Party. Here, she shares her fool proof plan for a spirited soirée: 

Pack a better basket. "For picnic-perfect food, you want to choose flavorful dishes that can be served at room temp. Free Foods NYC has a great selection of organic gourmet sandwiches, burritos and wraps. I love their Heirloom Tomato Lasagna and Double Cacao Coconut Pudding."

Wine and dine. "Dining al fresco calls for a chilled glass of rosé. Wolffer, a sustainable winery in Sagaponack, makes an excellent rosé (available at Astor Wines) that pairs well with picnic fare. If you prefer beer at your BBQ, Peak Organic has a collection of pale, amber and wheat ale brews that will appeal to all tastes."

Discover a hidden gem. "For dinner parties, reserve the long table in the garden at 5 Ninth. It's a charming, ivy-covered space that will make you feel like you're in the South of France."

Get guests in the groove. "Audiostiles, an iPod styling service, helps me create party playlists for different occasions. Their latest recommendations, Don't Let Me Fall by Lenka and You are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne, will no doubt become favorites for me by the end of the summer."

Stir things up. "As a party-goer, instead of bringing yet another cheese plate, I like to bring the ingredients for a fun signature cocktail. A bottle of Square One Organic Cucumber Vodka and Stirrings Organic Ginger Mixer with some simple cucumber slices for garnish makes an easy yet memorable drink!"