Host Like A Pro: Serve, Sip, Repeat

How to Turn Something You Love Into An Annual Tradition

Odette Williams

Aug 19, 2025

G’day!

Are you ready for the dog days of summer?

This week: US Open fever, dream courts, summer traditions, and straight pleasure.

For me, pure joy is tennis; for you, it might be something else.

In New York, we’re days away from the US Open.

This summer, the Financial Times’ HTSI published “How to Host an Entertaining Tennis Tournament” story. Then, this article made me want to play on The World’s Most Beautiful Tennis Courts. Goop also rounded up “The Dreamiest Tennis Courts to Plan Your Next Trip Around.” The sport has gone all lifestyle.

Today’s post is all about how to turn something you love into an annual tradition and excuse to have fun.

Photo: Nicole Franzen from *Simple Cake*

Takeaway #1 – Steal this idea for your party calendar

Here’s the thing: if you are a tennis fan, you don’t need a membership or a trip to the Riviera to make tennis part of your social life. My friends Mark, Thomas, and Laurent and I play upstate. We’ve called our competition The Livingston Cup. The “prize” is a vintage trophy I found on Etsy, and had engraved. It’s competitive, a hoot, and has given us hours of laughs, multiple text threads, and memories that make us feel good. Even after a loss.

Takeaway #2 – Build a tradition

Pick a sport, hobby, season, or silly theme and commit to doing it every year. You’ll be surprised how fast it becomes folklore in your group. Before you know it, you’ll be ordering merch.

Takeaway #3 – Pick your game, pick your date, and never skip a year

The joy is in the repetition. Take out your calendar and plan in advance. Even if it’s months away, it gives you something to look forward to. Then make sure it happens.

Takeaway #4 – The food isn’t really that important

I know that seems odd coming from a food writer, but it’s not the epicenter, it’s just part of the party. Sharing something to eat is really an excuse to hang around longer and extend the fun. So don’t break a sweat. Keep it really simple. Store-bought is fine. Potato crinkle cut chips and Helluva Good Dip will do. Bring pastries. If I were in Australia, meat pies or sausage rolls would be perfect. Or you can tune in this Thursday and get my Wimbledon-inspired cucumber sandwich and Pimm’s Cup recipes. Just don’t overthink or overwork in this department.

Did anyone else bawl their eyes out when Federer played his last match with Nadal? 🙋🏻‍♀️
I’m loving watching Alcaraz and Sinner battle it out. It’s gladiatorial. (Our young men need role models like these two, who can gracefully and respectfully lose.)
Are you Team Sinner or Alcaraz? I’m so torn.