Ready to pick up some free election-day goodies? (Ok, so freebies might be against the law, but it's still worth a shot, right?) Or are you looking for a place to party tonight while you watch the results come in? Here's a quick round-up of Election Night specials around town: LAist will be co-hosting a party at the Edison downtown with non-profit Causecast and many others. The event is free but small donations are......

Continuing party planning where we left off, we now turn our focus to the main event: the food. MENU PLANNING The type of food you serve will depend upon the level of elegance and the number of guests. Under 20 people, I can usually make frou-frou little canapes and doots. As the number climbs, it is best to head more in the direction of Superbowl food. With a small get-together, I can pipe cute......

These tartlets are a great appetizer for a holiday party. They can be prepared ahead of time and keep well. They are popular, elegant, vegetarian, and best served at room temperature. Helpful friends don't need any cooking know-how to help you assemble them. You may need to adjust amounts slightly as the spirit moves you. I usually just wing it. Leftover goat cheese filling can be combined with pesto and used as a dip......