reader question of the week #1

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend! We had our last getaway before baby #2 arrives in 8 weeks, and it was just what we needed. Back to the subject at hand...

reader question of the week #1:

"I live in Chicago, home of a thousand great pizza places.  For my husband's 30th birthday, I plan to get one pizza from a bunch of different pizza places around the city and do a "taste test" with our friends.  While I want to use pizza as the theme, I also want this to be a classy party that celebrates my husband's birthday.  I've thought of trying to create a homey Italian pizzeria in my apartment, but I am having a hard time thinking of great decorations. Also, do you have any ideas for Italian appetizers that don't necessarily incorporate bread and cheese (since we'll be eating a lot of that!)?  -Alissa"