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FROM NEW YORK Early in his remarks at the Moth Ball, host Garrison Keillor told the guests that he had recently suffered a stroke. The room fell quiet. He went on to say that his was a mild stroke, “the best kind to have.” Then he admitted that telling New Yorkers about it had a surprise benefit. “In the world of New York City conversationalists, it’s like having a handicapped parking permit.” Rather than being interrupted within 10 seconds, as is our city’s norm, he said, leading with the stroke news gave him a “fighting chance” to last, say, “20 to 30 seconds.”
It was his way of congratulating the 12-year-old organization on its surprising success in the city that “doesn’t sleep and certainly doesn’t listen.” The Moth is a not-for-profit group that holds story “slams” for anyone with a story to tell, now also in three other cities (Los Angeles, Chicago, and Detroit). People line up around the corner, sometimes waiting for an hour to pay and listen to (mostly) amateur storytellers. Hundreds of people at dozens and dozens of events, each with a different one-word theme—who knew?
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The eco-friendly kitchen Photo: Courtesy of Kim Graham & Associates
To unveil the Princess Project—three new detached homes certified as having met the LEED for Homes gold standard, a rating system that recognizes the design and construction of green homes—Cadorin Homes developer Lynn Da Pra called on Kim Graham & Associates to plan a green cocktail party and mini trade show at one of the properties on Tuesday.
“The idea wasn’t to do formal tours of the home. That’s why we set up a mini trade show,” Da Pra said. “Guests could go and speak to the experts and see what’s out there.”
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The premiere for The Twilight Saga: New Moon in Westwood Photo: Line 8 Photography
FROM LOS ANGELES Westwood, being a college town, is accustomed to groups of young people roaming about—but Monday night was no ordinary night in the village. The young people were out, for sure, but many weren't yet old enough to drive, and they were pressed behind barricades on closed streets for the premiere of Summit Entertainment's new installment of the Twilight series, New Moon.
Summit's Eric Kops oversaw the hotly anticipated event, tapping ELS for big-time tasks like crowd control and security, and Chad Hudson Events for roles including theater management and R.S.V.P.s, plus production of the after-party at the Hammer Museum.
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Leo Burnett's employee art gallery Photo: Courtesy of Leo Burnett
In a year of cutbacks and salary freezes, perhaps now more than ever, hard-working employees need to feel valued, even in small ways. Jennifer Savica, TD Bank’s vice president of event management, rewards her staff with little perks throughout the year, like taking everyone out for ice cream in the summer, treating people to their favorite drinks at Starbucks on a cold day, and occasionally allowing casual Fridays. “I try to show appreciation for my team every day by creating a true democracy—asking their opinions, including them in many of the department decisions, and empowering them to do their job,” she says.
Boston Beer Company has a gift policy that prevents employees from keeping items valued over $10 given to them by clients and event sponsors. “If someone gets something over that amount, we raffle it off to the office as a thank you,” says Kristen Smith, the company’s travel and event planner. Past items have included tickets to charity events the company has sponsored, movie screenings, and Red Sox tickets. “It’s nice to raffle these things off and make them available to anyone—and at no cost to the company,” says Smith.
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The Toronto chapter of the International Special Events Society honoured four industry insiders at the organization's Red Velvet Holiday Gala, held Monday at the Eglinton Grand. The event, which drew more than 100 guests, included a cocktail reception, dinner, and the second annual presentation of the organization's Leadership Awards, designed to recognize the contributions and achievements of chapter members.
Toronto chapter president Rachel Mangal presented the dedication award to Lara McCulloch, author of the event blog Ready2spark and chapter president for 2008-09. Larry Cuthbertson of Cuthbertson Entertainment received the supplier of the year award, James Nienhuis of the Butler Did It was named member of the year, and Carolyn Luscombe of Eclectic Events took home the leadership award. —Susan O'Neill
Glossy black furnishings from Lounge Rentals Photo: Courtesy of Lounge Rentals
Wanting unique—and glamorous-looking—furnishings for events, Stacey Cynamon and Cele Pasternak, who have been hosting parties together for years, joined to launch a new company called Lounge Rentals Inc. "We got a job within a week without having any furniture," said Pasternak, who added that they quickly came up with some sketches and called on a local upholsterer to help.
The company, which has provided decor for spaces like ET Canada's TIFF lounge in Yorkville and events like Flare magazine's 30th anniversary gala, currently offers four distinct collections, including pieces they designed themselves. Event and company logos can be added to white Louis chairs, ribbon detailing can be added to table and floor lamps, and throw pillows can be accented with pearls and jewels.
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A table designed by Mario Pinto with Scott Heuvelhorst Interiors Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
FROM CHICAGO "This looks like a serial killer's home. There should be conspiracy theories written on the wall," said one guest at Thursday night's Cocktails by Design event, which served as a kickoff for a three-day Dining by Design benefit hosted by Design Industries Foundations Fighting AIDS. The event filled the eighth floor of the Merchandise Mart with 42 dining environments decorated by design-industry professionals ranging from painters to architects to fashion designer Maria Pinto. With so many creative professionals behind the tables, the environments ranged from a wooden box tacked with newspaper clippings and bathed in an eerie blue light—which inspired the serial-killer comment—to a cozy gazebo setting filled with fairy lights and plush Ralph Lauren pillows.
Though there were tables that defied categorization, some dining environments illustrated popular design trends; one theme was "dark and sexy atmospheres, which we're seeing everywhere this year," said Diffa's director of special events, Peggy Bellar. At an installation from Interior Investments by Gensler, black moving blankets hung behind a table surrounded with dark leather chairs; a chandelier made of painted black cardboard crowned the scene. Hermes glasses in deep purple hues spruced up place settings at a table that Herman Miller by Richard Bliss and Solomon Cordwell Bunez designed; and lacy black napkins dotted the table that Maria Pinto decorated with Scott A. Heuvelhorst Interiors. Artist Francine Turk's design also created a dark, moody ambience with black chalkboard walls, charcoal sketches of crows, and framed paintings of gold Gothic crosses.
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Flapper girls, newspaper boys, and mobsters interacted with guests as part of the Swanky Speakeasy theme at the fifth annual Scarlett Ball, held Saturday in support of the West Park Healthcare Centre Foundation at the new Allstream Centre. Heather Hurst, the foundation's president and C.E.O., called on Roni Feldman & Associates to produce the benefit, which is the organization's signature fund-raising event.
"Last year we did a French Moulin Rouge theme, and at the end of the event I decided I wanted to do a speakeasy, dirty '30s theme. The vision was to really do something exciting and different," said Feldman, who organized a number of interactive activities designed to raise additional funds for the foundation, including Scotch tastings and casino games. Guests could also purchase flowers, pearls, armbands, and head dresses to add a vintage look to their outfits.
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Pink lighting filled the party space Photo: George Pimentel
Hot pink was the accessory of choice for Flare's 30th anniversary gala, which drew more than 1,000 guests to the Royal Ontario Museum Thursday. "It's a big milestone for the magazine, and we wanted to do it in a very glamorous yet fun fashion...really elegant with a lot of whimsy,” said Tracy Finkelstein, Flare's director of business development and promotions.
Westbury National Show Systems filled the museum’s Samuel Hall Currelly Gallery with pink lighting, and pink floral arrangements from the Pink Twig Floral Boutique accented the black and white furnishings, supplied by Lounge Rentals and Furnishings by Corey. "For years pink was our colour…it just suits the space so beautifully," Finkelstein said. "The glamour is black and white, but you need an accent colour and pink really does it for us."
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Designs from the ISES tabletop competition Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash
FROM NEW YORK On Friday evening, eight designers participated in the metro New York chapter of the International Special Events Society's 2009 tabletop design competition, held at La.Venue as part of the three-day "Cook. Eat. Drink. Live." expo. Members of the events industry including internal planners and owners of design and planning firms (as well as this editor) gathered to judge the tables, which were created with rental items from Broadway Party Rentals.
Because the designers did not have to follow a theme, the looks ran the gamut from a sparkly winter-inspired setting by Marc Wilson Design to a table draped with woven palm fronds by Flora New York. Neuman's was awarded two round-trip airline tickets from Delta Airlines for the winning entry, a cornucopia-style design with a bounty of fresh produce, mossy accents, and an earthy color scheme. Blade Floral and Event Designs took home the second place award, and Floral Icon Events won third place. Here's a closer look at all of the participants.
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