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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 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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Holiday parties are about to kick into full swing, and according to our latest poll, they shouldn't be too over the top. Half of the participants in last week's survey think that informal nights out at bars or restaurants feel appropriate this year. Only 13 percent of readers think that full, catered affairs are in order, but even fewer—8 percent—think festivities should be kept inside the office. Still, another 29 percent feel that parties should be judged on a case by case basis, by the performance of the company.
This week we'd like to see what kind of entertainment you've booked recently. What did you do the last time you needed cocktail party music? Let us know by partipating in the poll on the left column of the home page.
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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Frank Caliendo at the Monte Carlo Photo: Tom Donoghue
Entertaining an important client or a bigger group? Check out these new shows.
1. For Laughs: Comedian and impressionist Frank Caliendo became a permanent headliner with his new show at the Monte Carlo, which opened on October 12. Caliendo and Monte Carlo have signed an exclusive 10-year agreement for the act, a mix of high-energy comedy and impressions backed by live music and video sketches. The impressionist is known for his take on celebrities like Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, John Madden, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. Tickets begin at $59, and group discounts are available at all price levels; groups of 15 or more receive $10 per ticket, and groups of 100 or more receive 20 percent off. MORE >>
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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Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman reading aloud at the Target festival Photo: Courtesy of the City of Las Vegas
On Saturday, Target once again took part in the Vegas Valley Book Festival, hosting the Target Children’s Book Festival, an initiative the retailer created to promote literacy and encourage reading among kids.
Hundreds of families gathered for the Vegas Valley Book Festival in Centennial Plaza at the historic Fifth Street School. Target's sister festival brought kids and their parents to the park-like setting, where they had the opportunity to purchase books, listen to a storyteller, and make books of their own amid colorful banners, posters, and maps displaying the festival’s “Discover" theme.
“Target came to the city four years ago, when the Vegas Valley Book Festival was in its fourth year, and said that they wanted to see a children’s component,” said Brian Kendall, the festival’s event coordinator, who is with the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “We jumped at the opportunity, both for their monetary support and event branding, having the use of their name.”
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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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Invitations will always make the first impression of any event, and these days, our readers are choosing what impression to make on an individual basis. Nearly 50 percent of respondents in last week's poll said that the type of invite depends on the event. The other half of respondents were split almost equally between those in favor of anything fun and creative and the camp that thinks paperless is always the way to go. One thing planners aren't looking at these days are over-the-top invites. None of the respondents to last week's poll think extravagant invitations are appropriate right now.
This week we'd like to see what you think feels right for 2009 holiday parties. Let us know by checking out the current poll on the left column of the home page.
Grind Burger Bar & Lounge Photo: Peter Harasty Photography
Grind Burger Bar & Lounge, which plans a grand opening party for media and V.I.P.s on November 10, is a new restaurant that offers guests a chance to fully customize their burgers. Hand-pressed meats, gourmet cheeses, 20 toppings, and 20 specialty sauces are on offer. The restaurant also offers a selection of potatoes and fries, salads, appetizers, specialty sandwiches, and milk shakes, plus a variety of beers, wines, and cocktails.
Grind offers casual dining with seating for 90, and buyouts are available. The industrial decor is meant to evoke the 1940s through exposed brick and stainless steel fixtures. There is a full bar offering gaming and plasma screen TVs.
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