A limited number of seating areas lined the perimeter, and the buffet-style food stations from Great Performances kept the masses mobile. New this year was an outdoor section styled like a garden patio with a wooden fence enclosure, mahogany bamboo furniture from Tucker's furniture company Raunjiba, and Astroturf flooring.

Using the design of the invitation as a springboard, Tucker incorporated branding from some of the event's key sponsors with framed, Warhol-esque images. Dotted along the walls, white baroque-style frames held colorful, 40- by 60-inch prints of the night's honorees, as well as brand images from Belvedere Vodka and Time Warner.

Planned by Adrienne Edwards, vice president for development for the Apollo Theater Foundation, the event saw Verizon honored with a corporate award and Pauletta and Denzel Washington presented with the Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis Arts and Humanitarian Award, as well as Smokey Robinson inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame. The show was produced by Ron Weitzner and the team from the Apollo, with presenters including host Wanda Sykes, Janet Jackson, Nickolas Ashford, and Valerie Simpson. JoSunJari—a sibling trio of string musicians—Nnenna Freelon, India.Arie, and Earth, Wind & Fire performed. As with many award shows, the program ran a little later than expected, but nobody seemed to mind—the entire audience joined Robinson and the Washingtons in grooving along to the music by Earth, Wind & Fire.   —Anna Sekula