THE SCOUT
La Cense Beef Launches Burger Truck
La Cense Beef's new burger truck Photo: Courtesy of La Cense Beef
La Cense Beef, a Montana-based company specializing in all-natural, grass-fed meat, entered the food truck fray last week with the debut of its new burger truck . The menu is simple: six-ounce Angus burgers ($7 each or $7.50 with cheese), potato chips ($1), and a few beverages. In addition to making stops throughout Manhattan, the truck can also make appearances at events throughout the five boroughs. For $4,600, La Cense will provide 200 burgers over the course of four hours. Each additional burger is $7 and there is an extra charge if the event is in the evening or on a Sunday. —Lisa Cericola
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How Can You Make a Trade Show Booth Eco-Friendly?
A Sherwin-Williams
booth Photo: Courtesy of Sherwin Williams
Thanks to a burgeoning green products industry, there are plenty of eco-friendly options for trade show booths, from nontoxic paint to sustainable building materials. The challenge is sorting through them all to find what really works, while remembering to consider important factors like transportation and reusability.Gallo Displays in Cleveland, Ohio, for the American Institute of Architects’ National Convention and Design Exposition in May 2008. Gallo used recycled aluminum framing and Plyboo, a wood alternative derived from bamboo. Although pleased with the results, the company made different choices when designing an exhibit for the January 2009 International Builders Show in Las Vegas. This booth was made primarily of BioBoard, a wood alternative made from recycled materials, with Plyboo and PaperStone (panels made of recycled paper) for counters.
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FRESH FACE
Set Designer Brings Whimsical D.I.Y. Approach to Event Decor
Sara Foldenauer began her career as a photographer’s assistant, learning the basics of prop styling and lighting from still-life and fashion photographers. When she ventured out on her own as a freelance photographer and stylist, she realized that her favorite part of the job wasn’t necessarily her subjects. She loved creating environments, from moody street scenes to a loft space filled with silver balloons. “I realized that it’s the most creative part of the process for me,” she says. “My goal, whether I’m working on an event or still photos, is to create an environment creatively and colorfully.” In fall 2007, she launched her company, Sets by Sara , which also offers prop styling and event design services.
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Deitch Art Parade , Target , Prevention , Sundance Channel
THE SCOUT
Municipal Art Society Launches Book of Self-Guided City Walks
The Municipal Art Society's new guide
The Municipal Art Society , long known for its various public and private tours throughout the city, officially launches its new guide, The Municipal Art Society of New York—10 Architectural Walks in Manhattan , today. Each route may easily be taken as a self-guided tour, as the publication includes detailed directions, easy-to-use maps, and more than 200 color photographs. Eminent society tour leaders Francis Morrone and Matthew A. Postal's guide includes excursions to Central Park, Grand Central Terminal, Park Avenue's corporate towers, the Flatiron district, Midtown's Art Deco landmarks, and two routes that take in downtown and the financial district, including a walk that examines areas around the World Trade Center site. Urban Center Books . —Mark Mavrigian RELATED TOPICS
Municipal Art Society
THE SCOUT
A Completely Clear Chiavari Chair
The new transparent reception chair Photo: Courtesy of Something Different Party Rental
The classic Chiavari reception chair gets an update with a clear variation now available through Something Different Party Rental . Unlike the previously released Ice chair style, the new crystal clear model has no bluish cast, and has very little internal metal framework (save two lower crossbars), so the polycarbonate plastic chair is completely transparent. Chairs rent for $15 each and are available in the New York metropolitan region and the Hamptons. Something Different is also planning a future offering of the chairs wired with LEDs for illuminated color effects. —Mark Mavrigian
INFLUENCES
A Look at Viral Marketing and Media Culture From the Creator of Flash Mobs
Bill Wasik's book
These days information comes at us from all directions, and constantly—what's new seems old quickly. In And Then There's This: How Stories Live and Die in Viral Culture Harper's Magazine , takes a look at the very young history of new media culture and its effects on society and marketing. As one of his case studies, the author explains how he originated the 2003 flash mob phenomenon, discussing how he sent a mass email directing a large group to form, spawning a fad and copycat mobs. Wasik also digs into examples of how companies and organizations go viral in the quest for buzz, from Ford's appropriation of the flash mob for a concert to promote a new vehicle to consumer-involved campaigns from companies like Diesel, Nike, and Procter & Gamble. —Mark Mavrigian
THE SCOUT
Creating (and Sending) Video Messages With MeTV
Guests using a MeTV unit Photo: Courtesy of Creative Media Sciences
MeTV is an interactive video unit that enables guests to capture and share messages with friends and family about their experience at an event . The Chicago-based Creative Media Sciences launched the system in the M.A.C. Cosmetics Backstage Lounge at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York earlier this year and has since provided screens for events in Chicago, Houston, and Toronto. The unit includes a 22-inch Hewlett Packard flat-panel touch-screen display that enables event guests to capture a 30-second video of themselves, which they can then email to friends or upload to social media sites like Facebook. The email messages can be configured to include event details and information about sponsors. Videos can also be broadcast during the event or used in a marketing campaign following the event. Units cost $5,000 to $7,000 to rent—which includes the software development for the event, customization of the video messages, and an event host to guide guests through the process.—Susan O'Neill
