The annual dinner, which was held at the convention center for the first time and included a speech by Barack Obama and a performance by Sweet Honey in the Rock, ended at around 10:30 p.m. As the journos and politicians on the guest list made their way across the street to the party, music pumped from speakers outside and red and blue rotating LED lights cast a glow on the society’s classical building. “We wanted to make an impact and  put our imprint on the city,” explained Dana Haller, producer of strategic marketing for MSNBC, who worked with producer Philip Dufour of Dufour & Co. and lighting production company Atmosphere to design the look.