Nominations are now open for the 12th Annual EEAs!

It's time to make your mark. Nominations are now open for the 12th Annual Event Experience Awards!

Santa Monica Pier Debuts New Ferris Wheel

Alesandra Dubin

May 29, 2008

Pacific Park's new Ferris wheel

Pacific Park's new Ferris wheel

Photo: Stefano Paltera/Pacific Park

After Pacific Park sold its original Ferris wheel in a charity auction on eBay for $132,400, the Santa Monica Pier theme park unveiled its shiny new wheel in a public ceremony last night. The $1.5 million solar-powered replacement wheel, manufactured by Chance Morgan Inc. in Wichita, Kansas, rises 130 feet above the Pacific Ocean and features 20 gondolas plus 160,000 energy-efficient lights.

The public ceremony to reveal the new amusement included free rides and junk-food snacks. It also featured a fireworks display by Pyro Spectaculars by Souza in a style known as close-proximity pyrotechnics, which produces no chemical or burning debris near the ground. All the hoopla was captured on a live Web cam on the amusement park's site.

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Because of rain and blustery conditions, event organizers had to make their own sunshiney atmosphere, compensating for the dismal day by drawing guests out for cheerful activities, decor, and food.

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The food rescue organization transformed Cipriani 42nd Street into a Motown-inspired dance party.

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From a mobile flower shop to clever place settings, here are some design concepts from recent gatherings celebrating authors.

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Despite rainy conditions in Hollywood, the event made its own sunshine via springtime decor, activities, and catering.

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Love Rocks—Take It From New York City's Sweetest Valentine's Day Soiree

The LOVE Party’s dessert bar was sweet, but we think event profs will find the attention to detail at this rock ’n’ roll-themed affair even sweeter.

Of course, the centerpiece of the LOVE Party was a dance floor that boasted the event’s paint-splattered and lipstick-kissed branding. Amid dancing the night away, eventgoers could quench their thirst at one of multiple bars, where liquor bottles shared shelf space with the amount of red roses lovers dream about receiving on Valentine’s Day.

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Although this bright tablescape from JOWY Productions brought to life a Barbie-inspired luncheon, the red, pink, and purple hues and flower varieties easily evoke V-Day. Celio's Design provided the florals for this event at a private residence in Malibu.

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School and office supplies company Bazic Products hosted a glamorous Silver Jubilee—complete with pencils, paper clips, and more products as decor—to mark 25 years in business.

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Event producer Tina Li sees an event like the Unforgettable Gala as a chance to spotlight and boost API-owned vendors and enterprises. “Events like this let us promote and support our community not just on camera or onstage, but also behind the scenes,” she said. “It’s truly an event uplifting APIs—where the actual heavy lifting is also done by APIs.”

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'We love peach for the pop of color it adds to a tabletop. When a Pantone color comes out for the new year, we love to use varying shades of the color. For example, shades of peach and coral pair so well together or serve as a beautiful complement to pinks and blues. Peach is also a great color to work with when there is a neutral color palette involving nudes, beige, and metallic,” said Heather Rouffe, managing partner and director of sales at Atlas Event Rental. (Pictured: Classic Peach linen napkins)

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