Now and Zen Productions is a full-service production boutique specializing in corporate communications. They combine creativity with efficient systems to deliver the most effective corporate meetings, entertainment, and special event programs in the business. Pictured are three-story wall screens surrounding an event space.
For BMF Media
"As a part of the creative class program—a program we wrote where Cointreau functions as a ‘patron of the arts’—we selected six influential creatives who wanted to create something new. Athena Calderone, an interior designer and the founder of lifestyle blog Eye–swoon.com, curated the dinners, the menus, cocktails (made with Cointreau, of course), and beautiful photography of which will culminate in a entertaining guide for the holidays."
For ExtraExtra
"Inspired by the ad campaign created by Wieden & Kennedy, we created a white theatrical version of a Parisian town square, where we utilized the 3-D set to video map the collection's mascot, Milu the cat, as a mischievous party guest."
For BMF Media
"PopSugar’s domain is women online, so we created 'PopSugar Town,' population 40 million women. Guests walked through through a trompe l’oeil streetscape, arriving in a town square, seated in a park and watching the show, which was a slice of the quintessential home through a PopSugar style lens."
For BMF Media
"Food, fashion, beverages, and design style of the 'new California cool' aesthetic were mined from San Francisco to inspire every detail of the Dockers’ Alpha Collection launch."
With black-and-white checkered floors, the dinner was inspired by the iconic restaurant Mr. Chow. The Asian-inspired menu from Blue Plate Catering included chilled lobster salad and grilled New York strip steak with Chinese long beans and Hunan-style eggplant.
Inspired by the event's invitation—and the Penguin's signature accessory shown in Gotham's first episode—Abel McCallister used black umbrellas to guide guests through the New York Public Library at the show's September 15 premiere party. To make the freestanding umbrellas stay upright and look like they were balanced on their tips, the producers made clear acrylic bases that were virtually invisible in the dimly lit space.
“Christmas is filled with traditions, from the food we eat and the treats we leave for Santa, to festooning the tree and hanging the stockings to be filled. Our event brings all these elements together with a philanthropic twist that spreads holiday cheer to those less fortunate. There are so many who are unable to put food on their tables, gifts under a tree, or even dress appropriately for the weather, let alone attend a party. This cocktail soiree is designed not only for celebrating the season, but for helping those in need. Attendees leave the party knowing they enjoyed a celebratory evening out and helped many of those less fortunate in the process.”—James Rota of Dazzle Creative Events
“Clear Louis Ghost chairs are dressed with white faux fur pillows.” Table design and decor by David Beahm Design; rentals from Party Rental Ltd.
“Electric Disco Starz” from Tryon Entertainment involves a four-member crew wearing sleek suits and disco-ball-shaped heads with LED scrolls that can be customized to display a brand message or event name. The squad of performers can act as greeters or interact with the crowd during an event, as it has done annually since 2011 at the Allstate Life Insurance New York 13.1 Marathon. Pricing is available upon request.
Held over the weekend of October 24 at 402 West 13th Street in the meatpacking district, Lacoste's pop-up in partnership with GQ celebrated the relaunch of the former's e-commerce site. Upon entering the event, guests were greeted by a sweeping polo display in a retail environment meant to be equal parts gallery experience and online shop.
Costume designer Janie Bryant hosted a launch party for Shoes of Prey, a company that lets consumers design their own shoes, at Nordstrom in Bellvue, Washington, on November 20. The event featured flowerlike sculptures made out of carefully arranged shoes, and guests could test out the service on digital tablets.
From our look back at the fall season's benefits: Ballet Austin's September 20 event, held at the W Austin hotel in Texas, had a Beauty and the Beast theme. Referencing tropes from the fairytale, the decor included roses and ornate mirrors. The Mandarin Design Lab handled flowers.
On November 14, Pets Are Worth Saving hosted its annual pet-friendly gala, the Fur Ball, at the Drake in Chicago. The event had snacks for humans as well as for the four-legged guests, and a "Dog Buffet" offered crystal goblets of boiled chicken and rice and pureed carrots and green beans.
Here's an idea for an art-inspired dish: Belgian surrealist René Magritte was the focus of a major Art Institute of Chicago exhibition this year as well as the inspiration behind the decor and food of the museum's Woman's Board and Board of Trustees gala on June 20. Matching HMR Designs' visuals for the event, the institute's in-house caterer, Bon Appetit Catering, provided whimsical offerings. That included a first course of king crab, lobster tail, cauliflower, baby zucchini, squash blossom, sweet corn, and lobster essence, which referenced the famous Magritte quotation "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" (or, "This is not a pipe").
Here's another arty dish: As part of its involvement with Art Basel Hong Kong, the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong's executive chef, Uwe Opocensky, created a series of dishes inspired by iconic works of art. That included the Lily Pond—Alaskan king crab, scallop, dashi, and frozen grapefruit—designed as an ode to French impressionist Claude Monet's "Water Lilies."
Chicago catering firm Blue Plate is serving the inventive Into the Woods cocktail this season. The drink combines Reposado tequila and lemon with unusual ingredients including pecan-spiced maple syrup, port reduction, and 2010 Vintage Caramel Dream Pur-Eh tea. The garnish is fresh thyme.
Here's an unexpected sweet treat: Austin, Texas-based Delysia Chocolatier creates personalized solid chocolate menus that can serve as replacements to traditional paper ones and be used as guest favors. Pricing starts at $19.50 each for a minimum order of 25, with a setup fee of $200.
Another unusual treat: For the opening of its Midwest flagship store in Chicago in December 2011, Kiehl's created an on-site carnival with molecular gastronomy treats, such as pieces of paper that tasted like cotton candy, by Moto chefs and Top Chef: Texas contestants Richie Farina and Chris Jones.
Here's a festive dish to to inspire guests to eat, drink, and be merry at a holiday celebration: fontina and sage grilled cheese on sourdough, by Between the Bread in New York.
Miami-based caterer and event designer Karla Conceptual Event Experiences is using unrefined coconut oil and raw cashew cream to create a new kind of comfort food. "I am seeing the Miami client beginning to lean away from the trendy heavier foods like fried chicken, pork belly, creamy grits, and short ribs," says owner Karla Dascal. One example from Dascal's catering menu is a green risotto with coconut oil, toasted garlic, and ginger, garnished with raw cashew cream, pickled radish, and crispy sweet potato.
