Decor Inspiration

Working with Time Inc.'s Cyd Wilson, Tony Schubert of Event Eleven designed and produced the Los Angeles affair for the fifth consecutive year in 2013. The event had an overall look and feel Schubert described as "romantic" and "rich," evocative of the Art Deco era. The color scheme incorporated plenty of wine-red hues.

Established 25 years ago, the Allie Awards recognize Atlanta event companies. Awards are doled out in categories such as design, production, and planning, and this year's ceremony was held March 6 at the Georgia Aquarium. The event's theme, “Xperience the Elements,” played out in three themed environments that channeled earth, water, and fire. For the water-inspired space, Your Event Solutions created a 16-foot-long table with a built-in water feature.

Vans, the sneaker and sportswear brand, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. To mark the milestone, the brand launched its “House of Vans” concept in 10 international markets this month. At the New York event, 500 guests went home with customized Vans sneakers.

It's typical to use a celebrity as a featured entertainer. But guests are more surprised to encounter celebrities in unexpected place—such as behind the bar. At the MSNBC's White House Correspondents Dinner after-party in Washington in 2012, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow poured drinks for part of the evening.

Ballet Hispanico's 2015 Spring Gala honored Cuban civic leaders. The event, which had a theme of “Noche Cubana,” took place in March at the Plaza Hotel's Grand Ballroom in New York and featured performances by the Ballet Hispanico Company as well as other entertainers.

At the Phillips Collection’s annual gala in 2012, the Washington Art Museum chose “Havana Nights” as the theme of its after-party to honor the Havana Arts Biennial. A 1959 Chrysler parked outside the Anderson House as well as palm tree projections set the tone at the entrance. In the back lawn, a cigar roller and salsa and meringue music from the Latin band Sin Miedo continued the theme.

Food and beverage from Occasions Caterers at the gala included buffets of Cuban-inspired cocktails served in coconut glasses, as well as savory and sweet items like plantain chips, ceviche, empanadas, and coffee parfaits.

Branded hand-rolled cigars from Cigar Stud Events were among the treats for guests at the the grand opening of the Miami Beach location of Puma Lab Powered by Foot Locker. The event, planned by Cluxe Brand Management, took place at Skydeck Miami on July 23.

Cuban cigar boxes served as charming containers for flower arrangements at an “Old Havana”-theme welcome party that the New Orleans Saints hosted before Super Bowl XLIV in Miami in 2010. The event took place at the InterContinental Miami Hotel.

To build buzz before the opening of a new Ikea store in Miami in 2014, the furniture and home goods retailer engaged customers with a mobile tour that stopped in five local neighborhoods. At a stop in Little Havana, the activation set up an area for playing dominoes, complete with Ikea-branded tiles.

Colorful bongos decorated a bar front at an alfresco cocktail party for the international consulting firm FICO, which held its 2010 world conference in Miami.

“Hemingway’s Cuba” was the theme of the 2005 New York Public Library’s Young Lions Benefit, chosen because of the library’s extensive collection of works by Ernest Hemingway. Staff offered guests hats, woven fans, faux orchid boutonnieres, and cigars to help them embody the theme.

The 2011 Ravinia Gala in Chicago celebrated the music of George Gershwin through a concert, but also through catering. The first course from Food for Thought Chicago, called the "Cuban Overture" after the Gershwin song, was shrimp ceviche with mango-jícama salad.

With a base of El Dorado three-year rum, the Old Cuban cocktail evokes a Caribbean feel. The beverage, available at new Washington cocktail bar the Speak, mixes in lime juice, prosecco, simple syrup, Angostura bitters, and mint leaves. The Speak opened in May.