Themed Events

Limelight's colorful, anime-inspired welcome cocktail was called "Viridescent Beast." It was made with sugarcane cachaca and a float of curacao. The bright cocktails were garnished with dragon fruit.

During the cocktail reception, guests checked out the exhibition and interacted with the artist before heading to the dining tent. On the walk from the museum to the tent, they could sample snacks including "traveling oyster shooters"—oysters paired with tequila-based Bloody Mary shots.

The dining tent featured colorful, tentacle-strewn decor that HMR Designs created in collaboration with Takashi Murakami.

Each of the 12 low-hanging cylinders had a unique graphic inside.

The centerpieces featured bright ping-pong balls that were arranged in a shape reminiscent of octopus tentacles. "When you meet Murakami, you instantly begin to think out-of-the-box, playful, and uniquely stylish," said event designer Bill Heffernan.

For dessert, each guest was served a miniature "blank canvas" birthday cake sided with toppings in test tubes and beakers.

The toppings included lime curd, mango sauce, mixed berries, and sprinkles.

A visual tied to the exhibit "Takashi Murakami: The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg" decks the entrance of the Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibition opened in Chicago on June 6 and will run through September 24.

After dinner, the tent transformed into a concert venue—but didn't lose the octopus-inspired thread. As Janelle Monae performed, a plush sea creature decked the side of the stage. The after-party had its own menu, which included a cotton-candy-champagne cocktail, shaved ice, and miniature bubble teas. Event Creative handled lighting.