Sometimes you want to go to a party. But sometimes you just want to sit and watch TV. At the opening night party for the New York Television Festival—a showcase of pilot programs from.phpiring producers, writers, and directors—at the Phillips de Pury auction house, guests could do both at once. The festival’s founder and executive director, Terrence Gray, and event producer David Bowen of Bowen & Company took inspiration for the theme from nostalgic television culture, even dotting the space with old tubes.
Avi Adler’s David Stark executed the design for the event, looking to commercials for ideas as well as materials. A room-sized model of a suburban house made from cereal boxes and snack wrappers—complete with a white picket fence and a couple of models posing as the Doublemint twins nearby—was an eye-catching piece.
Throughout the party space, several vintage televisions ran iconic commercials—including ads for the Connect Four game, Hot Wheels cars, Kellogg's cornflakes, and Starkist Tuna featuring the animated Charlie Tuna—on a loop, along with recent spots for the party’s sponsors and ads for the festival. Benches decoupaged with snack food packaging provided brightly colored seating in front of the sets.
Match Catering and Eventstyles passed retro trays with TV dinners (chicken fingers and tater tots with ketchup), mac and cheese cups, deviled eggs, Jiffy Pop popcorn in the foil, and White Castle burgers in the boxes. Ring Dings, Twinkies, and Rice Krispie treats balanced the meal.
On the bars (where choices included Tab, Fresca, and Pabst Blue Ribbon), Stark designed flower-shaped sculptures with Jif peanut butter and Nutella jar caps. Sponsor Absolut served Networktinis (Absolut Citron and tonic), Couch Potato Colas (Absolut vanilla and cola), and more specialty drinks—along with Jell-O shots. (The feel of the party was so kitschy, we hardly flinched seeing a guest take a shot with a server and punctuate it with an energetic high five.)
—Alesandra Dubin
Related Stories
Spamalot Opening Has Castle of Spam Cans
Robin Hood Benefit Is Bigger Than Ever
Avi Adler’s David Stark executed the design for the event, looking to commercials for ideas as well as materials. A room-sized model of a suburban house made from cereal boxes and snack wrappers—complete with a white picket fence and a couple of models posing as the Doublemint twins nearby—was an eye-catching piece.
Throughout the party space, several vintage televisions ran iconic commercials—including ads for the Connect Four game, Hot Wheels cars, Kellogg's cornflakes, and Starkist Tuna featuring the animated Charlie Tuna—on a loop, along with recent spots for the party’s sponsors and ads for the festival. Benches decoupaged with snack food packaging provided brightly colored seating in front of the sets.
Match Catering and Eventstyles passed retro trays with TV dinners (chicken fingers and tater tots with ketchup), mac and cheese cups, deviled eggs, Jiffy Pop popcorn in the foil, and White Castle burgers in the boxes. Ring Dings, Twinkies, and Rice Krispie treats balanced the meal.
On the bars (where choices included Tab, Fresca, and Pabst Blue Ribbon), Stark designed flower-shaped sculptures with Jif peanut butter and Nutella jar caps. Sponsor Absolut served Networktinis (Absolut Citron and tonic), Couch Potato Colas (Absolut vanilla and cola), and more specialty drinks—along with Jell-O shots. (The feel of the party was so kitschy, we hardly flinched seeing a guest take a shot with a server and punctuate it with an energetic high five.)
—Alesandra Dubin
Related Stories
Spamalot Opening Has Castle of Spam Cans
Robin Hood Benefit Is Bigger Than Ever
At the opening night party for the New York Television Festival at Phillips de Pury, David Stark designed a suburban house made from cereal boxes and snack wrappers.
Flower-shaped sculptures with Jif peanut butter and Nutella jar caps topped the bars.
Flower-shaped sculptures with Jif peanut butter and Nutella jar caps topped the bars.
Match Catering and Eventstyles’ servers passed White Castle burgers in the boxes.
