The mountain may not come to Muhammad, but the beach will follow Donald Trump anywhere—even to Midtown Manhattan. The real-estate magnate and his development partner, Nakheel, threw a tropical-themed event for Monday’s launch of their new Dubai venture, the Palm Trump International Hotel and Tower. Nearly 400 attended the celebration at a domed tent erected at the Park Avenue Plaza.
Guests like Demi Moore, Naomi Watts, Heidi Klum, and Trump's daughter Ivanka ensured a huge crowd near the corner of 53rd Street and Park Avenue, but after everyone managed to squeeze through the throng of paparazzi, a troupe of stiltwalkers dressed as white palm trees ushered the attendees into the tent. Inside the giant bisected globe—60 feet in diameter—a 360-degree projection of images of Dubai played on the dome theater ceiling.“Nakheel hired us for the launch of their environmental project, Blue Communities, in Dubai earlier in the year,” said Chris Lejeune, designer with Obscura Digital, who filmed the footage and set up the tent. “They were very happy with it and asked us to repeat it here in New York.”
Circumstances demanded the event be altered slightly for the stateside incarnation (a smaller dome and the convenience of not building the structure on sand ranked highest in changes), but the biggest challenge was already out of the way. The footage of Dubai projected inside the tent required a rigorous filming schedule and excessive editing. “It took a five-day shoot, with a crew of eight,” recalled Lejeune. “We shot pretty much the whole city, and the entire coastline.”
Obscura edited the many hours of footage into several different clips, none lasting more than a few minutes. The reels included scenes of the skyline shot from a moving car, the coastline, underwater glimpses of the surf, and even a satellite photo highlighting the different Nakheel properties around Dubai.
Guests found themselves completely surrounded by the Middle Eastern playground. Carpeting designed to look and feel like sand and a soundtrack of crashing waves, marimba, and rain stick helped everyone forget the rush-hour traffic just outside the thin tent walls. Booze helped as well. The six servers who crowded the entrance to the room made the thought of not accepting a drink intimidating. Event designer and coproducer David Monn was responsible for their dress in addition to the decor in the small room. The staff, entirely in white, wore open-collared shirts, a suit, and slip-on sneakers, which Monn got from—surprise!—Payless.
Around 8 p.m., Trump perched behind the podium and offered a few details of the project, after stroking his ego with reminders to the audience that he was a friend of Heidi Klum’s “before she was famous.” A promotional campaign for the hotel aired offering the first glimpse of the building, and guests could also view the scale model of the complex, designed by Modelcraft, in the adjoining tent.
For those who did not attend the party, or who won’t be able to swing the $2,000 flight to see the hotel in person, Lego artist Nathan Sawaya constructed a 10-foot replica of the building that sat on display at Columbus Circle through Tuesday.
Guests like Demi Moore, Naomi Watts, Heidi Klum, and Trump's daughter Ivanka ensured a huge crowd near the corner of 53rd Street and Park Avenue, but after everyone managed to squeeze through the throng of paparazzi, a troupe of stiltwalkers dressed as white palm trees ushered the attendees into the tent. Inside the giant bisected globe—60 feet in diameter—a 360-degree projection of images of Dubai played on the dome theater ceiling.“Nakheel hired us for the launch of their environmental project, Blue Communities, in Dubai earlier in the year,” said Chris Lejeune, designer with Obscura Digital, who filmed the footage and set up the tent. “They were very happy with it and asked us to repeat it here in New York.”
Circumstances demanded the event be altered slightly for the stateside incarnation (a smaller dome and the convenience of not building the structure on sand ranked highest in changes), but the biggest challenge was already out of the way. The footage of Dubai projected inside the tent required a rigorous filming schedule and excessive editing. “It took a five-day shoot, with a crew of eight,” recalled Lejeune. “We shot pretty much the whole city, and the entire coastline.”
Obscura edited the many hours of footage into several different clips, none lasting more than a few minutes. The reels included scenes of the skyline shot from a moving car, the coastline, underwater glimpses of the surf, and even a satellite photo highlighting the different Nakheel properties around Dubai.
Guests found themselves completely surrounded by the Middle Eastern playground. Carpeting designed to look and feel like sand and a soundtrack of crashing waves, marimba, and rain stick helped everyone forget the rush-hour traffic just outside the thin tent walls. Booze helped as well. The six servers who crowded the entrance to the room made the thought of not accepting a drink intimidating. Event designer and coproducer David Monn was responsible for their dress in addition to the decor in the small room. The staff, entirely in white, wore open-collared shirts, a suit, and slip-on sneakers, which Monn got from—surprise!—Payless.
Around 8 p.m., Trump perched behind the podium and offered a few details of the project, after stroking his ego with reminders to the audience that he was a friend of Heidi Klum’s “before she was famous.” A promotional campaign for the hotel aired offering the first glimpse of the building, and guests could also view the scale model of the complex, designed by Modelcraft, in the adjoining tent.
For those who did not attend the party, or who won’t be able to swing the $2,000 flight to see the hotel in person, Lego artist Nathan Sawaya constructed a 10-foot replica of the building that sat on display at Columbus Circle through Tuesday.
Trump's miniature island in Midtown
Photo: Billy Ferrel/Patrick McMullan
Palm trees and fountains surrounded the dome near one of the tightly guarded entrances.
Photo: Billy Ferrel/Patrick McMullan
Obscura Digital's views of Dubai allowed guests to move through the streets without ever leaving the small room.
Photo: Josh Brott/ Obscura Digital
Projectors stationed throughout the room displayed seamless footage of Dubai's coastline while guests sipped cocktails at the bar.
Photo: Josh Brott/ Obscura Digital
The panoramic ceiling allowed guests to see 360-degree shots of the new hotel.
Photo: Josh Brott/ Obscura Digital
Stiltwalkers spouting feathery fronds marched near the entrance, ushering guests into the party.
Photo: Billy Ferrel/Patrick McMullan
The only light in the party's backroom emanated from flashbulbs and the massive, electronically equipped model of Trump's new home in Dubai.
Photo: Billy Ferrel/Patrick McMullan
