"Fragrance 'n Art"—the colorful, slightly odd theme of the Fragrance Foundation's annual FiFi awards for the fragrance industry—smelled of some creative, how-do-we-make-this-new thinking. To explain the theme (which, let's be honest, seems like a stretch), event producer Susi Wuennenberg from Susu Inc. started the show at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall with some snazzy videos by MannicMedia. Images of perfume bottles mixed with photos of painters Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol and lines like "Fragrance and art arouse the senses" and "Fragrance and art linger in the memory."
The show's set incorporated various projection screens and lots of Mondrian-inspired color blocks, and M.C. Harvey Fierstein—just a day after his Hairspray Tony win—provided quick, off-color commentary. (On the importance of aromas: "The smell of dog shit always means spring to me.")
While jazz sextet Jonny Rosch and Friends kept things peppy with brief musical interludes, an assortment of models and barely famous TV and Broadway stars presented awards in categories like "Technological Breakthrough of the Year." American Idol castoff Frenchie Davis presented the "Bath and Body Star of the Year" to Kate Spade Beauty, and The Other Half's Mario Lopez presented the "Interior Scent Collection of the Year" to Tiffany & Company. (Some categories sound a bit funny, but the awards are clearly a big deal if you're in the fragrance business.)
After the awards ceremony, everyone headed back to the Tent at Lincoln Center, where Restaurant Associates served dinner, including a summery salad with watercress, watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe and shrimp, followed by pan-seared red snapper with lobster hash. Projections of clouds and a blue sky gave the tent a calm, peaceful feel, and Musters & Company created tall, unusual centerpieces that mixed flowers with pieces of wood for an arty look.
—Chad Kaydo
Read our coverage of last year's FiFi awards...
Read our coverage of the 2001 FiFi awards...
The show's set incorporated various projection screens and lots of Mondrian-inspired color blocks, and M.C. Harvey Fierstein—just a day after his Hairspray Tony win—provided quick, off-color commentary. (On the importance of aromas: "The smell of dog shit always means spring to me.")
While jazz sextet Jonny Rosch and Friends kept things peppy with brief musical interludes, an assortment of models and barely famous TV and Broadway stars presented awards in categories like "Technological Breakthrough of the Year." American Idol castoff Frenchie Davis presented the "Bath and Body Star of the Year" to Kate Spade Beauty, and The Other Half's Mario Lopez presented the "Interior Scent Collection of the Year" to Tiffany & Company. (Some categories sound a bit funny, but the awards are clearly a big deal if you're in the fragrance business.)
After the awards ceremony, everyone headed back to the Tent at Lincoln Center, where Restaurant Associates served dinner, including a summery salad with watercress, watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe and shrimp, followed by pan-seared red snapper with lobster hash. Projections of clouds and a blue sky gave the tent a calm, peaceful feel, and Musters & Company created tall, unusual centerpieces that mixed flowers with pieces of wood for an arty look.
—Chad Kaydo
Read our coverage of last year's FiFi awards...
Read our coverage of the 2001 FiFi awards...
The set for the Fragrance Foundation's annual FiFi awards incorporated various projection screens and lots of Mondrian-inspired color blocks to match the "Fragrance 'n Art" theme.
Projections of clouds and a blue sky gave the Tent at Lincoln Center a calm, peaceful feel for the post-ceremony dinner.
Musters & Company created tall, unusual centerpieces that mixed flowers with pieces of wood for an arty look.
Restaurant Associates' dinner started with a summery salad with watercress, watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe and shrimp.
