In an effort to raise money for those less fortunate, organizers from America's Second Harvest brought a little bit of South Beach to Tampa Bay last Thursday for the annual Taste of the Nation charity event. Event coordinator Lorrie White and event chair Maryann Ferenc worked with numerous committee members and sponsors to make this year's event more memorable than ever. "Last year, things were subtle," says Ferenc. This year was different.
At the start of the evening, guests were given a bottomless wine glass. Attendees noshed on appetizers from local restaurants and bid on items ranging from vacation getaways to cases of fine wines. Though they enjoyed the hors d'oeuvres, many were pacing themselves for the surprise delights awaiting them inside the ballroom doors.
The expectation of a great menu created by chef Carmen Gonzalez of Carmen's The Restaurant in Coral Gables was high, but what they didn't expect was the exceptional décor, created by conceptBAIT's founders, Lynn McGhee and Frank Clemente. "It is the most impactful event we have done in terms of the look of the room," says Ferenc. "I was in the room during the reception and I actually cried. The ambiance and energy [were] moving."
The colors of the interior of the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina's ballroom—peach and emerald green—was camouflaged with tangerine, shocking pink, lime and violet spikes of color, each inhabiting a quadrant of the room. White spandex hugged the chairs and draped the walls, giving a clean, space-age look. Bay Stage Lighting Systems ensured that the room was washed in green light when the crowd entered, but the hues changed until all of the colors had a turn illuminating the room. The center of the room, just above the unique pod stage provided by Ivo Global Productions, included a light show of prismatic effect with white-striped shapes in motion.
Platinum crushed silk organza tablecloths enhanced the sparkle of the 40 glasses on each table. But the real head-turners were the floral centerpieces from conceptBAIT's head floral designer Steve Duke, which could only be described as orbs of flora with greenery sticking out. Nations Floral donated the vividly colored roses, lilies, hydrangea and orchids. Each centerpiece coordinated with its respective color quadrant.
White said that these extra touches make all the difference. "Differentiating yourself from everyone else, that's the key to good marketing," she explained."[Guests] don't want ordinary.
—Riki Altman
At the start of the evening, guests were given a bottomless wine glass. Attendees noshed on appetizers from local restaurants and bid on items ranging from vacation getaways to cases of fine wines. Though they enjoyed the hors d'oeuvres, many were pacing themselves for the surprise delights awaiting them inside the ballroom doors.
The expectation of a great menu created by chef Carmen Gonzalez of Carmen's The Restaurant in Coral Gables was high, but what they didn't expect was the exceptional décor, created by conceptBAIT's founders, Lynn McGhee and Frank Clemente. "It is the most impactful event we have done in terms of the look of the room," says Ferenc. "I was in the room during the reception and I actually cried. The ambiance and energy [were] moving."
The colors of the interior of the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina's ballroom—peach and emerald green—was camouflaged with tangerine, shocking pink, lime and violet spikes of color, each inhabiting a quadrant of the room. White spandex hugged the chairs and draped the walls, giving a clean, space-age look. Bay Stage Lighting Systems ensured that the room was washed in green light when the crowd entered, but the hues changed until all of the colors had a turn illuminating the room. The center of the room, just above the unique pod stage provided by Ivo Global Productions, included a light show of prismatic effect with white-striped shapes in motion.
Platinum crushed silk organza tablecloths enhanced the sparkle of the 40 glasses on each table. But the real head-turners were the floral centerpieces from conceptBAIT's head floral designer Steve Duke, which could only be described as orbs of flora with greenery sticking out. Nations Floral donated the vividly colored roses, lilies, hydrangea and orchids. Each centerpiece coordinated with its respective color quadrant.
White said that these extra touches make all the difference. "Differentiating yourself from everyone else, that's the key to good marketing," she explained."[Guests] don't want ordinary.
—Riki Altman
Raised centerpieces accented simply striking decor at Tampa's Taste of the Nation benefit at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina.
The absence of lighting revealed the true colors of the room.
Some centerpieces sat low on the table, while others were set upon tall iron stands.
At one point in the evening, the room was awash in green light.
